To be a great shooter, you have to learn two important skills.
First, you have to learn how to generate the proper ball rotation.
Second, you have to learn how to slow down the speed of the basketball.
Both skills are needed to develop a soft touch.
Soft touch is the ability to create effective spin on the basketball to such a degree that it increases the propensity of the ball to remain in contact with the basketball hoop for a longer than usual period of time.
The longer period of time the ball remains in contact with the structure, the better the chance it has of going in the hoop.
On the other hand, a brick, lack of soft touch, is the inability to create effective spin on the ball to such a degree that it decreases the propensity of the ball to remain in contact with the structure for a longer than usual period of time.
The shorter the period of time the ball remains in contact with the structure, the lesser the chance it has of going in the hoop.
Most players apply backward spin to a basketball, but it done with their shooting hand placed behind the basketball.
The ball is launched toward the basket, approximately, at a 45 degree angle and the ball speed is usually too fast.
The first skill that needs to be developed is great ball rotation.
Make certain that your shooting hand is positioned at the back of and underneath the basketball.
The ball should be heavily balanced on your fingers and should not touch the palm of your hand.
With your off-hand as a guide, snap the wrist of your shooting hand forward.
The underneath part of the basketball should be touched lastly by your fingertips.
The ball should be launched toward the basket, approximately, at a 52 degree angle with great ball rotation.
You can test your rotation by shooting the ball a little ahead and above your head.
When the ball hits the ground it should move back toward you just like a reverse spinning hula-hoop.
The second skill that needs to be developed is slow ball speed.
Launching the ball with the proper rotation helps to slow down ball speed.
The backward spin creates varying amounts of air pressure on the surface of the ball.
The bottom of the ball will have high pressure and the top of the ball will have low pressure.
The goal of air pressure is to equalize.
However, the air pressure has a problem; the ball is in the way of the high pressure when it makes its move toward the low pressure.
The high air pressure lifts the ball in order to equalize itself with the low pressure.
This lifting action floats the ball and slows it down a tiny bit.
The combination of great rotation and slow ball speed creates soft touch.
The soft touch gives the ball a better chance to go in the hoop.
In addition, if the shot is missed, it still results in a shorter rebound.
Shorter rebounds give you and your team mates more opportunities for offensive boards and put backs.
The Front Rim Drill is good for developing slow ball speed.
The objective of the Front Rim Drill is for the shooter to hit the front of the rim and have the ball bounce back straight towards him.
The player must do this ten times before he moves on to the next position.
The shooter should start at a position 5 feet from the basket and continue to increase the distance, away from the basket, by 5 feet each time he successfully makes ten front rim hits.
The ball must have the proper rotation and arch.
Beeline or direct shots to the rim are not acceptable.
Furthermore, if the ball hits the rim and bounces to the side of or towards the rim, it is considered a failed attempt.
If the basket is made, then it is considered a failed attempt.
After practicing this drill for several weeks, you will find that most of your failed attempts will be made baskets.
When you go to play in real games, you will have numerous failures and few successes.
Again, most of the failures will be in the form of made shots.
Even your successes, hitting the front of the rim, will pay dividends because they will lead to short rebounds and numerous put backs.
Remember keep it short with your misses and keep your failures (made baskets) at a maximum and you will be on your way to rocking the basketball world!