How to Do a Shot Fake in Basketball

As a good shooter, one of the best tools that you have in your arsenal is the basketball shot fake. Since you have already established yourself as a shooter, the defense will go for the shot fake, and the better you can sell it, the more defenders will go for it. Shot faking is one of the basketball fundamentals that too many players don’t spend enough time working on.

By getting the defender off of their feet, you can drive for a shot for yourself or find an open teammate on the drive. If the defender is worried about the shot fake, they may close out short, leaving you open for a shot. This basketball drill will teach you how to do a shot fake and learn how to really sell your move and what to do after you shot fake someone.

Basketball Drill Overview

Drill Name: How to Do a Shot Fake in Basketball

Equipment Needed: 1 basketball, a basket, and a partner.

Similar Basketball Drills and Resources

• How to Shoot a Basketball
• 3 Minute 90 Point Basketball Shooting Drill
• Coaching the Perfect Basketball Shot Fake

Goals of the Drill

• Teach the proper mechanics of a shot fake and to be efficient on the move.

Coaching Points

• Don’t rise up on your shot fake because it makes you slower.
• Sell your shot fake and make it look exactly how your normal shot looks.
• Use your face and eyes to sell the shot fake.
• Don’t step back after the shot fake and keep your eyes up to see the floor on the dribble.
• Don’t dip the ball on the catch
• On the pull-up, jump straight up and down and don’t drift.

***When you go to your weak hand across your body, you can step into your shot right/left – left/right, or you can take one step on the dribble and then go 1-2 for the pull-up.

Basketball Drill Instructions

1.  Be down ready to shoot the ball with your hands up, and as the ball is coming to you, step into your shot or hop into it.
2. Catch the basketball, put your eyes on the rim, and bring the ball up to your forehead in a shooting motion.
3. As the imaginary defender leaves his feet, you will bring the basketball back down and push it out to your right or left past the defender.
4. Keep your eyes up and cover ground on the dribble.
5. If you are right-handed, you will extend your right foot and use your left foot as your pivot foot (if left-handed, do the opposite).
6. You can now either pull up for a jump shot or drive to the basket for a finish.
7. On the pull-up, jump straight up and down, hold your follow-through and stay in your shot.