Game version
Shooting gallery: two teams of two take turns at the hoop from marked spots, and each team adds up only its own makes.
Finishing Past a Shot Contest
Finish while a partner holds a pad or foam noodle up to contest, choosing the reverse, the floater or the power finish.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Your partner stands near the rim holding a pad up high.
Core: Free-throw line. Beat your own best of makes out of 10.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 14 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Gym or court
- Bring
- Basketball, hoop, partner, pad or foam noodle
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Shooting
The steps
How it works
- Your partner stands near the rim holding a pad up high.
- Drive and read where they lift it.
- Pick the finish that goes away from the pad.
- Do 15 drives and count makes.
Coaching point
Read the pad, finish away.
Safety: The pad only goes up; nobody swings it at the shooter. Land on two feet.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a spot: Less (close), Core (free-throw line), More (a step back). Beat your own best of makes out of 10.
Story
You are an astronaut and the hoop is the docking port, so every make is a perfect landing.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best of makes out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
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