• Fitness & Health
• Sport & Exercise Science
• Physical Education
• Strength & Conditioning
• Sports Medicine
• Sport Management
• Dance

Types of Layups and Related Drills

This is an excerpt from Basketball Essentials by Ryan Goodson.

The layup is one of the highest-percentage shots in basketball; it is second only to the dunk. Proper finishing fundamentals are important in this low skill, high-accuracy inside shot. Let's review several of the most common layups.

Inside-Foot Layup

The inside-foot layup is a type of finish used when the defender is between the offensive player and the basket. In this scenario, jump off the inside foot and finish the shot with the outside hand, using the body as a shield to protect the basketball. A good offensive player always protects the ball with the off hand and body to create a better scoring window. Review the break-down drills to build an understanding of and comfort with the inside-foot layup.

After picking up the dribble, take two steps. The first step is with the outside foot and the second step is with the inside foot. The first step is long and the second is short in order to maintain body control. Land on the second step in a low and athletic position; then launch up and toward the basket and protect the basketball on the outside of the body by finishing with an outside-hand layup off the correct quadrant. During this maneuver, focus on the basket until the basketball comes through the bottom of the net (see figure 3.2).

Inside-foot layup.

Inside-Foot Layup Choreography Drill

Breakdown

Setup

• Use one player and one basketball.
• The player is on the baseline with the ball.

Execution

1. The player gets into a low and athletic stance by bending down and touching the basketball to the ground.
2. The player then takes two steps to the right without a dribble. The first step (with the right foot) is long and the second step (with the left foot) is short.
3. The player then explodes off the ground and shoots a right-hand layup straight up in the air.
4. The player then catches the ball and returns to a low and athletic stance by bending down and touching the basketball to the ground.
5. The player continues by taking two steps to the left without a dribble. The first step (with the left foot) is long and the second step (with the right foot) is short.
6. The player then explodes off the ground and shoots a left-hand layup straight up in the air.
7. The player repeats these steps in a zigzag motion and stops at the opposite baseline.

Inside-Foot Layup Cone Drill

Breakdown

Setup

• Use one player, one basketball, and one cone.
• The player has the ball and stands at the cone, which is placed just above the block.

Execution

1. The player gets into a low and athletic stance by bending down and touching the basketball to the floor.
2. The player takes two steps toward the rim: a long step with the outside foot followed by a short step with the inside foot.
3. The player then jumps up toward the basket and finishes with a layup off the backboard with the outside hand.
4. The player repeats these steps on both sides of the basket and completes 10 layups with each hand.

Inside-Foot Layup Game-Ready Drill

Breakdown

Inside-foot layup game-ready drill.

Setup

• Use one player, one basketball, and six cones.
• The player stands under the rim with the basketball.

Execution

1. The player dribbles inside and around cone 1.
2. The player then faces the basket and attacks the rim by dribbling through cones 2 and 3 with the outside hand, which creates the perfect angle for the player to finish at the rim with an inside-foot layup off the backboard (figure 3.3).
3. The player rebounds the shot and dribbles inside and around cone 1on the opposite side of the court.
4. The player then faces the basket and attacks the rim by dribbling through cones 2 and 3 with the outside hand, which again creates the perfect angle for the player to finish at the rim with an inside-foot layup off the backboard.
5. The player repeats the drill until 10 layups are made with correct form.

Coaching Point

A player should keep the eyes on the ball from the beginning of the shot until it comes through the bottom of the net.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Learn more about Basketball Essentials.

More Excerpts From Basketball Essentials

---