Everyone wants to shoot like Ray Allen, but his advanced skill level is not achieved overnight. You have to put in countless hours of practice to develop good shooting form, build muscle memory and increase confidence in your shot.
The old cliché “practice makes perfect” is not entirely true. If you practice something the wrong way over and over again, it is still wrong. One of my former coaches used to say, “practice makes permanent, but perfect practice makes perfect.” If you want to be great at something you need to learn it the right way and then spend hours perfecting it.
When performing basketball drills to improve shooting, it is important to do the same thing on every shot. You are essentially conditioning your body to repeat the motion so you don’t have to mentally focus on it during games. The sequence for every shot should be:

1. Down and ready
2. Show your hands
3. Catch the ball; don’t dip
4. Jump straight up and down
5. Hold your follow through

Players shoot a variety of different shots in a game, depending on their roles in the offense: shooting off the dribble (one on one or off a ball screen); catch and shoot (when a teammate passes the ball to you); triple threat shots (mid range or 3 point line); and on the move (off a down screen, flare screen, etc.). All of these types of shots can be developed only one way—with perfect practice.

Shooting Off the Dribble Drills

• Moves on the Move Shooting Drill
• Diamond Drill, Crossover
• Diamond Drill, Between the Legs
• Diamond Drill, Behind the Back
• Diamond Drill, Reverse Between the Legs

Catch and Shoot Drills

• 2-Minute Magic Shooting Drill
• 3-Minute 90 Point Shooting Drill
• 10-Spot Boston Celtics Shooting Drill
• Ball Movement Shooting Drill
• Bob Knight Mid-Range to 3-Point Shooting Drill

Triple Threat Shooting Drills

• Box Drill, Jab Step Shot
• 5 Chair Crossover, Reverse Pivot Drill
• 5 Chair Between the Legs, Reverse Pivot Drill
• 5 Chair Behind the Back, Reverse Pivot Drill
• 5 Chair Reverse Between the Legs, Reverse Pivot Drill

On the Move Shooting Drills

• Line Shooting Drill
• Reaction Inside Pivot Shooting Drill
• Ray Allen Curl Shooting Drill
• Ray Allen Straight Cut Shooting Drill
• Ray Allen Fade Cut Shooting Drill

These drills are the tools you need to become a great shooter. Find a friend or teammate to rebound for you, and put in the work every day. You will be surprised at how much your shot improves.