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In this video we look at the pull-up jump shot. This is the most important offensive shooting skill to learn after the power lay-up. If you confidently take the ball to the basket several times and then switch to a pull-up jump shot, your shot will be completely uncontested. As you develop more confidence and quickness, your shot will be uncontested even if your opponent knows exactly what you’re going to do.
Many players think they have developed a jump shot because they jump when they shoot, but on close examination they’re just taking a set shot and pushing so hard with their legs that they leave the ground. These are just set shots because they don’t involve an immediate jump after a dribble. They first require the shooter to get set. That generally means that the shooter’s not being guarded closely. Guard them closely and their shot completely disappears.
A pull-up jump shot can be executed cleanly even if you’re being guarded closely. In the video, we use Michael Jordan as our example of an ideal jump shooter and dissect each of the elements of his movement. Then we show you how to develop each of the elements and put them together into one fluid movement.
In summary, to perform a pull-up jump shot, you will:
- take one or two fast dribbles,
- pick up your dribble at waist height when the inside foot hits the ground,
- pick up the ball with your shooting hand behind and your non-shooting hand on the side,
- swing your hips around toward basket and let your outside foot hit the court,
- raise the ball to your forehead with force as your jump begins,
- hold this position until you reach the peak of your jump,
- now launch the ball toward the basket as you feel yourself begin to fall back to the court.
Prerequisites: