ScoutIQ / Glossary / Basketball / Shot Types
How a shot is taken changes how often it goes in. These are the shot types players log on the ScoutIQ Practice Board, plus a few more you'll hear in film sessions.
A shot taken right next to the basket, usually off one foot after a drive or a cut. The player lays the ball softly off the backboard or over the front of the rim. Without a defender in the way, it's the easiest shot in the game.
Coaching Tip Jump off the foot opposite your shooting hand and aim for the top corner of the square on the glass.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Log it in one tap on the Practice Board.
Related Reverse Layup · Euro Step · Putback
Also Called Reverse
A layup where the player drives under the basket and finishes on the other side. The rim sits between the ball and the defender, which makes it hard to block.
Coaching Tip Use the hand farthest from the defender and put a little spin on it off the glass.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Log it in one tap on the Practice Board.
Also Called Runner, Teardrop
A soft, high-arcing shot released in the lane, usually from about 5 to 12 feet away. The player shoots it before reaching the rim so the ball floats over taller defenders.
Coaching Tip Let it go at the top of your jump with a soft wrist. Don't wait until you're at the rim.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Log it in one tap on the Practice Board.
Related Layup · Pull-Up Jumper
Also Called Hook, Jump Hook
A one-handed shot where the shooter turns sideways to the basket and swings the ball up and over with the arm away from the defender. The shoulder and body protect the ball, so it's hard to block.
Coaching Tip Keep your off arm up as a shield and release the ball at the top, not on the way up.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Log it in one tap on the Practice Board.
Also Called Slam, Jam
A shot where the player jumps high enough to push the ball down through the rim with one or both hands. When a player can get there, it's the surest finish in the game.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Log it in one tap on the Practice Board.
Also Called Tip, Tip Shot
A score where a player taps a missed shot back into the basket in mid-air without catching it. The points go to the player who tipped it.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Log it in one tap on the Practice Board.
Related Putback · Offensive Rebound Percentage
Also Called Lob, Oop
A play where one player lobs the ball toward the rim and a teammate catches it in the air and scores before landing, usually with a dunk or layup. The pass and the jump have to be timed together.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Log it in one tap on the Practice Board.
Also Called Jumper, Mid-Range Jumper
A shot where the player jumps straight up and releases the ball at or near the top of the jump. On the ScoutIQ Practice Board, Jump Shot means a two-pointer; threes have their own buttons.
Coaching Tip Land in the same spot you jumped from. Drifting usually means your feet weren't set.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Log it in one tap on the Practice Board.
Related Pull-Up Jumper · Three-Pointer · Fadeaway
Also Called Pull-Up
A jump shot taken right off the dribble, where the player stops quickly and rises into the shot instead of driving to the rim. It works well when the defender is backing up to stop the drive.
Coaching Tip Your last dribble should be hard and low so the ball arrives in your shooting pocket.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Log it in one tap on the Practice Board.
Also Called Catch-and-Shoot 3, Three, Triple
Any made shot with both feet behind the three-point line is worth three points. On the ScoutIQ Practice Board, this button means a catch-and-shoot three: the shooter catches a pass and shoots without dribbling.
Coaching Tip Have your feet ready and your hands up before the pass arrives.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Log it in one tap on the Practice Board.
Also Called Pull-Up Three, Off-the-Dribble 3
A three-pointer taken right off the dribble instead of after catching a pass. It's harder to make than a catch-and-shoot three, but the shooter doesn't need anyone to set it up.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Log it in one tap on the Practice Board.
Related Three-Pointer · Pull-Up Jumper · Step-Back
Also Called Foul Shot, FT
An unguarded shot from the free-throw line, 15 feet from the backboard, awarded after certain fouls. Each make is worth one point, and the game clock is stopped.
Coaching Tip Use the same routine every time, down to the number of dribbles.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Log it in one tap on the Practice Board.
A catch-all label for shots that don't fit another type, like a half-court heave at the buzzer or an off-balance scoop. Logging them keeps your shot totals complete.
How ScoutIQ Uses This Use it on the Practice Board when no other button fits, so your totals still add up.
Also Called Bank
A shot aimed off the backboard so it bounces in. It works best from the angles on either side of the basket, where the square on the glass gives the shooter a clear target.
Also Called Fadeaway Jumper, Fade
A jump shot taken while leaning or jumping backward, away from the basket. The extra space makes it hard to block, but moving backward makes it harder to shoot well.
Also Called Step-Back Jumper, Step-Back 3
A move where the ball handler takes a hard step backward, away from the defender, right before shooting. The step creates space for a jump shot or a three.
A score where a player grabs an offensive rebound and goes right back up with it. Unlike a tip-in, the player catches the ball first.
Related Tip-In · Putback Play · Offensive Rebound Percentage
Also Called Eurostep
A layup move where the driver picks up the ball, steps one way, then takes a second step the other way to get around the defender. Both steps come after the last dribble, so the footwork has to stay legal.
Related Layup · Reverse Layup · Traveling
Also Called Corner Three
A three-pointer taken from either corner, along the baseline. On college and pro courts the line is closer to the rim in the corners, so offenses work to create this shot.
Related Three-Pointer · Spot Up · Drive and Kick