Do you tense up when shooting contested shots? If so, it’s because you’re uncomfortable taking challenged shots. Here’s how to fix it…
Shooting contested shots is scary.
It really is. And the reason why it’s nerve-racking is that it’s embarrassing to get blocked (and also because someone’s charging at you).
But this is all psychological.
If you can get over this fear and be comfortable with a hand in your face when you’re shooting, then you won’t freak out.
Right now, you may be wondering why it’s necessary to be able to take contested shots.
The reason why is that most of the shots you take will be challenged. There will always be a defender trying to alter your shot (well, most of the time anyway).
So you need to learn to be comfortable in these situations; you have to be able to not be a nervous wreck.
Because if you are, this will be more embarrassing than getting your shot viciously stuffed.
Trust me. I’ve humiliated myself plenty while nervously taking bad, contested shots. Air-balling because I was afraid, by far, felt worse than getting blocked.
Also, don’t you want to make heroic clutch plays, like OG Anunoby during the 2020 NBA Playoffs? Being calm and collected will help you achieve this.
So, here are some drills you can do to not get flabbergasted as you shoot contested shots.
Shooting Contested Shots Drill
When I was in middle school, my basketball coach often made us practise pull-up jumpers from the free-throw line.
He was an old-school coach who preferred mid-range shots over three-pointers.
We would take a few dribbles up to the line and take our jump shot.
But this jerk would randomly put his arm up every now and then to contest our shots. He never tried to block it, but he sure as hell tried to make us nervous.
And he succeeded.
But you know what? This method worked.
After a few practices, his random shot contesting didn’t startle most of us.
So, I guess he wasn’t a jerk after all -he just wanted to help us!
(To be real though, he was a really good coach.)
How to do the Contested Shot Drill
First, find a partner. If you can’t, I’ll show you a varied version later.
Second, you’re going to get your partner to randomly challenge your mid-range jumpers.
He’s just going to stand near you (in front or on the side of you) and put his arm up every now and then. He will only contest the shot, not try to block you.
The goal of the defender is to bother you as you shoot, not stop you from making the shot.
You can take as many jumpers as you’d like.
Keep in mind, however, that the more you take, the quicker you’ll get comfortable.
But at the same time, if you overdo it, it may affect the quality of your shots. So, you need to experiment with this.
If you’re unsure how many shots to start with, I say go with 10 shots and then swap roles with your partner.
Additionally, you should shoot from the free-throw line to start.
Once you’re more comfortable, then you can start to move around and shoot from various spots on the court. Your partner can also close out on your shots if they choose to.
Do this drill until you’re tired or for a certain amount of time (like 30 minutes).
Alternatively, you can do the Carmelo Anthony shooting workout, but with a shot contender.
The difference with this workout is that you’ll be doing various types of jumpshots (jab step shot, one-dribble shot, etc.).
The moves are more complex than the ones in the primary drill.
So, if you get comfortable or the primary drill is too easy, try this one instead. Click here to learn more about it.
How to do the Contested Shot Drill By Yourself
If you aren’t able to find a partner because you have no friends or you just want to do this drill solo, you’re going to need a basketball dummy (or something that can act as one, like a broomstick or snow shovel if you’re the creative type).
(Just a heads up: some of the following links are affiliate links. What this means is that if you use them to buy something, I will get a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)
I suggest you (the non-creative types) either get the SKLZ D-Man Trainer or a standing reflex bag for boxing.
With a standing reflex bag, you can use it for dual purposes. You can use it to practise shooting contested shots and to do the boxing portion of the MMA Basketball Workout.
But it’s totally up to you. Either device will work just fine.
Once you got that sorted out, here’s how to run the drill:
Similar to the partner drill, you’re going to take mid-range pull-up shots (preferable from the free-throw line).
But instead of having your shot randomly contested, you’re going to take your shot right in front of the dummy.
You’re going to take 20 shots per set. And you’re going to do as many sets as you can; you will practise until you get tired.
Additionally, when taking contested shots, remember to shoot a high-arching shot. This will ensure that your shot goes over the defender’s (or dummy’s) reach.
Conclusion
And that’s how you can get comfortable with contested shots.
Give it a try and see how it benefits and improves your game.
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P.S. If you’re struggling to improve in basketball, you may be training wrong.
This is why you need to check out my Old Man Game Activity Guide. It’s a convenient training system that will help you work on your fundamentals and conditioning.
Click here to learn more about it.
