The set point is the spot where the ball stops for a moment before your arm extends. A consistent set point makes a consistent shot.
Pocket vs. set point
- Shooting pocket: where you catch and hold the ball, usually near your hip or chest on the shooting side
- Set point: where the ball is just before release, usually above or in front of your forehead
The ball travels from the pocket to the set point in one smooth line.
What a good set point looks like
- Elbow under the ball and pointing at the rim
- Wrist cocked back so the ball rests on your fingertips
- Ball in line with your shooting eye
- Same spot on every shot
Common mistakes
- Set point too low: the shot turns into a push from the chest and comes out flat
- Set point too far to the side: the ball drifts off line
- Stopping too long: the shot loses rhythm
Drill: wall set point
Stand a foot from a wall facing it. Raise the ball to your set point and check that the ball and your elbow stay in line. Hold for two seconds, then extend. Do 3 sets of 10.
Check your own set point
Your set point depends on your arm angle. HoopArea tracks elbow extension and arm alignment in a filmed shot, so you can see whether your set point stays the same from shot to shot.
See your own shot scored. Film one jump shot and HoopArea maps your joints and scores your form out of 10, with the exact fixes. Download HoopArea free on the App Store