Post Move: The baby hook
This ain’t no Kareem “Sky Hook” shot. That can get stripped from behind too easily. This is the Shaq-style, bump your defender in the chest, and then go up for a quick shot while keeping your shoulder in the defender’s chest to shield the ball.
The move starts with getting the position you want. You gotta know where you are comfortable on the court hitting this shot. If you’re not sure, hit the court and start taking some baby hooks from different spots on the floor. Most players are comfortable catching just above the block and spinning to the middle with the shot on step inside the key.
Shoot your shot. The jump hook (aka baby hook)
This isn’t the best example of a jump hook, but it does show how you can go through nearly any defender to get to your spot and get the shot off, protecting with your off hand.
The jump hook allows the offensive player to push through the defender to get to their spot, and then, shoot through the contact and contest by keeping their off-shoulder in the face of the defender while putting up a soft baby hook with their strong hand.
Right-handers will prefer starting on the left block and driving right to the key into their shot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t develop a great baby hook with your off-hand from the left block.
To further hone this shot, start by finding your range (how close to the basket you prefer to shoot), and then putting in the reps! The best practice comes at game-speed and with live defense.
Check out the video below for some more tips.
