You’ve seen it a hundred times. The clock is ticking down to zero, a player grabs the ball under their own hoop, and they just... heave it. Most of the time, the ball hits the scoreboard or misses the rim by ten feet. But every once in a while, the universe aligns. The ball travels roughly 80 to 90 feet, hangs in the air for what feels like an eternity, and splashes through the net. The crowd loses its mind. The full court basketball shot is the single most exciting, statistically improbable play in the game. It’s basically a miracle on hardwood.
But is it actually luck?
If you ask Baron Davis, who holds the record for the longest made shot in NBA history—an 89-foot bomb against the Milwaukee Bucks in 2001—he might tell you it was a bit of both. He wasn't even looking at the rim when he let it go. He just turned and fired. When we talk about the full court basketball shot, we’re talking about a play that exists on the edge of physics and desperation. It’s a shot that most coaches hate until it actually goes in. Honestly, the mechanics of it are a nightmare. You're fighting gravity, air resistance, and the sheer fatigue of a 48-minute game.
The Brutal Physics of the 90-Foot Heave
Think about the standard jump shot. You’re taught to use your legs, keep your elbow in, and flick your wrist for that perfect backspin. That all goes out the window when you’re standing 94 feet away from the target. To get a basketball across the entire length of the court, you aren't shooting anymore; you’re launching.
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Most players use a "baseball pass" style or a two-handed overhead heave. The goal is distance, not finesse. If you look at the trajectory of a successful full court basketball shot, the arc is significantly flatter than a free throw. Why? Because the higher you throw the ball, the more energy is lost to vertical movement. To cover 90 feet, you need a massive amount of horizontal velocity. According to sports physicists, a ball needs to be traveling at nearly 30 miles per hour the moment it leaves the hand to even have a chance of reaching the opposite rim.
Then there's the Magnus effect.
Backspin is vital for a regular shot because it helps the ball "crawl" into the hoop if it hits the rim. On a full court basketball shot, backspin is your worst enemy. It creates lift, which can make the ball float or drift unpredictably over such a long distance. Most successful long-range heaves actually have very little spin, or even a slight side-spin, because the player is just trying to generate raw power. It’s ugly. It’s violent. It’s beautiful when it works.
Famous Moments That Shouldn't Have Happened
We can't talk about this without mentioning Steph Curry. He’s turned the "logo shot" into a routine play, but even for him, the full-court distance is a gamble. However, the king of the "prayer" might actually be Kevin Love. While he’s famous for his outlet passes, those passes are essentially the same mechanics as a full court basketball shot.
The official NBA record belongs to Baron Davis, as mentioned. January 17, 2001. He was playing for the Charlotte Hornets. He caught the ball with 0.7 seconds left in the third quarter. He launched it from the opposite baseline. Swish. 89 feet.
But let’s look at the college level. In 1980, Virginia Tech’s Les Henson hit an 89-foot shot to beat Florida State. Back then, there was no three-point line in college basketball, so it only counted for two points. Imagine hitting the shot of a lifetime and only getting two points for it. That’s just cruel.
There's also the "Hail Mary" aspect of the women's game. In 2024, we saw several viral clips of high school and collegiate players nailing these shots. The reason these go viral isn't just because they’re rare; it’s because they break the logic of the game. Basketball is a game of patterns and sets. A full court basketball shot is pure chaos. It’s the ultimate "low percentage" play—statisticians estimate the success rate of a shot from beyond the opposite three-point line at less than 1%.
Why Players Are Getting Better at the Impossible
Is the full court basketball shot becoming more common? Sorta.
It feels that way because of the "Curry Range" era. Players are shooting from further out than ever before. If you're comfortable shooting from 35 feet, 70 feet doesn't seem quite as impossible as it did in the 1990s. Strength training has changed too. Modern players have the core strength to generate power from their lower body and transfer it through their torso, allowing for a more controlled heave.
There’s also the psychological factor. In the past, a player might just hold the ball to avoid hurting their field goal percentage. Today, the "heave" is almost expected. Fans want to see it. Coaches recognize that a 1% chance of three points is better than a 0% chance of nothing.
