Shooting School - Hand Position/Grip
The positioning and grip of the Shooting Hand has been a common problem among our junior players, especially in the girls program.
Players should adopt a relaxed and comfortable grip on the basketball with the fingers and thumb spread and relaxed.
The Shooting Fingers and thumb are spread to provide lateral control/stability. The purpose of the little finger and thumb is to keep the ball from falling side to side. (Diagram 2)
The ball should be in contact with the following parts of the hand and thumb: (diagram 1)
- Fingers and finger tips
- Knuckle pads
- Tip to bottom of the thumb and thumb joint
- Interior edge of the hand (below the little finger)
- Heel of the palm
A common misinterpretation of “the ball not touching the palm” is where many players develop poor hand position habits. With a slightly cupped hand, the ball will not touch the palm and there will be a slight gap between the ball and the palm, but there will be contact with the heel of the palm.
Incorrect grip can lead to the following compensatory mechanical issues:
- Can also force the shooting elbow out.
- Can lead to players relying on too much on the hand and wrist muscles to generate power.
The easiest way to demonstrate the correct grip is too hold your shooting hand out in front with the palm facing the sky, (as if you were holding out your hand to receive something) place the basketball in your hand and hold it with a relaxed, comfortable grip. Now flip the hand over, and cock the wrist as if you were loading up to shoot the ball and keep that same grip on the basketball.
