Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Right-handed lay-up
• Method 2 of 2: Left-handed lay-up
• Tips
• Warnings

A lay-up is considered the easiest shot in basketball to take because it is taken so close to the basket that there is a good chance that you will score every time. Since you move towards the basket when creating a lay-up, your footwork is the most important part of a lay-up to master. Learning how to do a lay-up from both the left and right sides of the basket will help you score better against your opponents.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Right-handed lay-up

1. Dribble close to the basket with your right hand. Since you are doing a right-handed lay-up, you must approach the basket from the right. You need to get close enough to the basket for easy access, but not close enough to get out directly under it.
   • Lay-ups are often started from a running dribble. Practice slowly approaching the basket at first, then increase your speed as you master the footwork.
   • You can do a right-handed lay-up if you start close to the center or the right side of the basket. When approaching the basket from the left, do a left-handed lay-up.
2. Step towards the basket with your right foot. When you are only a few feet from the basket, take a step in the direction of the basket with your right foot. Use this step to gain distance and position yourself within easy shooting range. Dribble the ball just outside your right foot one last time.
3. Take off with your left foot. As soon as your left foot lands, jump it towards the basket. Your body moves towards the basket, but you should not lean forward. Ideally, you are close enough to the basket that you can jump up to shoot one. As you jump, bring the ball to your chest from the dribble to prepare for the shot.
4. Shoot with your right hand while lifting your right leg. Imagine attaching a rope to your right arm and your right leg as you jump. Move them at the same time as you shoot, as if someone were pulling them up by the rope. Your right knee should be bent and pointing towards the basket as your right arm moves up to shoot the ball. Bend your arm towards the basket. Shoot with your elbow slightly bent so that your arm looks like a swan's neck.
   • When doing a lay-up, the shooting technique is slightly different from that of a normal shot. Instead of using your left hand to stabilize the ball, shoot the ball with your right hand only. This gives you more reach and because you are so close to the basket that it is difficult to miss the shot, you don't really need your left hand to stabilize the ball.
   • While firing, twist your wrist in slightly to make the ball turn slightly, instead of flipping your wrist forward as you would with a normal shot. The gentle twist keeps the ball from bouncing off the edge or backboard with too much force.
5. Focus on the sweet spot on the backboard. One of the reasons a lay-up is so secure is that you can always use the backboard to guide the shot into the basket. When doing a right-handed lay-up, the sweet spot is slightly to the right of the square in the center of the backboard. This spot absorbs the impact of the ball and lets it fall straight down through the net.
   • You get two points however you shoot, but it's better to aim for the backboard instead of trying to tap the ball across the ring. The backboard is less prone to error, but if you hit the ring weird, the ball bounces right out. There's nothing worse than missing a free lay-up, where you can get to the basket unimpeded, so train on it to hit the right spot every time.
6. Practice until your muscles remember the movement. The lay-up is a basic basketball move that becomes second nature after you practice it enough. You have to get to the point where your body remembers what to do and you don't have to think about which foot to put forward and which foot to jump with: you just do it. Do lay-ups as part of any basketball practice.
   • As you practice, you will get a good feel for how fast to approach the basket and from what distance to start your lay-up footwork and proceed to the jump.
   • Work on doing lay-ups while being defended or from a long pass.

Method 2 of 2: Left-handed lay-up

1. Dribble close to the basket with your left hand. Approach the left side of the basket while dribbling. Dribble close enough to the basket so that you can easily take a shot at the basket and proceed to the lay-up from a few feet away. Make sure you are not so close that you end up directly under the basket.
   • If you are right-handed, the left-handed lay-up can also be referred to as a reverse lay-up as it is the reverse of your standard lay-up. If you are left-handed, the right-handed lay-up is the reverse.
   • It's hard to do a lay-up with your other hand, but it's definitely worth the time and effort to learn. If you are approaching the basket from the left there is no way to go in front of the goal and do a right-handed lay-up. You have a much better chance of scoring if you know how to get one in from the left.
2. Step towards the basket with your left foot. When you are only a few feet from the basket, start the lay-up by taking a step towards the basket with your left foot. Give the ball one last hard dribble just on the outside of your left foot.
3. Jump with your right foot. Once your right foot lands, use it to jump in the direction of the basket. Your body should move towards the basket, but not bend over. Ideally, you should be close enough to the basket that you can jump upright to fire a shot. As you jump, take the ball out of the dribble and bring it close to your chest to prepare for the shot.
4. Shoot with your left arm as you lift your left leg. Imagine attaching a rope to your left arm and your left leg as you jump. Move them at the same time as you shoot, as if someone were pulling up on the rope. Your left knee should be bent and pointing towards the basket as your left arm moves up to shoot the ball.
   • When doing a lay-up, the shooting technique is slightly different from that of a normal shot. Instead of using your right hand to stabilize the ball, shoot the ball with your left hand only. This gives you more reach and because you are so close to the basket that it is difficult to miss the shot, you don't really need your right hand to stabilize the ball.
   • When firing, turn your wrist slightly inward to make the ball turn slightly, instead of flipping your wrist forward as you would with a normal shot. The gentle twist prevents the ball from bouncing off the backboard or ring with too much force.
5. Focus on the sweet spot on the backboard. For a left-handed lay-up, the ball should aim slightly to the left of the center of the square on the backboard. When you hit that spot, the shot will hit every time as the backboard absorbs the impact of the ball and helps it drop straight down through the net.
   • Better to aim for the backboard rather than try to just tap the ball across the ring. The backboard leaves more room for mistakes, but if you hit the inner or outer ring, the ball can bounce right out again.
6. Practice until your muscles remember the movement. The lay-up is a basic basketball move that becomes second nature after you practice it enough. You need to get to the point where your body remembers what to do and you don't have to think about which foot to bring forward and which foot to push off - you just do it. Do lay-ups as part of any basketball practice.
   • As you practice, you will get a good feel for how fast to approach the basket and from what distance to start the lay-up, and start the jump.
   • Work on your lay-ups while being defended or from a long pass.

Tips

• Practice lay-ups in a gym or on a basketball court.
• Practice the run-up without the ball first to see how it works.
• Approach the net from about a 45 degree angle, it will be easier than lay-up perpendicular to the net.
• If you are coming from the right, aim for the right side of the white square on the board, and vice versa if you are coming from the left. This is called the "sweet spot".
• If you get confused about which knee to lift and which hand to shoot with, practice lifting the knee and arm on the same side at the same time.
• Before doing lay-ups you need to learn to jump high because if you try to do a lay-up in a competition but only hit the net and not even the ring, you will be embarrassed afterwards.
• Make sure your right foot is bent while jumping as it will increase ball control when doing the lay-up.

Warnings

• Make sure you don't get too far below the basket. This sometimes happens when you run too fast and can result in a missed shot.
• Relax in your lay-up, otherwise the ball may bounce off the back wall or the ball may not get far enough.