Common Misconceptions About the Long Heave
- It’s all in the arms: Wrong. If you try to throw a full court basketball shot with just your arms, you’ll likely tear a rotator cuff or come up 20 feet short. The power comes from the "step-into" motion, using the momentum of your entire body.
- The rim looks tiny: Actually, from 90 feet away, the rim is basically invisible. Players aren't aiming for the rim; they’re aiming for the backboard. Using the glass as a literal "backboard" increases the margin for error.
- The ball is light: A regulation NBA ball weighs about 22 ounces. That sounds light, but when you're trying to propel it 90 feet, it feels like a shot put.
The Logistics of a Miracle
If you’re ever in a position where you have to take a full court basketball shot, you've got to understand the timing. 1.0 seconds is enough time for two dribbles and a launch. 0.5 seconds means you’re catching and firing immediately.
The mechanics usually fall into two camps:
- The Quarterback: One hand, over the ear, high release. This gives you the most distance but the least accuracy.
- The Chest Heave: Two hands, starting from the waist, flicking upward. This is better for "half-court-plus" shots but usually lacks the juice for a true 90-footer.
Interestingly, the rim itself plays a role. Modern breakaway rims are designed to absorb energy. On a long shot, the ball is coming in with so much force that if it hits the front of the rim, it usually boing-ing-ings (technical term) halfway back to center court. To make a full court basketball shot, you almost need it to be a "nothing but net" situation or a very soft bank off the glass.
Training for the Un-trainable
You won't find many "Full Court Shot" drills in a standard coaching manual. It’s considered a waste of time. However, some skill trainers have started incorporating long-range heaves to build "functional range." The idea is that if you can comfortably heave a ball 80 feet, a 30-foot three-pointer feels like a layup.
Look at players like Caitlin Clark or Damian Lillard. Their ability to shoot from the logo isn't just talent; it's a byproduct of practicing at the absolute limits of their physical range. While they aren't necessarily practicing 90-footers, the mechanics they use for 40-footers are the foundation for the ultimate desperation shot.
How to Increase Your (Very Slim) Odds
If you actually want to get better at this—maybe for a halftime contest or just to shut up your friends at the park—there are a few things that actually help.
First, stop trying to shoot it like a jumper. You need to use a baseball-style crow hop. Step with your non-dominant foot, bring the ball back behind your ear, and follow through with your entire body. Your back foot should actually come off the ground.
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Second, aim high. Most people miss short because they’re afraid of overshooting. You almost never see a full court basketball shot go over the backboard. The air resistance on a basketball is huge because of its surface area. It slows down significantly in flight.
Third, don't worry about the "swish." Aim for the top square of the backboard. The backboard is your friend. It’s a giant target that can kill the ball's momentum and drop it straight into the cylinder.
Actionable Steps for the Long-Range Dreamer
If you find yourself with the ball and the clock hitting zero, here’s the checklist:
- Find your footing: Don't just stand still. You need at least one hard step to generate momentum.
- Choose your weapon: Use the one-handed baseball launch for anything over 70 feet. The two-handed heave is for the mid-court line.
- Ignore the "percentage": In that moment, your field goal percentage doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is giving the ball a chance to touch the rim.
- Follow through: Keep your hand extended toward the target. It feels silly when the ball is 80 feet away, but it helps maintain your line.
The full court basketball shot remains the ultimate "what if" in sports. It’s the play that turns a blowout into a highlight reel and a regular-season game into a legend. While the math says it shouldn't happen, the beauty of basketball is that the math doesn't always win. Sometimes, the heave finds the hoop.
Practice your footwork and core stability if you want to increase your throwing power. Focus on the transfer of energy from your legs through your fingertips. Most importantly, next time you're at the gym, take five minutes at the end of your workout to just launch a few from the opposite baseline. You'll realize just how much strength it takes—and you'll have a much deeper appreciation the next time you see a pro make it look easy on TV.