If you spend any time around basketball players or coaches, you may hear them mention “BEEF”. But what exactly does BEEF stand for and why is it important? This article will explain the meaning of BEEF and why it is a fundamental basketball shooting technique
The Origins of BEEF
BEEF is an acronym that stands for:
- Balance
- Eyes
- Elbow
- Follow through
It is a structured approach to teaching proper shooting form, especially for younger players. The BEEF shooting method is commonly attributed to legendary NBA coach Lenny Wilkens. It has been used by coaches at all levels to break down shooting into its key components.
Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer is another prominent coach who utilizes BEEF She has called it “the best way to learn how to shoot the basketball”
The beauty of BEEF is its simplicity. By focusing on just four main cues, players can grasp the basics of a correct shot. Let’s examine each area in more detail:
Balance
Balance forms the foundation of a good shooter’s stance. Players should have their feet about shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. Typically, the lead foot (same side as shooting hand) is placed slightly ahead.
For a right-handed shooter, the feet should point approximately towards the 11 o’clock position. For lefties, they point towards the 1 o’clock spot. This allows the body to be aligned properly to the basket.
Maintaining balance requires core strength. As players progress, they can incorporate more complex footwork, pivots and fadeaways – but balance remains crucial.
Eyes
Focus and concentration are critical to accuracy. During BEEF, players are instructed to pick a target on the rim/net to focus on before shooting.
There are a few common aiming spots:
- Front of the rim
- Back of the rim
- Center of the rim
- Backboard square
- Net strings
Coaches often suggest picking one spot and sticking with it consistently. Developing that shooting focus takes repetition.
Elbow
The shooting elbow plays a major role in aiming the shot. Keeping the elbow “in” and aligned under the ball helps shoot straight.
Flaring the elbow out can cause sideways accuracy problems. The elbow should form about a 90 degree angle during the shot pocket.
Make sure the shooting hand, elbow, and eye line are all square to the rim for optimal results.
Follow Through
The final piece of a correct shot is complete follow through. The shooting wrist and arm must fully extend and stay extended after release. This adds arc and backspin for a soft shot.
A proper follow through will end with the shooting arm at around a 55-60 degree angle. The index and middle fingers should finish pointed down towards the floor.
Following through every shot ingrains good habits. Don’t short-arm shots during practice.
Integrating BEEF
When first introducing BEEF, coaches usually start close to the basket. Once players master the form, they can gradually move back to the foul line, wings, and beyond the arc.
Here are some common ways BEEF is implemented:
- Mikan drill – Concentrate on each aspect at close range
- Foul line shots – Apply all components together
- Form shooting – Hold finish and focus on accuracy
- Shooting games – Maintain technique during competitions
Regular BEEF shooting drills build muscle memory. As the individual elements become natural, players can focus more on in-game situational shooting.
The Pros of BEEF
There are many benefits to using the BEEF method:
- Easy to remember – Players of all ages can recall the letters
- Structured approach – Isolates key shooting components
- Adaptable – Can be applied to different footwork like jumpers
- Diagnostic – Helps identify problem areas in a player’s form
- Consistent – Standardizes teaching across teams/coaches
BEEF allows players to perfect their mechanics gradually. Mastering the basics first creates a solid foundation.
Beyond BEEF
While BEEF covers the shooting basics, there are more advanced tactics that come later:
- Coming off screens
- Shooting off the dribble
- Quicker releases
- Range extending
- Shot fakes
- Drawing fouls
High level shooters like Stephen Curry mix together footwork, body control, shooting touch, strength, finesse, and reading the defense.
But it all starts with solid fundamentals. BEEF provides the core shooting platform that players can build on as they develop.
So if you hear coaches emphasizing “BEEF” during shooting drills, now you’ll know exactly what they mean! Focusing on balance, eyes, elbow, and follow through lays the groundwork for basketball shooting mastery.
The BEEF Shooting Method
“BEEF” is an acronym for the four major components of correct shooting.
It stands for Balance, Eyes, Elbow, and Follow-through.
Let’s go over each one to see how they should be taught to players.
Let’s start with the foundation… a player’s shooting stance.
The BEEF system does not have a rigid blueprint for stance. Instead, it has a set of principles to keep in mind and consistency is probably the most important one.
The feet should be approximately shoulder-width apart.
The feet should also be slightly turned, with the lead foot a little in front.
A right-handed shooter should turn their feet slightly to the left (11 o’clock) while a left-handed shooter should turn their feet slightly to the right (1 o’clock).
The knees should be slightly bent for stability and to generate power.
As the name suggests, this part is all about getting players to focus their eyes.
In regards to what the eyes should be focused on, there isn’t one correct answer.
Here are a few options recommended by coaches and players in a blog post:
- The nearest part of the rim
- The center of the rim
- The “diamond tip”
- Nothing specific
The main thing for each player is to pick one of the above options and be consistent.
There are two main components of every shot, (1) power and (2) accuracy.
Balance generates power and elbow position is responsible for accuracy.
The key is the alignment.
Players need the shooting eye, the shooting hand + elbow, and the rim all on the same line.
This will ensure maximum accuracy and minimize misses to the side.
As the ball moves up on a shot attempt, the shooting hand and elbow come under the ball and align with the hoop (the elbow shouldn’t flare out to the side).
Once the set point is reached, the wrist should be cocked and form an approximately 90-degree angle with the forearm.
What the B.E.E.F Shooting Acroymn Stands For
Remember these 4 words, they will make you an elite shooter:
BEEF (B-Balance, E-Eye, E-Elbow, F-Follow – through )
Feet are shoulder width apart for good balance.
- Feet should be in a slightly staggered stance that is consistent and comfortable for you. Your shooting foot is slightly ahead of the non-shooting foot in a comfortable position.
- Point your feet in the general direction of the basket, but not necessarily directly at it. We prefer an open stance, but you can also use the closed (squared) stance if thats more comfortable for you. With an open stance, your feet point towards one side of the basket. For example, a right-handed shooter will point his or her feet just to the left of the rim for a more natural position and shooting motion.
Once you develop a comfortable stance, line up your feet the exact same way on every shot. Whatever stance you use, consistency is critical.
- Flex/bend your knees on every shot. The lowered body position ensures that the balance is maintained Additional Keys
- As you catch the ball, move it quickly into the “shot pocket” position.
- Line everything up so the ball and your shooting eye form a straight line to the basket. This is very important.
- Position the ball several inches above your waist.
- Grip the ball properly and be ready to shoot.
- Position the ball in your shot pocket the same way every time you catch it
Knowing where you intend to place the ball begins with your eyes focused on the basket
- To improve accuracy, locate the target (rim) as early as possible.
- Before shooting, see the whole floor, but when shooting, narrow your focus to the front of the rim.
- Keep your eyes on the target and do not follow the flight of the ball.
- Keeping your target focus is very important!
B.E.E.F. Basketball Shooting Form
FAQ
What does the beef stand for in basketball?
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Facebook · Harrisonburg Parks and Recreationhttps://www.facebook.comWhat’s BEEF? BEEF is an acronym that we utilize in our basketball …Jun 10, 2020 — B.E.E.F. is an acronym that we utilize in our basketball clinics for teaching the technique of shooting a basketball. The B is for balance, E is for…
What is beefing in basketball?
One method that can help you learn shooting form is B.E.E.F. We are not talking about meat but we are talking about B.E.E.F that is stand for Balance, Eyes, Elbow, and Follow through. It is very easy to remember.