Master Your Shooting with the 20 Shooting Drill

Goal

The 20 Shooting Drill is a high-intensity shooting exercise designed to improve a player’s shooting consistency, range, and mental focus. By performing this drill, players develop the discipline to maintain proper shooting mechanics under pressure and track their improvement over time. It also helps build mental resilience as players push through frustrations and strive to complete the drill within a limited time.

Setup

• Players Needed: 1 shooter

• Equipment Needed: 5 basketballs (one for each shooting spot)

• Court Setup: The drill uses 5 shooting spots on the court:

  1. Corners

  2. Wings

  3. Top of the Key

These spots should be marked clearly so that the shooter can efficiently transition between them.

Step-by-Step Execution

1. Round 1 – Make 3 in a Row from Each Spot

   • Start at one of the corners and shoot three consecutive shots from that spot.

   • After making three in a row, move to the next spot (wing, top of the key, and so on).

   • Complete this process for all five spots.

   • The goal is to make three shots in a row at each of the five spots before moving to the next one.

2. Round 2 – Make 5 in a Row Coming Back

   • Once you’ve reached the opposite corner, the goal is to come back by making five consecutive shots, one from each spot.

   • After completing the drill in round 1, you’ll start at the opposite corner and attempt to make a shot from each spot moving back to the starting corner.

3. Time Limit

   • You have 2 minutes to complete both rounds of the drill.

   • Track how far you get during the drill (e.g., how many spots you make in round 1 and how far you progress in round 2).

4. Scoring

   • You score 3 points for each spot you complete in round 1.

   • Add the number of spots completed in round 2 to your total score.

   • For example, if you complete all 5 spots in round 1 and 2 spots in round 2, your score would be 17 points.

Coaching Tips

1. Focus on Form and Follow-Through

   • One of the most important aspects of this drill is maintaining shooting form under pressure.

   • Focus on holding your follow-through and ensuring each shot is executed with proper technique.

   • Remember, “Be quick but don’t hurry.” The time constraint is there to challenge you, but rushing your form will lead to misses.

2. Stay Positive and Resilient

   • This drill is not only physically demanding but mentally challenging as well.

   • If you miss a shot, don’t dwell on it. Adopt a “next shot” mentality, focus on the next attempt, and stay positive.

   • Build mental toughness by learning to shake off mistakes quickly and not let them affect your performance.

3. Use the Drill to Track Progress

   • The 20 Shooting Drill is a great way to track your improvement over time.

   • Keep a record of your scores each time you do the drill. Over time, aim to increase the number of spots completed in round 2 or lower your time. This can be an excellent way to monitor your shooting consistency and mental resilience.

Full Breakdown

The 20 Shooting Drill is a valuable addition to any player’s training routine, particularly for those looking to improve their shooting consistency under pressure. Here’s why this drill works:

1. Focus on Consistency
   The key to becoming a reliable shooter is consistency. The 20 Shooting Drill forces you to shoot from various spots on the court, ensuring you develop a well-rounded game. By requiring players to make 3 shots in a row from each spot, it teaches them to focus and execute their form under repetitive conditions.

2. Simulates Game Conditions
   In a game, players don’t have the luxury of taking shot after shot from the same spot. They must move quickly between positions and often have to shoot under pressure. This drill simulates those game conditions, forcing players to transition between spots and maintain their shooting mechanics under time constraints.

3. Improves Mental Toughness
   The time pressure and the need to make consecutive shots from various spots will test a player’s mental fortitude. Players must avoid frustration and maintain focus, similar to what they would experience in tight game situations. Over time, this drill builds a player’s ability to stay calm under pressure, which is critical in clutch moments.

4. Trackable Progress
   The point-based scoring system makes it easy to track improvement. Players can see how they perform each time they complete the drill and set goals to push their limits. As players get more comfortable with the drill, they can challenge themselves by improving their score or completing the drill faster.

5. Versatile for Different Levels
   This drill works well for players at various levels, from youth to high school and beyond. For younger players or beginners, the coach can reduce the number of required consecutive makes from three to two. For more advanced players, the coach can increase the difficulty by reducing the time allowed or increasing the number of spots to complete in round 2.

Variations and Progressions

• Time Constraints: Challenge players by shortening the time limit for the drill (e.g., 1:30 or 1:00) to increase pressure and focus.

• Defensive Pressure: Once players are consistent with this drill, add a defender to challenge their shots. This will simulate real game pressure and force players to shoot through defensive interference.

• Different Shot Types: Incorporate a variety of shot types such as pull-up jumpers, floaters, or contested shots to diversify the drill and better simulate in-game conditions.

• Tracking Progress: Keep a record of scores over time to track improvement. Encourage players to break their own records and aim to improve by a certain number of points with each practice session.