The power layup is a layup off a two-foot jump stop: you gather the ball, land on both feet, then jump up off both feet and bank it in. Two feet give you a stronger, more balanced base than a one-foot layup, which helps when you expect contact near the rim. It is often the first layup taught to young players because it keeps you under control.
Set up
Drive at the basket under control, coming in at a slight angle so you can use the backboard.
Controlled, not flying.
On your last dribble, sweep the ball into both hands and land a jump stop: both feet hit the floor at the same time.
Both feet, one sound.
Hold the ball in both hands, close to your body, on the side away from the defender. Keep your head up and eyes on the backboard.
Ball tight, eyes on the box.
Finish
Jump up off both feet, straight up rather than out toward the rim, bringing the ball up with both hands.
Up, not out.
Keep your shoulders square and go up strong. Do not shy away from the defender; your off hand shields the ball (shield, don't push).
Strong and square.
Release at the top of your jump and aim for the top corner of the square on the backboard.
Top corner of the box.
Land on both feet, softly, with your knees and hips bent and your knees over your toes.
Soft, two-foot landing.
Rule check: under NBA rules you may jump off one foot and land on both feet together as your second step after the gather; you then can't pivot, and if you jump you must release the ball before a foot comes back down. FIBA, NCAA and high-school (NFHS) rules word this differently, so check the rulebook for your league.
Feel it
A good power layup feels stopped and stable before you rise: both feet down together, ball tucked in two hands, eyes already on the backboard. Then you go straight up, square and strong, and come down on both feet with soft knees.
Fix-its
- Feet land one after the other, or you take an extra step (traveling) Slow the approach down and practise the jump stop alone first: land both feet at once, freeze, then shoot.
- You drift toward the rim and get knocked off line Stop fully on two feet, then jump up, not out. Keep your shoulders square to the basket.
- The ball gets stripped or blocked Keep the ball in two hands, close to your body and away from the defender, until you rise. Use your off hand to shield it.
- You shy away from contact and the shot falls short Go up strong toward the backboard target rather than fading away. Aim for the top corner of the square.
- Stiff or one-foot landing Land on both feet with knees and hips bent and knees over your toes.
Drill
- Jump-stop freeze: dribble in, land a two-foot jump stop, hold it balanced, then go up and shoot. Do both sides of the basket.
- Footwork progression: start standing near the block, then from a slow run, then off the dribble, keeping the same two-foot stop and two-foot jump.
- Baseline rip finish: from the wing, use at most two dribbles toward the baseline, carry the ball to the side away from the defence on the last dribble, go up on two feet and land on two feet.
- Add a defender or pad holder for light contact once the footwork is clean; keep going up strong and landing on two feet.
Sources
- Basketball For Coaches — How to Do a Layup in Basketball (6-Step Guide)
- PGC Basketball — How to Perform a Successful Layup
- Coach's Clipboard — Lay-ups
- Coaches Insider — Rip Finish Baseline Drill with Dave Richman, North Dakota State Univ. (2020)
- NBA — Official Rulebook, Rule 10 Section XIII Traveling (2026-27)
- Padua et al. — NATA Position Statement: Prevention of ACL Injury, J Athl Train (2018)
Last checked 2026-10-26.