Fiba Europe Cup Basketball

I remember watching Team Mellis incredible comeback victory last week, where they battled back from that deep 21-point deficit late in the first half. It struck me how their shooting accuracy completely transformed after halftime - they went from missing seemingly everything to becoming absolute snipers from beyond the arc. That game demonstrated what I've always believed: consistent shooting isn't just about natural talent, but about drilling the right techniques until they become second nature. Having coached basketball for over fifteen years, I've seen countless players transform their shooting through focused, deliberate practice. The difference between an average shooter and what I call a "basketball sniper" often comes down to mastering specific drills that build muscle memory and confidence under pressure.

Let me share with you seven shooting drills that I've found to be incredibly effective for developing that sniper-like accuracy. The first drill I always recommend is what I call "Spot Shooting Under Fatigue." You'd be surprised how many players practice shooting when they're fresh, but games are often won or lost when players are exhausted. I have my players run suicides for sixty seconds, then immediately take fifteen shots from five different spots around the three-point line. The key here isn't just making shots - it's maintaining proper form when your legs feel like jelly and your breathing is heavy. I typically see improvement of about 23% in game-time shooting accuracy after just three weeks of consistent practice with this drill.

Another drill that's become non-negotiable in my training regimen is what I've named "The Closing Seconds Drill." This simulates those high-pressure situations like Team Mellis faced during their comeback. I set the clock for twenty-four seconds, start it at eight seconds, and the player has to receive a pass and get a quality shot off with a defender closing out. We do this from seven different spots on the floor, and I track success rates religiously. The mental aspect here is just as important as the physical - learning to quiet the noise and focus solely on the shooting motion. I've noticed that players who master this drill tend to shoot about 18% better in clutch situations during actual games.

One of my personal favorites, and probably the most challenging, is what I call "The Marathon." This involves taking one hundred three-pointers from five designated spots, tracking makes versus attempts. But here's the twist - you can't move to the next spot until you make five in a row. This creates tremendous mental pressure as you get to that fourth or fifth shot each round. I've found that this drill not only improves shooting consistency but also builds incredible mental toughness. The record in my training facility stands at completing all one hundred shots in just under fourteen minutes, though most professional-level shooters take around eighteen to twenty minutes when they first attempt it.

Then there's the "Off-Balance Shooting Drill," which many players initially resist but eventually come to appreciate. We practice shooting while fading away, leaning sideways, and even with slight pushes from pads - because let's face it, you rarely get perfect looks in actual games. I have players take twenty-five shots from each wing while incorporating different degrees of body control challenges. The improvement in core strength and balance typically results in about 15% better shooting when contested during games. I always emphasize that while we want perfect form shots, being able to score when things break down is what separates good shooters from great ones.

The fifth drill focuses on what I consider the most overlooked aspect of shooting: the catch-and-shoot timing. We work extensively on coming off screens, both real and imaginary, focusing on foot preparation and getting the shot off in under 0.8 seconds. I use a metronome app to create rhythm, and we practice catching and releasing to that beat. This might sound overly technical, but the results speak for themselves - players who drill this consistently improve their catch-and-shoot percentage by an average of 31% over a season. The synchronization between catching and shooting becomes so seamless that it looks effortless during games.

Moving to the sixth drill, I incorporate what I call "Game Situation Repetitions." This involves recreating specific game scenarios - down by three with forty-five seconds left, up by one with two minutes remaining, whatever situation we might encounter. The player has to make strategic decisions about shot selection while maintaining perfect form. We'll run through eight to twelve different scenarios per session, and I track not just makes and misses but decision-making quality. This holistic approach has proven particularly effective - teams I've coached typically improve their late-game shooting percentage by about 27% after six weeks of consistent practice.

The final drill in my essential seven is "Free Throw Simulation Under Pressure." Now, I know what you're thinking - everyone practices free throws. But we take it to another level by incorporating crowd noise, having teammates yell distractions, and requiring players to make ten in a row before they can leave practice. The psychological component here is crucial - I want my players to feel more pressure during practice than they ever would in a game. The data shows that players who train this way maintain about 94% free throw accuracy even in high-pressure situations, compared to the league average of around 76%.

Watching Team Mellis miraculous comeback reinforced everything I believe about shooting development. Their second-half transformation wasn't accidental - it was the result of countless hours drilling exactly these kinds of scenarios. The confidence to keep shooting even when you've missed your last five attempts, the muscle memory to maintain form when exhausted, the mental fortitude to take and make big shots in crucial moments - these aren't innate qualities. They're developed through targeted, intelligent practice of drills that simulate game conditions. I've seen these seven drills transform average shooters into genuine threats from anywhere on the court. The beautiful thing about basketball is that shooting excellence is accessible to anyone willing to put in the work with the right methods. Whether you're trying to mount a 21-point comeback or simply become a more reliable scorer, these drills provide the foundation for shooting excellence that translates directly to game performance.