The sky hook is the one-foot hook shot taken to full height: you step away from the defender, turn side-on so your shoulders are perpendicular to the rim, and release with your shooting arm fully straight above your head. It is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's signature shot; he said he doesn't recall it ever being blocked by the man guarding him, because he got his body between that defender and the ball. Learn the basic Hook Shot first. The analyzer reads your balanced base, your body shielding the ball and full arm extension at the top of your reach.
Set up
Work for deep post position close to the basket, with your defender behind you, before you call for the ball. The sky hook is a short-range shot.
Deep, defender on your back.
Catch with two hands and bring the ball up to your chin with your elbows bent, away from the defender.
Feel where the defender is. A small hip and shoulder fake the other way can buy room before you step.
Shoot
Take one step away from the defender with the foot opposite your shooting hand (left foot for a right-hand sky hook). This is your plant foot.
Plant that foot at the right angle. Going to the middle, set it parallel to the baseline. Going baseline, set it perpendicular to the baseline. Turning it too far exposes the ball; not far enough costs you balance.
Foot sets the shoulders.
Turn your shoulders so they are perpendicular to the rim, off shoulder pointing at the basket. Your body is now between the defender and the ball, so they have to reach across you.
Side-on, ball on the far side.
Bring your off arm up and out as a shield between the defender and the ball. Shield only; don't push (see Stay legal).
Rise off the plant foot with that leg straight and drive your shooting-side knee up, like a layup.
Plant leg long, knee up.
Lift the ball with your shooting arm in a hook path, ear to ear: out to the side and up over your head toward the rim. Keep your elbow lined up with your hip, not crossing in front of your head.
Release at the top of your rise with your shooting arm fully straight above your head. Flick your wrist and let the ball roll off your index finger for backspin.
All the way up, then flick.
Use the glass when you're within about 45 degrees of the backboard: aim at the top near corner of the box. Otherwise aim just over the rim.
Follow through, land balanced and be ready to rebound with two hands.
Stay legal
Your off arm can be raised to ward off the defender, but you can't push or hook them with it. FIBA rules call hooking an arm around the defender or pushing off to create space an offensive foul.
Mind the pivot foot. If you catch with both feet down, either foot can be your pivot. Once you lift it to shoot, the ball must be gone before it touches the floor again (NBA Rule 10, FIBA Art. 25). Other leagues' wording may differ.
Feel it
One rhythm: step, turn, rise, extend. Your shoulder and body do the protecting, not your arm strength. The ball goes up from as high as your arm reaches and leaves before the defender can time a jump; it is never pushed out in front of your face where they can get to it.
Fix-its
- Bent arm at release (a low hook) Keep lifting until the shooting arm is fully straight above your head, then flick. The height comes from the extended arm, not from throwing it.
- Getting blocked: plant foot over-rotated, shoulders squared to the rim Going middle, set the plant foot parallel to the baseline; going baseline, perpendicular. Stay side-on so your body is between the defender and the ball.
- Off balance at release: plant foot under-rotated If the foot points toward half court (going middle) or the corner (going baseline), you're fighting your own turn. Set the angle, then rise straight off a long plant leg.
- Pushing off with the off arm Raise the arm as a shield and keep it there. Don't straighten it into the defender or hook it around them; that's an offensive foul.
- Misses to the sides or sidespin off the rim Arm crossing in front of or behind your head throws it sideways. Keep the elbow lined up with your hip, lift ear to ear, and release off the index finger.
Drill
- Hook warm-up: stand with your head under the front of the rim, facing the sideline. Shoot one-foot hooks with a fully straight arm. Move on after 5 makes in a row with each hand.
- Mikan drill with hooks: alternate right- and left-hand hooks off the glass from each side of the rim, stepping across each time. Count makes in a row.
- Plant-foot reps from the block: one step and sky hook to the middle (plant foot parallel to the baseline), then to the baseline (plant foot perpendicular). Alternate sides and hands.
- Add a partner behind you with one hand up. Seal, catch, step, turn and shoot over them, keeping your body between them and the ball. Then let them contest live.
Sources
- ESPN.com, J.A. Adande — Secrets of the Skyhook (2009)
- NBA.com, Shaun Powell — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's signature sky hook notably absent in NBA's copycat world (2023)
- Sky Sports, Gary Maitland — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's iconic sky hook: how'd he do that? (2020)
- Coach's Clipboard — How to Shoot Hook Shots
- Hal Wissel via Coach's Clipboard — Shooting a Hook Shot
- Basketball For Coaches — How to Do a Hook Shot (5-Step Guide)
- NBA — Official Rules, Rule 10: Violations and Penalties
- FIBA — Official Basketball Rules 2026 (Art. 25, 33)
Last checked 2026-10-30.