My knuckleball jumpshot...

[chapmanosu1]

I play a lot of pick up basketball and am in an intramural league. I consider myself to be a pass first PG but I think I got a pretty good shot. But my shots have never had any spin on the ball like most peoples' jump shots...my shot gets legitimately no spin. It's just how I've always shot. It hasn't really affected my shot like I said, I think I'm decent, but another guy on my team brought it up jokingly and I wondered if it'd be worth it to bother tweaking it.

I was messing around earlier trying to get the spin and I was shooting 3's like Joey Dorsey shoots free throws. I was wondering if it's just a fundamental thing that everybody's taught but people adapt to their liking (much like unorthodox pitching windups) or if there was actually a benefit to having spin on your shot. Anyway, how do your guys jumpers look? Worth a change?

[Rainey]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

I play a lot of pick up basketball and am in an intramural league. I consider myself to be a pass first PG but I think I got a pretty good shot. But my shots have never had any spin on the ball like most peoples' jump shots...my shot gets legitimately no spin. It's just how I've always shot. It hasn't really affected my shot like I said, I think I'm decent, but another guy on my team brought it up jokingly and I wondered if it'd be worth it to bother tweaking it.

I was messing around earlier trying to get the spin and I was shooting 3's like Joey Dorsey shoots free throws. I was wondering if it's just a fundamental thing that everybody's taught but people adapt to their liking (much like unorthodox pitching windups) or if there was actually a benefit to having spin on your shot. Anyway, how do your guys jumpers look? Worth a change?

My shots don't have spin either. It's because we push the ball on our shot and don't snap the wrist and put rotation on the ball with our fingers. It isn't the "proper" way to shoot, but since me and you aren't NBA bound it won't effect us. However, if you wanted to make basketball your career, then yeah you would have to work on putting a little rotation on the shot as it is a more consistent shot and is more prone to get "shooter's touch" shots to go in.

[3rdAnswer]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

You need a spin on the ball to improve the chances of the ball bouncing in if it hits the rim.

[bgeno]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

I would assume there is some sort of advantage since I've never seen anyone in the NBA shooting threes with zero rotation.

But I wouldn't worry about it. Assuming you're not trying to get somewhere with your basketball career, I think you'll be all right. I mean, you're making shots... that's what matters.


As for my jump shot... let's not go there.

[heitkamp94]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

Like the other guy said, its no big worry since your just a rec league player but getting more spin on the ball is going to give your shot a better natural arc. And as I'm sure we've all heard 2 basketballs can fit side by side in a hoop, which would mean the more arc you've got then the better chance the ball will go in. A flat shot gives you less room for error. I was fellow knuckler my first few years of high school but worked on my shot quite a bit and became a pretty good shooter. Now I'm the out of shape guy spottin up and nailing threes. I can't run and jump like i used to but my shot looks nice.

[Jistic]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

Tim Hardaway was a pretty good shooter when he was younger, and he had a knuckle ball shot. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Hassan Darkside]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[eDotd]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

My friend used to shoot like that (dunno if he still does). We used to call him tight buttcheeks because he'd get so tense when he shot.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

Spread your fingers for better rotation.

But listen man, I dont know how old you are..or how serious you are w\ ball, but its hard to change the shot your comfortable with if youve been doing it for years....id stick with what makes you comfortable especially if its going in.

but if your a gym rat and have the time to get it down, by all means man work at it

[mgoblue]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

My shot is a serious rainbow lol. It'd be impossible to change how I do things, and it looks really pretty when it goes in

[tehova]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

I have the same knuckleball jumpshot, my coaches used to make me lie on the floor and just shoot the ball with one hand and practice snapping the wrist (n/h), it worked kinda. My jumpshot is still knuckley, but my free throws have perfect rotation.

[CMH]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

My shots have lots of rotation and a high arc. Couldn't hit or take a jumpshot any other way.

[superjames1992]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

My shots have are like rainbows with a whole lot of spin and makes a huge ark. I used to be horrible shooting that way, too, though over the last few months I have been messing around and am trying my best to jump straight up and down (not fade forward or backwards when I shoot) and it has seemed to be working. I am hitting threes and other jump shots with a lot better consistency. I'm not saying I am a good shooter, because I am not, but I am not as HORRIBLE as I used to be, LOL!

As for you, I would not worry about your shot too much unless you want to go pro or something. If it a'int broke, don't fix it!

[boomhauertjs]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

My shots usually don't have any rotation. Some of the guys I play with are amazed that I shoot as well as I do. I'm a pretty streaky shooter, but I've shot this way for so long, I doubt I'll change.

[MassNole]

Re: My knuckleball jumpshot...

My jumpshot always had a lot of rotation on it, watching me shoot a multi-colored ball was a thing of beauty.