Introduction

If you’ve coached for more than a week, you’ve probably heard it.
“Keep your elbow at 90 degrees.”

It’s said with confidence. It sounds technical. It even looks okay if you pause the video at just the right frame.

But here’s the problem: it’s not what elite shooters actually do — and teaching it like gospel might be wrecking your players’ development.

This video breaks it all down:
👉 Watch on YouTube

Why the 90-Degree Elbow Tip Falls Apart

The cue feels correct. It gives structure. And when kids freeze at the top of their shot, you can draw a neat little right angle with your finger and nod approvingly.

But if you study any high-level shooter in real-time — Steph, Dame, KD, Caitlin Clark, you name it — their elbow is rarely locked into that perfect 90.

Instead:

• It’s often tighter, angled closer to 60–75 degrees
• It moves dynamically as part of a fluid shooting motion
• And most importantly, they aren’t thinking about angles at all — they’re thinking about rhythm, timing, and feel

So where did this 90-degree thing come from? Most likely from someone pausing a grainy photo in a coaching manual written during the fax machine era.

What to Focus on Instead

Want to develop real shooters — the kind who can score off movement, off the dribble, under pressure?

Ditch the geometry lesson. Here’s what actually matters:

• Feet Turned Slightly
  Instead of squaring to the rim, teach players to turn their feet about 45 degrees toward their non-dominant hand. This opens up the hips and promotes a smoother, more natural release.
• Dip for Power
  Let them dip the ball to their waist after the catch or on the gather. It creates rhythm and adds power — especially critical for younger players.
• Consistent Set Point
  Teach them to bring the ball to the same spot on their forehead every time. Doesn’t need to be pretty — just needs to be repeatable.
• Full Extension Together
  The knees and elbow should hit full extension at the same time. This is what creates arc, balance, and that clean release every coach drools over.
• Follow Through Toward the Top of the Backboard
  A simple cue: reach like you’re trying to touch the top of the backboard. Gets the wrist snap and high finish without overcomplicating it.

How to Re-Teach Players Who Were Taught “Elbow at 90”

This is where it gets tricky.

A lot of players have been drilled on the 90-degree cue since they were six. It’s hardwired. So if you come in hot with “Actually, that’s wrong,” they’ll panic — or worse, completely lose their rhythm.

Here’s how to re-teach without causing an identity crisis:

• Focus on Feel, Not Form
  Ask them how the shot feels when it flows — not how it looks. Most kids know the difference between a forced shot and a fluid one.
• Use New Cues, Not Corrections
  Instead of “stop doing this,” give them something new to focus on. Example: “Let’s get your elbow and knees extending at the same time,” or “Let’s find that set point every time.”
• Encourage Experimentation in Practice
  Give them permission to try it differently in a no-pressure setting. Mess around. Miss a few. Adjust. That’s where change actually sticks.

Final Thoughts

If “elbow at 90” was the key to becoming a great shooter, every kid with a form poster on their wall would be lights out.

But the best shooters don’t shoot like that. They shoot with rhythm. With balance. With flow.

So let’s stop teaching shooting like we’re building IKEA furniture.
Teach feel. Teach flow. Teach freedom.
And let the results — not the angles — speak for themselves.ow for smarter players later — this one’s for you.