How to Overcome Shooting Slumps and Regain Confidence

26 May 2025

Ever feel like your basketball shot suddenly vanished overnight? One day, you're draining threes like Steph Curry, and the next, you can't hit the broad side of a barn. Shooting slumps are frustrating, demoralizing, and—most annoyingly—inevitable.

But before you start questioning your entire basketball existence, relax. Every shooter, from high school ballers to NBA legends, has been there. The good news? Slumps aren’t permanent, and you're one adjustment away from locking in your stroke again.

So, let’s lace up and dive into how you can shake off that funk, get your confidence back, and start splashing buckets like it’s second nature.

Why Do Shooting Slumps Happen?

First off, you’re not cursed. Shooting slumps happen for a variety of reasons, and understanding the root of the problem is the first step to fixing it.

1. Overthinking Every Shot

Shooting is like riding a bike. The more you think about it, the more likely you are to wobble and crash. When your brain is flooded with doubts—"Am I releasing too early?" "Is my form off?"—your natural rhythm gets thrown off.

2. Fatigue and Overuse

If you’re putting in long hours in the gym without proper recovery, your legs and arms might not have the same lift. Fatigue affects mechanics, and poor mechanics can send your shot straight to brick city.

3. Loss of Confidence

Confidence and shooting go hand in hand. When you believe every shot is going in, your mechanics flow naturally. When doubt creeps in, even the simplest shots feel impossible.

4. Poor Mechanics Creeping In

Sometimes, minor tweaks in your form—like a low follow-through or an off-balance release—can send you into a slump. Bad habits sneak up on the best of us.

5. Mental Pressure

If you're trying too hard to break out of the slump, you might be forcing shots instead of letting them come naturally. Shooting well is about rhythm, not sheer effort.

How to Break Out of a Shooting Slump

Enough of the problem talk—it’s time to fix this mess and get your jumper back on track.

1. Reset Your Mindset

Let’s be real: The more you obsess over your slump, the worse it gets. Instead of stressing over every miss, shift your mindset. Great shooters trust their shot, even when it’s not falling.

- Focus on the next shot, not the last miss.
- Stop aiming—just shoot naturally.
- Remind yourself: Every great shooter has been here before.

2. Go Back to the Basics

If your shot feels off, simplify. Get back to your fundamentals:

- Start with form shooting—stand close to the basket and focus on mechanics.
- Check your foot placement, grip, and follow-through.
- Slow the game down and rebuild your rhythm.

Think of it like rebooting your phone when it’s lagging—it clears up all the unnecessary junk and helps things run smoothly again.

3. Keep Shooting—But Smartly

You can’t shoot your way out of a slump if you stop shooting altogether. At the same time, jacking up wild threes won’t help either.

- Take high-percentage shots in practice.
- Build confidence with easy makes first.
- Gradually extend your range as you regain your stroke.

Remember, Steph Curry doesn’t break slumps by launching half-court shots—he focuses on form and rhythm first.

4. Watch Your Game Film

Want to know what’s really happening with your shot? Watch the tape.

- Are you rushing your release?
- Is your balance off?
- Are you fading away unnecessarily?

Sometimes, seeing the problem makes fixing it ten times easier.

5. Visualize Success

This might sound a little “woo-woo,” but it works. Close your eyes and imagine yourself hitting shots over and over. Your brain can’t always distinguish between real and imagined success, so visualizing makes confidence feel real.

6. Get Reps, But With Purpose

Mindless shooting won’t fix your slump. You need purposeful reps—focusing on form, balance, and a consistent release.

- Shoot with a routine.
- Don’t just count makes—feel the shot.
- Quality over quantity—100 focused shots are better than 500 rushed ones.

7. Trust the Process (Seriously, Trust It!)

Basketball is a game of runs. Just like teams go hot and cold, so do shooters. If you keep taking smart shots, lock in on your mechanics, and stay confident, your shots will start falling again.

How to Regain Confidence After a Shooting Slump

A slump doesn’t just mess with your shot—it wrecks your mental game, too. Here’s how to get your swagger back.

1. Celebrate Small Wins

Did you hit five in a row from mid-range in practice? Great. Did you sink a clutch free throw in a game? Even better.

Confidence builds through small victories, so take every little success as a step in the right direction.

2. Stay in Attack Mode

Even if your jumper isn’t falling, stay aggressive. Drive to the rim, get to the free-throw line, and contribute in other ways. The more involved you are, the easier it is to regain rhythm.

3. Forget the Last Shot

Missed your last five shots? Who cares? The next one is a fresh opportunity. Great shooters have short memories—so should you.

4. Hype Yourself Up

No joke—talking to yourself helps. Tell yourself you're a great shooter. Get amped after a make. Confidence comes from belief, and belief starts with you.

5. Surround Yourself with Positivity

Stay around teammates and coaches who encourage you. The worst thing you can do in a slump is isolate yourself and dwell on it.

Final Thoughts: Keep Shooting, Stay Confident

Shooting slumps suck, but they don’t define you. Every great shooter has battled through them and come out better on the other side. Trust your shot, get back to basics, and most importantly—keep believing in yourself.

Because when that first shot finally drops, the floodgates will open. And just like that, you’re back to draining buckets like clockwork.

Now, get out there and let it fly.