Basketball Shot Arc & Spacing Lab

Shooter & Spacing Setup JJ Redick Flare 3

Offensive Set & Shot Preset

Launch Angle (θ) 48°

Optimal entry angle into rim is 43° - 48°

Release Velocity (ft/s) 27.2 ft/s

Shooter Release Height 7.8 ft

Defender Contest Distance 4.5 ft

< 2ft Smothered • 2-4ft Tight • 4-6ft Open • > 6ft Wide Open

Spacing Classification OPEN CONTEST

Defender is 4.5 ft away. Closing speed allows standard shooting rhythm with clean sightline to rim.

Drag shooter on court or adjust sliders to test physics

Shot Dist: 22.0 ft

Apex: 14.6 ft

Entry θ: 45.2°

Make Prob: 54%

Hoop Entry Angle 45.2° Ideal Window (43°-48°)

Peak Arc Height 14.6 ft 4.6 ft above rim plane

Effective Rim Diameter 12.8 in True target opening (18" max)

Expected Value (eFG%) 61.5% Contest + trajectory weighted

Session Attempt Telemetry

#	Preset / Play	Distance	Launch θ	Velocity	Apex	Entry θ	Contest	Result

The Physics of Championship Shot Arc

In modern NBA half-court sets—such as those emphasized by JJ Redick's offensive philosophy—optimizing release mechanics is not merely about form; it is grounded in geometric ball-to-rim clearance. An NBA basketball has a diameter of 9.4 inches, while an NBA regulation rim has an inside diameter of 18.0 inches.

Flat Arcs (< 35°): Compress the rim's visible ellipse to under 10.3 inches, leaving less than an inch margin of error on either side.
Standard Arcs (43° – 48°): Produce an effective target width of 12.5 to 13.4 inches, maximizing entry forgiveness and soft rim caroms.
Steep Arcs (> 55°): Maximize target area but require excessive force vector velocity, dramatically inflating launch error sensitivity.

Defensive Contest Spacing & Rhythm

Tracking data illustrates that defender proximity degrades shooting accuracy in two distinct ways: physical sightline obstruction and psychological compression of the shooter's dip-and-rise rhythm.

Smothered (0 – 2 ft): Forcing altered trajectory arc or rushed release, reducing baseline eFG% by over 38%.
Tight Contest (2 – 4 ft): Shooter must elevate faster, frequently under-rotating the ball or launching flat.
Open / Wide Open (> 4 ft): Full kinetic chain transfer from foot-plant to finger release, yielding maximum consistency.

Enjoy this tool? Build your own with Super