Live by the 3 Pointer or Die by the 3 Pointer
Improve your shooting percentage with these drills
What a start to the NCAA tournament this has been! We’ve made it to the Sweet Sixteen, with several upsets and a bunch of games that have gone down to the wire. The first weekend of the tournament shows you why they call it March Madness, and I along with most other basketball fans can’t get enough of it. In the Duke vs. South Carolina game in the second round, I saw one of the most physical games of the tournament, with players slashing to the basket and taking on defenders around the rim. But that isn’t the trend within major college basketball lately. It seems that more teams are living (or dying) by the 3 pointer.
Of the sixteen teams remaining, three of them are in the Top 10 in the NCAA for 3 Point Field Goal Percentage this year: UCLA, Kansas, and Purdue. Obviously, teams can have a lot of success with the 3 pointer, so I wanted to share a couple 3 point shooting drills that you can find in the FREE Hustle app that you can check out to improve your 3 point field goal percentage.
Trace the 3-Point Arc: Starting at either corner, begin by taking a 3 pointer with a teammate as your rebounder. After taking the shot at the corner, sprint around the 3 point arc, using the 3 point line as your guide until you make it to the opposite corner. Receive the pass from your rebounder and take a second shot. Then finish by sprinting back around the arc to the original corner for a third 3 point attempt. This drill works on agility, stamina and shooting accuracy from the corners.
Sprint from Halfcourt 3 Pointer: This is another drill where you need a teammate, and another great way to build stamina and shooting form. This will also help you prepare to spot up for 3’s during a fast break. Start at half court, and run towards the 3 point line. Receive a pass from your teammate under the hoop as you’re spotting up. Shoot the 3 pointer and sprint back to half court while your teammate collects the rebound. Sprint back to the 3 point line for another shot. Do a set of 10 shots, then switch with your teammate.
For both of these drills, you can make a game for yourself in order to finish. Push yourself to make a certain number of shots before you switch with your teammate. Or, once you make the number of shots, require yourself to hit two in a row before you switch. They’re both physically draining, but when you add the mental component, it’s a great way to push yourself further.
As you’re seeing in this years NCAA basketball tournament, the 3 point shot is a big focus for many of the elite teams. The 3 pointer has the ability to change trajectory of a game quickly, but if your 3 point field goal percentage is struggling, you can also die by the 3 pointer. Fortunately, with the Hustle app, you can work on your long range shooting skills and reach your goals.
If you’re looking for more guidance on specific drills to improve any aspect of your game, from shooting, passing and dribbling to rebounding, defending and conditioning, try out the Hustle app — it’s free!
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