Let’s be honest, when you’re just starting out in basketball, the idea of becoming a great shooter can feel pretty overwhelming. You see the pros swishing threes with ease, and it’s easy to think there’s some secret magic to it. But I’m here to tell you, from years of coaching and playing, that magic is really just built on a foundation of relentless, smart practice. Improving your accuracy isn’t about having a perfect jump shot on day one; it’s about mastering the basic shooting drills that train your muscle memory and build consistency. That’s why I’ve put together this 10-step guide. It’s the exact framework I wish I had when I was a teenager spending hours on a cracked concrete court, trying to figure it all out on my own. The journey from a shaky set shot to a reliable, fluid jumper is a marathon, not a sprint, and every great shooter, without exception, has logged countless hours on these fundamentals.

Now, you might wonder why we drill these basics so hard. It’s simple: under pressure, your body will revert to its most ingrained habits. If your form is sloppy in an empty gym, it will completely fall apart when a defender is in your face or the game is on the line. That’s where our guide begins. We start not at the three-point line, but right under the basket, focusing purely on your shooting pocket, your guide hand, and your follow-through. I’m a stickler for the “one motion” shot, where the power from your legs flows seamlessly through your release—it’s just more efficient and repeatable. We’ll spend a whole step, maybe 100 makes per day, just on form shooting from three feet away. It sounds tedious, but trust me, this is where you build the neurological pathways for a pure shot. I often tell my players that for every hour they spend on flashy moves, they should spend three on these boring, foundational drills. The data, though often debated, strongly suggests that players who dedicate at least 70% of their solo workout to form and close-range shooting see a 30-40% greater improvement in game shooting percentage over a season compared to those who just jack up long shots.

This process of building a shooter isn’t done in isolation. Think of it like building a community project. The work you put in on your own—your daily drills, your focus on footwork, your repetition of the “elbow-in” alignment—that’s you doing your part. It’s the individual commitment. But the environment matters immensely. This is where the idea of a support system, like the one hinted at with groups like the WVT, MVT, and a main backer like Lao, becomes so crucial. In basketball terms, your “WVT and MVT” are your coaches, trainers, and the structured programs they provide. They’re doing their part by giving you the right framework and feedback. Your “main backer,” that passionate supporter, could be a dedicated parent, a mentor, or even your own internal drive pushing you to get to the gym on rainy days. And finally, the “UP community”—that’s your teammates, your peers, the guys you run pick-up with. They do their part by providing competition, simulating game speed, and holding you accountable. A shooter developed in a vacuum often falters; a shooter forged in a supportive, competitive ecosystem thrives. When you’re running through a drill like “Spin Outs” or “Catch-and-Shoot off the Dribble,” having a teammate there to pass to you, to close out, to push you, makes all the difference. It bridges the gap between sterile practice and chaotic game reality.

As we move through the steps, from mastering your stance and balance to incorporating game-speed movement and fatigue, remember that each element builds on the last. I personally love the “Around the World” drill for its simplicity and comprehensive coverage, but I always modify it—no moving on until you make three in a row from each spot, not just one. It introduces a mental toughness component. Another non-negotiable in my book is the “Free Throw Routine” drill. We dedicate a full step to it because games are won and lost at the line. I have my players shoot sets of 10, and they can’t leave until they make 8 out of 10 twice in a row. It’s grueling, but it builds a ritual of calm under pressure. The final steps involve creating your own shooting workouts, mixing spots, adding pivots and fakes, and most importantly, tracking your makes and misses. I’m old-school; I believe in a handwritten notebook. Seeing that you hit 62% from the corner last week and pushing for 65% this week gives you tangible, motivating goals. It turns abstract “improvement” into a concrete numbers game.

In the end, mastering these basic drills is about earning confidence. It’s the confidence that comes from knowing you’ve put in the work, that your form is sound, and that you’ve practiced these shots thousands of times. That confidence allows you to shoot without hesitation, which is the hallmark of every great shooter. The path isn’t glamorous. It’s filled with missed shots, sore shoulders, and the monotony of repetition. But when you break it down into these 10 manageable steps, and you understand that your personal grind is part of a larger ecosystem of support and competition—where you do your part, your coaches do theirs, and your community lifts everyone up—the journey becomes not just achievable, but incredibly rewarding. So grab a ball, find a rim, and start with step one. Your future self, knocking down a clutch shot, will thank you for the discipline you start building today.

LIGHTING, LIGHTING, AND MORE LIGHTING
People are typically drawn to bars solely based on their atmosphere. The best way to knock your next commercial bar design out of the park is using the perfect amount and type of lighting. Use standout light fixtures as their very own statement piece, track lighting for adjustable ambiance, hanging pendant lights over tables, and ambient backlighting to display the alcohol. Bartenders need to serve and customers need to order, so make sure it’s just functional as it is attractive. 

CHOOSING YOUR BARTOP
What may seem so obvious, is often so overlooked in commercial bar design- the material of your actual bartop itself. While we realize stone and marble are as classy and elegant-looking as can be, the reality is that they just aren’t your best option for a durable and long lasting bartop. They crack, have no grip, and break way too many glasses. Opt for a high-quality wood bar instead. Oaks, maples, mahoganies, and ashes are sturdy and provide your customers with a firm grip for their glasses. 

THEME 
In a sea of millions upon millions of bars, how can you make your commercial bar design stand apart from the rest? The answer is to pick a unique, centralized theme and run with it. Whether it’s your next sit-down restaurant bar design, or remodeling the small, locally-favorite gem, you have to find out what your clientele wants. Survey the neighborhood of your establishment and find out what the demographics are there. Maybe a gritty, western bar would be a hit. Or maybe a more modern, sleek design is what’s missing in the area. Whatever theme you decide upon, hit it out of the park with the perfect lighting, wall art, music, and furniture. It’s all in the details. 

THE GUIDE TO YOUR NEXT RESTOBAR 
You’ve got the food, you’ve got the restaurant, you’ve got the customers, now all you need is a beautifully designed bar to top it all off.  Small bar designs for restaurants have a tendency to be a little thrown together and incohesive with the rest of the establishment. Stay on brand- create consistency with tying in the same color scheme, furniture, art, and overall ambiance of the pre-existing restaurant. Make sure the placement of your bar makes sense as well, have it in a place where it’s visible and easy to navigate but not in the way of servers and other guests. If the bar is going to serve food, be sure to consider the location of the kitchen to not obstruct traffic flow. Consider all of these small tips as you work through your next restaurant bar design. 

SPACE CONSTRAINT 
It’s no secret that bars have the reputation of being a little cramped, and in some cases- way too cramped. Consider all of the space constraints while designing your next commercial bar design and we can change that bad rap that bars have been holding for far too long. First and foremost, be sure to measure your bar, barstool, cabinet, and equipment height. Generally, a bar is 42” in height while a stool is 30” in height. Also be sure to allow at least 3’ of space between the bar and the alcohol for the bartender’s functionality and efficiency. Consider multiple register and drink-making stations for bartenders as well. Allowing 2’ between patrons is going to give them enough space to eat and drink, and most importantly, simply be comfortable. All of these considerations are especially helpful if it is a restaurant bar design, where the space is even more valuable.