Basketball Release Angle and how it Affects The Shot BY: DANIEL CODY

Question How do release angles affect the players percentage of made shots?

Research For my project I am researching how the release angle of the basketball shot affects the percentage of made baskets. Knowing that the amount of spin on the ball does not cause the ball to move out of motion I will not need to worry about the backspin on the ball. There are also several things I need to consider while conducting my experiment. The height of the player makes it so they are higher up which means there is less distance between them and the basket. The speed at which they shoot the ball also will affect how many they make. There are several things that go into making a shot not just angle and distance from the basket.

Hypothesis If I have five people take ten shots then I will learn that the greater the angle the higher percentage because the higher the ball goes the wider the goal.

Materials  A basketball  Slow motion camera  A regulation basketball goal

Procedure 1. Gather the materials needed to conduct the experiment. 2. Set up the slow motion camera to the side of the player so that you can see the basket and the player. Make sure the camera can see at least ten feet above the basket. 3. Have each volunteer take ten shots and record the percentage of made shots. Repeat this ten times with each volunteer. 4. Watch the slow motion video and break it down so that you can measure the release angle. 5. Study the angles to find how the release angle affects the percentage of made shots.

Data ShootersmadePercentageaverage angle Shooter 1 330%51.8 shooter 2 440%60.8 shooter 3 110%60.2 shooter 4 330%55.2 shooter 5 110%48.6 shooter 6 330%55 shooter 7 660%48.8 shooter 8 220%60.4 shooter 9 660%65.2 shooter %49.4

Analysis degrees: 33% degrees: 20% degrees: 10% degrees: 33% degrees: 33%

Continued analysis

Conclusion The hypothesis that I stated did not answer my initial statement. The shots were all taken at very similar angles but the percentage varied depending on the person shooting. The two greatest percentages were both the highest angle and the 2 nd to lowest angle which shows how release angle can affect the percentage but varies based on who is shooting. Also the five shooters were the top percentages out of the ten volunteers which could have an affect because the lower percents also had lower release angles on average. The more diverse the angle the ten shots were caused lower percents.

Applications and Further explorations Understanding angles gives basketball players a better understanding of the game. This information would be a benefit to players because they can practice with different angles to help them in their shot. Even though my project didn’t prove anything about the angles it still helps understand angles.