Mastering the Shooting Guard Position: Tips and Techniques

Thanks to basketball players like Golden State’s Steph Curry, it’s never been so cool to launch long shots from distances that seemed unthinkable 50 years ago.

Back then, players didn’t get an extra point for making a longer shot. Every basket, no matter if it was 10 feet or 30 feet, counted as 2 points. There wasn’t an incentive to shoot from long distances.

When the National Basketball Association instituted the 3-point shot in 1979-80, the game changed.

It opened the offensive side of the floor up. Players weren’t crowded inside trying to take high-percentage shots near the basket. Adding the extra point for a longer shot created a new generation of players, who sometimes specialized in making 3-point shots.

Many of the 3-point shots taken in a game are from a shooting guard.

Curry expanded the range of the 3-point shot. He regularly takes them from 30 feet, which is roughly 7 feet behind the 3-point line. Now, other players often take long 3-pointers, too.

Shooting guards play a pivotal role in a team’s success. If they make shots from outside, it opens scoring opportunities for other players. If more players score, it’s harder for the offense to defend.

This article will examine the expanded role of the shooting guard in basketball and why they’re important to a team’s success.

What’s the Role of a Shooting Guard?

The shooting guard’s main job is to shoot the basketball and try to score. The shooting guard isn’t necessarily the highest scoring player for a team, but they’re often the best “pure” shooter. A pure shooter is a player who has good shooting form, and who makes a high percentage of their shots. They often make the most 3-point shots on a team, which is from beyond 23’9” in the NBA, 22’1¾" in college, and 19’9” in high school.  Versatile shooting guards are skilled mid-range shooters who can also get into the lane and make layups. There are 3 basic shots for shooting guards:

• Layup: A layup is a shot made by a player close to the basket. It usually occurs when a player is dribbling to the basket. Often, the player will bounce the ball off the backboard for the score.
• Mid-Range Jump Shot: A mid-range jump shot is usually considered a shot between 10 and 15 feet. It’s not as far as a 3-point shot but it’s closer than a layup.
• 3-point shot: A 3-point shot is any made shot from beyond 23’9” in the NBA, 22’1¾" in college, and 19’9” in high school. The shot counts for 3 points instead of 2.

Types of Shooting Guards

In basketball, each player is assigned a number. It’s a way for coaches to identify their players. The shooting guard has the No. 2 while the point guard is No.1. The small forward gets the No. 3 while the power forward gets No. 4. The center is No. 5. Shooting guards also can score in other ways. They’re sometimes good at making mid-range jump shots. There are several different types of players that shoot the ball.

• Combo Guard: A combo guard is a guard that can play either as a shooting guard or as a point guard. They’re skilled at running the offense, but they can also play strictly as a shooting guard.
• 3-Point Specialist: Some teams have players who are specifically designated to take 3-point shots. They might come off the bench as the 6^th player. Teams use 5 players in a game, so the 6^th player is the first substitute. Often, it’s their job to spark the offense and make shots from long range. They’re called specialists because their focus is on making 3-point shots and they’re good at it.
• Combo Guard/Forward: A combo guard/forward is a player who switches between the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. They sometimes can guard a forward on defense but play a shooting guard role on offense. They have all the skills of a guard and a forward.

Because many players have versatile skills, it’s possible to have a player or players who could play as a point guard, forward, or shooting guard during a game. It often depends on the situation and what the team needs to create the best matchups for them to have a chance to win.

Tips on Being a Successful Shooting Guard

Shooting guards need to learn how to get “open looks” to get their 3-point shots off. An open look means that they don’t have a defender in their face guarding them. One way to do this is to learn how to use screens to find an opening. A screen is when a teammate steps in front of the person who’s guarding you. The screen shields the defender guarding the shooter, helping them get a clear view of the basket. The shooter must learn how to shoot over their own screener. Below are some drills to help you become a better shooting guard.

• Step Back Jumper: A step back jumper is when you dribble full speed at an opponent until you almost or barely contact them. You come to a full stop and then step backwards and shoot a jump shot. It’s one way to get your shot off without having a player screen for you. To work on this move, start at half court. Have a defender positioned just inside the 3-point line. Dribble into that defender and then step back and shoot a 3-pointer. Do it until you make 10 shots.
• Quick-Step Pullup: Take a pass from either wing at the top of the key. Dribble once forward and then do a crossover dribble twice. A crossover dribble is when you dribble from hand-to-hand. After the second crossover dribble, stop and take a jump shot. Make 5 on each side of the lane. Repeat this drill with a defender standing on each side of the wing. Shoot over the defender.
• Finishing Drill: From the top of the key, take 3 dribbles and finish with a layup. Do it with both your left and right hand. Do this 10 times for each hand.

Learning to play shooting guard is exciting. To play well, you need to master different skills besides just shooting the basketball successfully. The best shooting guards work at their craft constantly. The sooner you start developing your shooting guard skills, the more you’ll enjoy playing the position.