Any professional athlete will tell you that you win games during practice. The more you train and sharpen your skills, the better you’ll perform on the court. One of the best ways to improve your shot is to shoot more baskets. A basketball shooting machine can help automate the process and accelerate your progress.
A standard basketball shooting trainer lays underneath the hoop and will catch and retrieve your shots. This simple tool can save you a ton of time, allowing you to increase the number of shots you take during practice. If you use a basketball shooting machine, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a better player.
Whether your goal is to become a professional basketball player or you just want a more convenient way to practice and have fun, you must choose the right basketball shooting machine. Continue reading below to discover some of the best shooting machines on the market.
- Best Overall Choice
- Forces high arc shots
- Professional-grade at affordable price
- Best Budget Choice
- Low maintenance & highly-affordable
- Built to last through multiple seasons of use
- Most Compact
- Durable netting and discreet storage
- Quick & easy set-up
- Best Value
- No need to crouch - allows for more natural position
- Expand to a whopping 13.75 feet
- Most Durable Option
- Heavy-duty polyester netting
- Assembles with ease
- Best Shooting Machine for Home
- Train at 1000 reps per hour
- A little overpriced in our opinion
Best Basketball Shooting Machines
Not all basketball shooting machines are created equal. The iC3 Basketball Shot Trainer by Dr. Dish is on a whole other level. It’s one of the more affordable products from the company and is suitable for beginners who want to take their on-court performance more seriously. Dr. Dish typically produces high-end shooting machines used by professional players.
The design of the net is set up above the rim, which forces you to perfect a high arch shot. Since the net stretches nicely over the rim, it can easily catch almost all the shots you miss and send them right back to you. You can rotate the ramp by 180 degrees, allowing you to shoot from anywhere on the court.
The iC3 Basketball shot trainer by Dr. Dish is, without a doubt, one of the most professional-grade shooting machines you can get your hands on within this price range.
The only downside is that sometimes the balls can get stuck in the middle of the net. However, this rarely happens. If you’re looking to perfect your overall technique, then this shooting machine is the right addition to your backyard basketball hoop.
SKLZ is a household name in the sporting goods industry. They continuously produce practical training aids that are both long-lasting and affordable. The SKLZ Kickout is a perfect example of SKLZ simplicity. This basketball shooting machine effectively retrieves your shots without the need for moving parts. Instead, it uses a durable plastic slide to bowl the ball back to you after each shot.
The lack of moving parts makes this basketball shooting trainer extremely low maintenance. Not only is the SKLZ Kickout durable, but it’s also highly-affordable. You can rotate the trainer to match whichever angle you’re trying to improve. Also, you don’t need an assistant while playing. Attach the Kickout to your hoop and let the magic happen.
If you’re looking for a basketball shooting machine that will last you a few seasons, then the SKLZ Kickout might be worth your while. The only thing preventing this shooting aid from being perfect is that it can’t collect missed shots. However, given its incredibly simple design and durable materials, it’s one of the best shooting machines on the market.
Are you a beginner who’s tired of chasing missed shots? Do you want to improve your overall technique and get more baskets during practice? Then the Rolbak Gold Basketball Return Net is worth checking out.
This basketball shooting trainer is incredibly easy to set up. All you need to do is harness it over the rim of your hoop, and you’ll be ready to play in no time. The net itself can cover up to 60 inches, so if you have a pro-level 72-inch backboard, you might need to order the larger version. However, most backyard basketball hoops are around 60 inches.
When you’re not using the Gold Basketball Return Net, you can discreetly fold it up back up on the pole so that it doesn’t take up too much space in your backyard or driveway.
All in all, the Rolbak Gold Basketball Return Net does a great job of retrieving your shots. Also, Rolbak is a stable company with a good reputation in the sporting goods industry. They even offer a warranty on this trainer in case you aren’t delighted with your results. Rolbak will replace broken parts if anything goes wrong.
The SKLZ Rapid Fire II has a lot of similar features to the Rolbak Silver Basketball Return Net above; however, there is one key difference. The net of the Rapid Fire II rests on two hip stands, meaning you don’t need to crouch down to retrieve your ball. This is a significant upgrade because it allows you to shoot in a more natural game position.
Two fully-adjustable metal arms connect the net to the top of the backboard. Adjusting the arms allows you to control where the rebounds are sent, giving you full control over your shot practice. The SKLZ Rapid Fire II gives you the right rhythm to help you perfect the muscle memory you’ll need on game day.
The net can expand to a whopping 13.75 feet, giving you a ton of space to practice long shots. Mounting this training net is almost effortless. Once you mount it on your hoop, all you need to do is adjust it accordingly, and you can practice your shooting technique all day and night.
For players looking for a shooting trainer that’s not going to break the bank, yet will still give them the proper functionality to improve their shots, the SKLZ Rapid Fire II might be the way to go.
If you’re tired of shuffling around for loose shots, consider the Hathaway Rebounder Basketball Return System as your shooting aid. Hathaway is no stranger to sporting goods, and they rarely disappoint when it comes to basketball supplies.
The net is made from polyester, an extremely durable material that is virtually impossible to break by accident. It will catch almost every shot, so you don’t need to worry about your ball bouncing into the street or hitting your neighbor’s car. All you need to do to get this trainer up and running is attach it to the top of your hoop, and fill the anchor weights with water.
The simplicity of the design is what makes this an excellent choice for those who don’t want to go too over-the-top with their training aid. The net can easily cover a 60-inch backboard without the need for loose screws or bolts. The refillable water bags need about 1.5 gallons of water each and do a great job of preventing the net from tipping or disconnecting from the hoop.
The Hathaway Rebounder Basketball Return System is perfect for teens who want to up their game and become the next all-star shooter. It’s simple and straightforward to set up, and the only maintenance required is refilling the water anchors every so often.
There are tons of shooting trainers, but few of them can match the Dr. Dish Home shooting machine. Let’s face it; not all of us are handy. That’s why you want a shooting machine that’s easy to set up and move around. Otherwise, you might be stuck with a shooting machine sitting in your garage because it’s too difficult to assemble.
With Dr. Dish, you’ll never need to worry about a frustrating assembly process. You can have your new shooting machine ready for action in roughly 15 minutes. Once you have the Dr. Dish on your hoop, you can take over a thousand shots in a single day. That’s insane considering most dedicated players only average around 200 to 300 shots a day without a shooting machine.
One cool thing about the Dr. Dish is the net rebound retriever. With this net in place, you don’t have to worry about missed shots. Dr. Dish will send them back to you. Lastly, it comes with a unique app that can track your shots, accuracy, and more. Being able to track your performance is a crucial step for becoming a better athlete.
If you’re serious about basketball, then the Dr. Dish shooting machine is the perfect companion.
Conclusion: Best Basketball Shooting System
Finding the right basketball training aid isn’t always easy. It would help if you considered a few different factors before making your decisions. For starters, think about how often you’ll be shooting baskets. If you’re out there daily, it’s best to opt for something strong.
Whether it’s a shooting machine, rebounding net, or basketball shooting gun, there’s an option out there that will make you a better ballplayer. Our top choice is the iC3 Basketball Shot Trainer. For those on a tight budget, check out the Hathaway Rebounder Basketball Return System or the SKLZ Kickout.
We hope this guide was helpful, and you’re now ready to get your next basketball shooting machine.