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One-Hand Form Shots

Shoot with only your shooting hand to learn a straight elbow and a soft wrist flick.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Stand one big step in front of the rim.

Core: Free-throw line. Beat your own best of makes out of 10.

Ages
7 and up
Time
8 min
Players
Just you
Space
Gym or court
Bring
Basketball, hoop
Level · skill
Beginner · Shooting

The steps

How it works

  1. Stand one big step in front of the rim.
  2. Hold the ball on your shooting hand with your elbow under it.
  3. Shoot with one hand and hold your follow-through.
  4. Make 10, then take one step back and make 10 more.

Coaching point

Elbow under, reach into the cookie jar.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

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.

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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