Hook Shot Steps: How to Perform a Basketball Post Hook Shot

A hook shot is a type of basketball shot wherein an offensive player throws up a single arm over their head sideways to make a basket. This shot can be part of a layup or function as its own shot. In the most traditional sense, the player doesn’t jump to make this shot; although variations do feature jumping.

The fundamental elements of a hook shot include using your body to block the defense and then throwing the ball up with one hand. Both taller players (like centers) and shorter, low post players (like point guards) can adapt the hook shot to their unique talents and heights. On a basketball court, the painted, rectangular area that extends forward from beneath the basket is the post; the high post is close to the free throw line, while the low post (where most hook shots occur) is in the immediate area around the basket.

Over the years, many basketball players have put their own spin on the hook shot. Here are three of the most common variations:

1. 1. Baby hook: A player puts up this hook shot in a similar way to a skyhook but with a little more buoyancy by including a jump. This gives the player more leverage than if they left one or both feet on the ground.
2. 2. Jump hook: This play combines the jump shot with the hook shot. The player approaches the basket, jumps with both feet and ideally sinks the shot while still in the air.
3. 3. Skyhook: Perhaps the most famous hook shot variation, the skyhook involves jumping off one foot while perpendicular to the basketball hoop.

Many basketball players skilled at hook shots have made their way through the NBA over the years. Here are four of the most prominent players, whose gameplay you can study to see evidence of their ball-handling skills:

1. 1. George Mikan: Early in NBA history, Mikan deployed the hook shot in the mid-1940s for the first time. In the ensuing decades, everyone from Wilt Chamberlain to Shaquille O'Neal developed variations on the footwork and hand maneuvering necessary to land the shot.
2. 2. James Harden: During his time playing for the Houston Rockets and the Brooklyn Nets, Harden turned the usual hook shot strategy on its head. Rather than put distance between himself and his defender, he uses the closer arm to make his hook shot. This often draws fouls from the defense and enables Harden to shoot free throws, which he can perform with accuracy.
3. 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: At seven-foot-two, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was usually the tallest man on his team, no matter where he played. Throughout his turns playing for UCLA, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Los Angeles Lakers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s skyhook became his signature move.
4. 4. Magic Johnson: One of the most famous players to ever wear a Los Angeles Lakers jersey, Magic Johnson was a leading scorer, repeat MVP, and a great hook shot player. In the 1987 NBA finals, a hook shot from Johnson won game four of the playoffs by just one point against the Celtics.

The hook shot is simple in theory but can be hard to execute in the heat of a game. Keep these three steps in mind when attempting a hook shot:

1. 1. Get near the baseline. While some players—like Stephen Curry or Kobe Bryant—pulled off hook shots from the three-point line, the odds will be in your favor the closer you are to the baseline of the court. Once you position yourself there, you’re far more likely to pull off the move considering the short distance to the basket.
2. 2. Plant yourself parallel. Wherever you find yourself standing, you eventually want to pivot yourself so that you’re parallel to the basket as well as your defender. Keep planted your right or left foot—depending on which is farther away from the basket if you plan to do a skyhook—as you’ll only lift the one nearer the basket.
3. 3. Use a sweeping motion. No matter whether you plan to fire a traditional hook shot or run into a jumping hook, the most important element of the entire maneuver is ensuring your shooting arm travels over your head in a graceful and sweeping motion. Arc it as if it’s a windmill and flick your wrist to finish the shot.

As with many other basketball maneuvers and plays, there’s a lot of room for nuance and practice with the hook shot. Here are five tips to help you practice the shot:

1. 1. Be ready to rebound. Even the best hook shot shooters don’t land all their attempts, so be ready to rebound the ball alongside the rest of your teammates if you miss. As soon as you fire off the ball, plant both feet on the ground and turn toward the basket to prepare to receive it if it bounces off the backboard.
2. 2. Distance yourself from the defense. Since you can fire off the hook shot sideways, take advantage of this by putting a lot of distance between your shooting arm and the defender. You can use your entire body to stop them from swatting at the ball.
3. 3. Dribble low. Before you attempt a hook shot, fake out and sideline players by dribbling low to the ground. Once you cross over to such a high-flying shot, it can discombobulate your opposition.
4. 4. Know when to use a different shot. Just because you develop an accurate hook shot doesn’t mean you should fall back on it in every case. If the court is clear enough for a dunk, don’t let your attachment to the hook shot get in your way. Similarly, be ready to pass or try a more traditional shot if the defender gets accustomed to this play.

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