Best 5 Tips on Improving Your Mid-Range Jump Shot

[Melissa Gallagher]

In the current era of basketball we hear many experts ranting that the
mid-range jumper is a lost art form. For the most part I am going to
have to agree with them. Watching the NBA it's obvious; you have your
slashers, power players, play making penetrators and three point
specialists which leaves little room for anyone else. Besides Rip
Hamilton, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Monta Ellis, there are few
players that have successfully integrated the mid-range jump shot into
their game. Forget the NBA; go to any blacktop or recreation center
and watch people shooting around. What will you find players attacking
the hoop hard, trying to dunk and people launching from deep. Not very
often will you find an individual that is refining their fifteen
footer. So allow me to stress the importance of the mid-rang game;
here are the top five ways to improve your mid-range jump shot.
1. Warm up With Your mid-range by starting off from three feet away.
Hit five shots from different spots on the court, then move back a
couple feet. Do this until you get to around eighteen feet. This
allows you to focus on your form and fix what is wrong with your
stroke. Do not arrive on the court just to launch threes; your body
will over compensate for the distance and your shot could be off for
the rest of the day (unless you are a sharp-shooter).
2. Working on your footwork is one of the top priorities when it comes
to refining you mid-range jumper. To open up for a mid-range shot, you
must be able to come off screens and create off the dribble. Coming
off screens you must be able to catch the ball, take one short step
followed by a lead step pointing towards the basket, square your
shoulders lock your elbow then release. Everyone's footwork is going
to be different. It is vital to recognize your footwork, find what
works and stay consistent.
3. I will stress once again refining your form, and working on
consistency is a major part of becoming successful with the mid-rang
game. If you can stay consistent during your shoot around it will give
you a better chance to be successful in the game. Simply put: bend
knees, square up, keep elbow straight and locked and release.
Everyone's style is gonna be different. Find what works for you.
4. Practice With a Hand in the Face and go game speed. Find a partner
and practice shooting over an outstretched hand. This is the closest
thing to real game play that you will find. The bonus here is that you
can dictate what facet of the game you want to work on. Improvisation
is a big part of live basketball, therefore you may not be able to
work on your mid-range shot as much in a game as you would practicing
game speed with a friend.
5. By practicing your shot after a run you will get a much better
understanding of your shot when you don't have much fuel left in the
tank. When your legs and arms are shot you are going to have to dig a
little deeper and really focus on your form. Try taking 50-100 shots
after playing a few games. It will be tough, but it will toughen you
up!
Follow these steps and your offensive game should take a major leap.
Incorporating a part of the offensive game that not many people do
will set you apart from the rest. Once perfected it's one of the
easiest shots in basketball. It will not be easy at first so keep
working hard and you will find small successes along the way.

Learn How To Jump Higher: http://groups.google.com.hk/group/jumpmanu/