Partner shooting

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Basketball drill · Under-9 and up

Two players, one ball, one basket. The shooter V-cuts to a spot, catches the pass from their partner under the basket with their feet already set, and shoots. The partner rebounds and passes to the next spot. It is how players get a lot of game-speed shots in a short time.

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Time
10 minutes
Players
Pairs, 1 or 2 pairs per basket
Equipment
  • 1 ball per pair, 1 basket per two pairs
  • 5 cones or tape marks for the shooting spots

Setup

  1. Mark five spots inside the three-point line: both corners, both wings and the top of the key. About 15 to 18 feet from the basket suits most teams; bring them closer for young players.
  2. The shooter starts at a spot. The partner stands under the basket with the ball.
  3. The shooter takes two steps in towards the basket and pops back out to the spot (the V-cut). The partner passes, and the shooter shoots on the catch.
  4. The partner rebounds and passes again as the shooter V-cuts to the next spot.
  5. Five shots from each spot, or a minute of shooting, then swap jobs.

Coaching points

  • Sell the V-cut. Go in hard and come out fast, so the defender you are pretending is there cannot follow.
  • Show your hands as a target: shooting hand up and behind the ball, fingers pointing to the ceiling.
  • Feet ready before the ball arrives: knees bent, feet shoulder-width, toes to the rim, so you can go straight up.
  • Same shot every time: elbow under the ball, follow through and hold it until the ball hits the rim.
  • Passer: a chest pass to the shooting pocket, so the shooter does not have to reach for it.

On the run sheet: V-cut to get open, show your hands, feet ready before the catch, same shot every time

Progressions

  1. Count makes: the pair scores a point for every make and swaps after ten.
  2. Move the spots back to the three-point line for older players.
  3. After passing, the partner closes out with a hand up, so the shooter must shoot over it or shot-fake and take one dribble.

How it runs

The shooter starts out on the right wing and takes two hard steps in towards the basket, then cuts back out to the spot. That V-cut is how a player gets open in a game, and it gets the shooter's legs and feet ready to shoot. The partner under the basket passes as the shooter comes out. The shooter catches it with their feet already set and shoots straight away. In the animation the shot goes up from the right wing spot. The partner then rebounds, the shooter moves to the next spot, and they go again.

Keep the count. A pair that shoots for a minute can take twelve to fifteen shots, which is more than most players get in a whole game.

Why it works

Most shots in a game are taken off a pass, not off the dribble, and the hardest part is being ready before the ball arrives. This drill gets the footwork, the catch and the shot into one rhythm, and it keeps everyone busy. Every player is either shooting or rebounding and passing, and the passer is learning to hit a target too.

The mistakes to watch for

A lazy V-cut that is just a walk to the spot. Catching with straight legs, then bending to shoot, which makes the shot slow. Shooters who drift forward or sideways in the air. Passes thrown at the shooter's feet or over their head.

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