Extending Your Range: Mastering the Logo Shot
Modern basketball has pushed the boundaries of shooting range, and the "Logo Shot" is the ultimate test of your mechanics, power transfer, and confidence. This advanced shooting drill focuses on extending your effective range well beyond the standard three-point line, forcing defenses to guard you the moment you cross half-court. It is designed for intermediate to elite players looking to refine their kinetic chain and add a lethal deep ball to their scoring arsenal.
How to Perform This Drill
- Position: Start at the center court logo, or approximately 30 to 35 feet from the basket, with your body aligned toward the rim.
- Load: Drop into a deep athletic stance, loading your hips and knees more significantly than a standard mid-range jumper to generate maximum upward force.
- Gather: Utilize a fluid "one-motion" mechanic, gathering the ball smoothly from a low dip point up through your shooting pocket without pausing.
- Release: release the ball slightly earlier in your jump than usual—on the way up—to fully utilize the momentum generated by your legs.
- Land: Allow your feet to sway forward naturally on the landing, which helps relieve shoulder tension and increases the arc of the shot.
Why This Drill Works
Shooting from the logo isn't just about showing off; it forces you to perfect the efficiency of your shot. At this distance, any hitch in your shot or disconnect in your kinetic chain results in a miss, meaning you must perfectly synchronize your ankle, knee, and hip extension with your release. By mastering this range, you create massive spacing advantages in a game; when a defender has to pick you up at 35 feet, it opens up expansive driving lanes for you and cutting lanes for your teammates.
Pro Tips
- Power from the ground: Your arms guide the ball, but your legs power it. If you are consistently short, focus on an explosive upward thrust from your quads and glutes rather than pushing harder with your upper body.
- Elbow above eyebrow: To compensate for the distance, you need a higher trajectory. Ensure your shooting elbow finishes above your eye level to give the ball a "soft" landing on the rim.
- Eliminate tension: Range requires relaxation, not muscle. Keep your shoulders loose and your wrist fluid; a tense shooter pushes the ball flat, while a relaxed shooter transfers energy efficiently.
- One smooth motion: Avoid a "two-motion" shot where you pause at the top of your jump. For deep range, the ball must move in one continuous flow from the gather to the release.