It’s almost been half a year since I started practicing three-pointers. I began sometime around January or February, training two to three times a week, usually from 9 or 10 in the morning until noon. At first, I thought I’d see results in just a month or two. I can pull up in defenders’ faces or punish them for leaving me open. But it wasn’t until half a year later that I finally saw some progress.
The motivation was simple: I wanted to enjoy playing basketball with my friends more. My game had always been limited to backdoor layup and mid-range catch-and-shoots. That didn’t create much spacing, and it often clogged the paint. So I thought, if I could develop a three-point shot, wouldn’t that make ball movement smoother and give my friends more room to do drive? With that in mind, I hit the court to train.
After four or five months, I had watched differnt kinds of tutorials — Coach Fui, Zero Talent Shooting, and even slowed down clips of Curry’s shooting form. I’d hold my phone, watch the videos, and mimic the moves. But the results were shit. The effort I put in didn’t match the outcomes at all. I kept bricking shots, often airballing. In pickup games with friends, I’d go something like 1-for-15 a terrible shooting percentage.
I felt frustrated, unwilling to accept it, desperate to prove that my mornings under the blazing sun weren’t wasted. But the more I tried to prove myself, the worse it got. My shots would soar in high arcs, only to miss everything and slam the floor.
Still, I never gave up on the idea of shooting threes. One day, I saw Coach Fui mention recording your own form to make corrections. That was a lightbulb moment. I started filming myself, watching the footage, and comparing it with online tutorials. It didn’t help dramatically, but my shooting percentage did creep up a little.
The real turning point came in early June when I got seriously sick and couldn’t exercise for almost two and a half weeks. When I finally returned to the court, I was excited to hold the ball again, but I had no expectations for my shot. The first hour was the same old airballs. But then, unexpectedly, my accuracy shot up. I could even punish defenders for leaving me open. I think maybe my brain had been processing things subconsciously during my illness, and that day I also adjusted the form: After raising it above my head, I stopped pushing from under my fingers and began using my wrist to drive the shot. At last, after half a year, I had made some progress (though I still airball sometimes 🙃—mostly because I don’t lock my core properly or my guide hand messes with the trajectory).
Don’t Give Up #
Results take time, and the amount of time varies for everyone. For me, oddly enough, taking a break sometimes makes me stronger, though that only works if I've been training consistently beforehand.
Find the Right Method Before Grinding #
If I had kept practicing with a weird hand position and wrong mechanics, I’d be stuck in place 100%. I’m still not sure if my current form is “correct,” but all I can do is keep learning.
Don’t Expect Sudden Breakthroughs #
Dreaming of waking up one day and shooting like Curry is unrealistic. Progress is usually so slow you don’t notice it. But one day, you’ll suddenly feel stronger—it’s just that the process is so gradual, it’s hard to stick with it until that moment arrives.
Record Yourself #
When you’re in it, you can’t see clearly. Recording yourself is a great way to step outside and really see what’s going on.
Update – September 5, 2025: Results bear fruit #
My form still looks a bit awkward, but it works! When a teammate got injured, I was able to provide some offensive firepower. 3PT: 7/24 (~30%)