Master the Pick-n-Roll Shooting Drill for Game-Time Scoring
The Pick-n-Roll is the bread and butter of modern basketball offense, and this drill is designed to turn you into a lethal threat coming off the screen. Designed for guards and wings, this exercise combines elite ball-handling with dynamic shot-making, forcing you to execute under simulated pressure. You aren't just practicing a shot; you are simulating the specific footwork, balance, and spatial awareness required to punish defenses when they drop or go under the screen.
How to Perform This Drill
- Set Up: Start at the top of the key or the wing in a low, athletic stance. Visualize a screener arriving on your left or right side.
- Set Up the Defender: Use a hard jab step or a setup dribble away from the screen to shift your imaginary defender’s weight and create a passing angle for the screen.
- Rub the Screen: Dribble aggressively off the screen side. You must brush your shoulder against the imaginary screener's hip—if there is a gap, a good defender will fight through it.
- Attack Downhill: Take one or two hard dribbles toward the elbow or the paint. This engages the "drop" defender and forces a decision.
- Stabilize and Elevate: Come to a quick, controlled stop using a 1-2 stride or a hop. Transfer your momentum vertically, square your shoulders in the air, and release a high-point jump shot.
- Reset and Vary: After the shot, reset and switch sides. Incorporate variations like rejecting the screen (crossing over away from the pick) or snaking the dribble back to the middle.
Why This Drill Works
This drill bridges the gap between static shooting and live gameplay by introducing movement and decision-making. In a game, you rarely get to shoot with your feet perfectly set; you have to generate power off the dribble while drifting or moving forward. By practicing the Pick-n-Roll shot, you develop the core stability and "kinetic chain" efficiency needed to stop on a dime and shoot with the same accuracy as a free throw. It also trains your eyes to read depth, helping you understand exactly where your scoring pocket exists between the on-ball defender and the help defense.
Pro Tips
- Change Your Pace: Do not play at one speed. Go from slow (setting up the screen) to fast (turning the corner) to slow (controlled shooting gather). This rhythm throws off the defender's timing.
- Eyes on the Rim: Pick up the rim with your eyes as soon as you clear the screen. Late vision leads to rushing your mechanics.
- Low Pickup Point: When you gather the ball into your shooting pocket, keep it low and tight to your body. A high or loose gather gives the recovering defender a chance to strip the ball.
- Land on Balance: Focus on sticking your landing. If you are drifting sideways or falling backward on the landing, you aren't engaging your core enough during the elevation phase.