Why We Target Where We Target, Why We Throw How We Throw

Questions to teach marksmanship when shooting baskets

Once you get the equation, front rim + Parabola, now what? Now, understand how to target the front rim, and how to throw the ball in the shape of a parabola. Then come back and see me.

~ Your Shooting Physics-ian

If you are hunting Elks in the wild and have one in the sight of your rifle, should you target...

A) Where the Elk is
B) Where the Elk came from
C) Where the Elk will be
D) None of the above

The correct answer for hunting the elk is:

C) where the elk is going to be.

Why?

When shooting at a moving target, you must anticipate its future position based on its speed and direction. If you aim where the elk is, by the time the bullet reaches that spot, the elk will have moved. Targeting where it will be accounts for the time it takes for the shot to reach the target.

Compare this to the basket

If you can answer this correctly it will profoundly adjust your understanding of where to target and why.

Should you target...

A) the nest or center of the basket (where the basket is)
B) the back of the basket (where the basket was)
C) the front of the basket (where the basket is going to be)
D) none of the above

The correct answer is:

C) the front of the basket (where the basket is going to be).

Why?

This answer applies if you consider the ball's inertia due to its forward motion rather than just aiming at a fixed target. When shooting a basketball, the ball is in motion and objects in motion remain in motion—meaning the ball is always moving toward a future point in space, not a static one.

If you aim for the center of the hoop (A), with inertia, this causes the ball to hit the back or long.
If you aim for the back of the rim (B), you're likely to shoot too hard, increasing the risk of the ball reaching the backboard.
By aiming at the front of the rim (C), you are accounting for the ball’s forward motion and the time it takes for the inertia to die where the basket will be.

The Profound Shift in Understanding:

This aligns with the principle of targeting where the result will happen, not where the object currently is. Just as in hunting, where you must lead a moving target, in shooting a basketball, you must lead the shot to where the ball will best enter the hoop—which is the front of the rim, guiding the ball down into the basket with proper touch and arc.

2 Types of Throws

If the basket were horizontal, which type of throw is needed...

A) Parabola

B) Flat

C) Bounce

D) none of the above

Since the basket is vertical, what type of throw is needed...

A) Parabola

B) Flat

C) Bounce

D) none of the above

In basketball, targeting and throwing are dictated by the nature of the target and the physics of the ball’s movement. Because the basket is a fixed vertical target, we must throw the ball in a way that optimizes its chances of successfully passing through the hoop.

If the Basket Were Horizontal, Which Type of Throw is Needed?

Why?

If the basket were horizontal (like a soccer goal), a flat throw would be ideal because the ball would travel directly to the target without needing to drop in from above.

This is similar to passing, where the goal is to deliver the ball in a straight, controlled line toward a receiver.

Since the Basket is Vertical, What Type of Throw is Needed?

Why?

Since the basket is upright, the ball must come from above to increase the likelihood of going in. A parabolic trajectory (rainbow arc) ensures that the ball drops into the hoop rather than approaching it from a shallow angle, which increases the margin for error.

A flat shot (like a straight pass) has little chance of going in unless it's perfectly precise, and even then, it increases the chances of bouncing out.

A bounce pass obviously wouldn’t work for shooting, as the ball wouldn’t reach the target.

The Shooter’s Game & Marksmanship

Shooting in basketball is not about power but about precision and trajectory. Just like a skilled marksman adjusts for distance, gravity, and angle, a great shooter understands that a high-arcing shot (parabolic) and early target gives the ball the best entry angle and highest percentage of success.

If the basket were horizontal, we would shoot differently. But because the basket is vertical, a proper shooting arc is critical for consistent accuracy.