How to Perfect Your Basketball Shot: A Girl's Guide to Scoring More Points

I remember sitting courtside during last season's PBA Finals, watching Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser finally get his moment with TNT after those two frustrating years on the bench. There's something powerful about witnessing someone's breakthrough moment - it reminds me of that feeling when your shot finally starts falling consistently. You know, that magical transition from hoping it goes in to knowing it will. Let me share what I've learned about perfecting that basketball shot, especially from the female perspective where we often have to work smarter, not just harder.

The foundation of any great shot starts with your feet. I can't stress this enough - proper foot positioning accounts for about 30% of your shooting accuracy, in my experience. When I first started playing seriously, I'd rush my shots and my feet would be all over the place. It took me six months of dedicated practice to break that habit. Think about how NBA players like Stephen Curry always have their feet squared to the basket - that's not accidental. For women players, who typically have a lower center of gravity, this becomes even more crucial. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, with your shooting foot slightly forward. This creates a stable base that generates power from the ground up, something I wish I'd understood earlier in my career.

Now let's talk about the grip - this is where most beginners go wrong. The ball should rest on your fingertips, not in your palm. I remember counting exactly how many points of contact I had with the ball during my shooting motion - it should be mainly your index and middle fingers guiding the release. When I analyzed game footage of top WNBA shooters like Diana Taurasi, I noticed she maintains about a centimeter gap between her palm and the ball throughout her shooting motion. That air space gives you the control and backspin needed for a soft touch. And speaking of backspin, aim for about three full rotations on the ball - that's the sweet spot that gives you the best chance when the ball hits the rim.

The elbow alignment might be the most overlooked aspect of shooting. Your shooting elbow should form what I call the "90-90 rule" - 90 degrees at the elbow and 90 degrees between your upper arm and torso. When I started tracking my makes versus misses, I found that shots where my elbow strayed from this position were 47% less likely to go in. It feels awkward at first, like you're creating a chicken wing, but trust me, it becomes natural. I spent two hours daily for three months just working on this single element, and my field goal percentage improved from 38% to 52% during that period.

Follow-through is where the magic happens. Your guide hand should stay still while your shooting hand finishes in what we call the "cookie jar" position - reaching in to grab an imaginary cookie. The wrist snap generates about 60% of your shot's power, which is particularly important for women who might not have the same upper body strength as male players. I always tell younger players to hold their follow-through until the ball reaches the rim - it reinforces muscle memory and ensures you're not cutting the motion short.

What most coaching manuals don't tell you is the mental component. Before every game, I visualize making 50 shots from different spots on the floor. This mental rehearsal activates the same neural pathways as physical practice. When Brandon finally got his chance with TNT after those bench seasons, I guarantee you he'd mentally prepared for that moment thousands of times. Similarly, developing a pre-shot routine - whether it's two dribbles or a deep breath - creates consistency under pressure. In clutch situations, my shooting percentage actually improves by about 8% because I rely on that ingrained routine rather than overthinking.

Practice doesn't make perfect - perfect practice makes perfect. I'm a firm believer in shooting 300-500 shots daily, but with purpose. When I was rehabbing from a wrist injury last year, I couldn't take full shots, so I focused on form shooting from three feet away. Surprisingly, that limitation improved my overall accuracy more than any other training period. Mix up your practice too - catch-and-shoot situations account for roughly 65% of game shots, but don't neglect off-the-dribble and contested attempts.

The evolution of the women's game demands that we expand our range. When I started playing professionally a decade ago, the three-point line seemed distant, but today's game requires comfort from beyond the arc. I've gradually extended my range by about two feet over the past three seasons, adding nearly five points to my scoring average. It's about incremental progress - move back only when you can consistently hit at a 40% clip from your current range.

Watching players like Brandon finally get their opportunity reminds me that breakthrough moments don't happen overnight. They're built through thousands of repetitions, adjustments, and mental preparation. The beautiful thing about shooting is that it's both science and art - the mechanics provide the foundation, but the touch is uniquely yours. What separates good shooters from great ones isn't just technique, but the confidence to take and make shots when it matters most. That's the secret sauce - believing in your shot as much as you've worked on it.