You’ve seen the shot. Steph Curry pulls up from the logo, the ball leaves his hand, and for a second, it feels like it’s never coming down. It’s not just a high arc. It’s a moonshot. In basketball circles, people often call this Steph Curry shooting moon—that specific, exaggerated trajectory that seems to defy everything we were taught in middle school gym class.
Most coaches tell you to aim for a 45-degree angle. It’s the "perfect" math, right? But Steph doesn’t play by those rules. Honestly, if he did, he probably wouldn't be the greatest shooter to ever walk the earth.
The Physics of the Moonshot
Why does he do it? Basically, it’s about making the ocean look like a bathtub. When a ball enters the rim at a flat angle, the "target area" is actually quite small. It’s an ellipse. But as that angle gets steeper—closer to 90 degrees—the rim becomes a perfect circle.
The math is wild. According to data from Noah Basketball, a sensor-based system that tracks shot arcs, the typical NBA three-pointer peaks at about 15.77 feet. Steph? His average is north of 16 feet. Some of his deep "moonshots" have been tracked peaking at over 20 feet in the air.
By shooting the moon, Steph is increasing the width of the hoop.
Think about it. A ball dropping straight down has the entire 18-inch diameter of the rim to fall into. A "line drive" shot might only have 11 or 12 inches of "real" space because of the angle. By pushing that arc up to 50 or even 55 degrees, Curry is effectively playing with a bigger basket than everyone else on the floor.
💡 You might also like: Jake Ehlinger Sign: The Real Story Behind the College GameDay Controversy
It’s Not Just About the Height
The "moon" part of the shot is only half the story. You can't just chuck the ball into the rafters and expect it to go in. The secret sauce is the one-motion release.
Most players use a two-motion shot:
- Jump.
- Shoot at the apex.
Steph shoots on the way up. It’s a fluid, singular transfer of energy from his toes to his fingertips. This is why he can shoot from 35 feet without looking like he's straining. He isn't using his arms to hurl the ball; he's using the momentum of his entire body.
Why your coach was (kinda) wrong
We were all told to "square your shoulders to the basket."
Watch Steph. He doesn't do that. He actually turns his feet and hips slightly to the left (since he's right-handed). This aligns his shooting shoulder and elbow directly with the rim. It removes the tension in the chest. If you try to stay perfectly square while shooting a high-arc moonshot, your elbow will naturally want to flare out.
📖 Related: What Really Happened With Nick Chubb: The Injury, The Recovery, and The Houston Twist
Steph’s "turn" keeps everything in a straight line.
The Fatigue Factor
There’s a reason you don’t see many people emulating the Steph Curry shooting moon technique late in the fourth quarter. It’s exhausting. Or, it should be.
Usually, a higher arc requires more force. More force usually means more room for error. But because Steph’s release is so quick—about 0.4 seconds—he minimizes the time for his mechanics to break down.
I talked to a few trainers who pointed out that Steph’s conditioning is the only reason this works. Most shooters start "short-arming" their shots when they get tired. The arc flattens out. The ball hits the front rim. Steph’s "over-the-moon" trajectory stays consistent because he trains his body to handle "neuromuscular overload."
He’s not just practicing shots; he’s practicing shots while his heart rate is 180 beats per minute.
👉 See also: Men's Sophie Cunningham Jersey: Why This Specific Kit is Selling Out Everywhere
Practical Steps to Find Your Own Arc
Look, you probably aren't going to wake up tomorrow and start hitting 30-footers with a 20-foot peak. But you can use the logic of the moonshot to fix a flat jumper.
- Check your elbow: If your elbow is finishing below your eye level, your shot is too flat. Aim to finish with your "bicep to your ear."
- The "One-Motion" Drill: Start at the free-throw line. Don't jump. Just focus on the ball moving upward as your legs straighten. There should be no "pause" at your forehead.
- Film yourself from the side: Most people think they have a high arc until they see the video. If the ball isn't going above the top of the backboard on a standard three-pointer, you’re shooting a line drive.
The reality is that Steph Curry shooting moon isn't just a style choice. It’s a mathematical advantage. It’s taking a game of inches and turning it into a game of feet.
Next time you're on the court, try exaggerating the height of your release. It’ll feel weird. You’ll probably airball a few. But once you realize how much more "rim" you have to work with, it’s hard to go back to shooting flat.
To really see this in action, go find a high-speed scrub of Curry's 2016 "double-bang" shot against OKC. Watch the apex. The ball literally disappears from the top of the broadcast frame before dropping through the net. That's the moonshot in its purest form.