Once the Shooting Hand reaches the Set Point, the shooter’s goal is to position the middle of the shooting hand directly underneath the center of the ball, with the fingers parallel to the target line when viewed from the front or behind. This alignment is crucial for applying force evenly through the ball during the release and ensuring the ball travels in a straight line toward the target.

Finger Position and Grip

The shooting hand thumb should be spread comfortably wide. For most players, when the thumb is in this position, the index (pointer) finger becomes the natural center of the grip. While some players with different hand proportions may experience slight variations, the majority of shooters find that the index finger serves as the center of control. This finger-centered grip allows the shooting hand to evenly support both sides of the ball, distributing force symmetrically as the ball is pushed out of the Set Point.

For most players the middle finger is not the center of their grip. Putting the middle finger on the middle of the ball will cause players to support and push the thumb side of the ball more, causing the ball to go in the opposite direction. Most players, the index finger is the center of their grip.

The parallel position of the fingers helps ensure that the shooting hand maintains proper control throughout the shot, particularly when snapping the wrist at release. The more parallel the fingers are, the better they will guide the ball from the Set Point toward the hoop.

Weight Distribution in the Hand

More important than whether the ball touches the shooter’s palm is the weight distribution in the shooting hand. The key is to ensure that the weight of the ball is resting in the fingers, as the fingers are responsible for applying force to the ball. If the palm happens to touch the ball but the fingers maintain the bulk of control and force, the palm contact is not detrimental to the shot.

The Reality of Hand Positioning

While it may be theoretically ideal to have the shooting hand positioned correctly from the start (in the triple-threat position, with fingers parallel to the target line), this ideal rarely happens in the game setting. In theory, having the shooting hand perfectly on top of the ball and aligned with the target line would allow the player to lift the ball straight up, generating Positive Energy and leading directly to an optimal Set Point. However, due to the fast-paced nature of the game, players often have to make adjustments during the shot.

The Ideal Release and Wrist Snap

Since the index finger is typically under the middle of the ball at the Set Point, the ideal release would theoretically see the ball come off the index finger. However, due to the variability and force involved in the final wrist snap, this precision is not realistic or necessary. The true skill of shooting comes not from perfect replication, but from the ability to make tiny, subtle adjustments to account for the variability in each shot.

The wrist snap is the final action that plays a critical role in the shot. As the player snaps their wrist, the thumb on one side of the ball pushes against the fingers on the opposite side, creating a self-correcting mechanism that guides the ball close to the center of the hand at release. This action also imparts backspin on the ball, which helps with control and stability as the ball travels through the air.

Backspin and Control

The amount of backspin created by the wrist snap varies from player to player, and it is not necessarily important to generate more or less spin. What matters is that the wrist snap produces the self-correcting movement that ensures the ball is released from the center of the hand, and that the backspin is consistent. Backspin helps keep the ball stable and controlled, but its precise amount is less critical than the motion that creates it.