# Basketball: Why doesn't anybody use the skyhook anymore?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basketball-why-doesnt-anybody-use-the-skyhook-anymore/394834>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 6, 2007, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basketball-why-doesnt-anybody-use-the-skyhook-anymore/394834 "2007-03-06T18:32:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basketball-why-doesnt-anybody-use-the-skyhook-anymore/394834/21 "2007-03-08T16:07:40Z")

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> [@mazinger\_z](#):
>
> Man, this a damn hard shot to do. As a small kid, I could put all my effort into it, and it looked easy.

Yeah, but weren’t you playing with smaller balls back then? 😃

I’m glad Shaq got the mention here. If he grows that hook he could stay in the game until his 50s. Heck, I might even start watching pro ball again.

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**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basketball-why-doesnt-anybody-use-the-skyhook-anymore/394834/22 "2007-03-08T17:01:57Z")

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[QUOTE=middleman]  
The only way to get on Sportscenter is the 3ptr or the dunk.  
[/QUOTE]

I dunno; I feel pretty confident that someone breaking out with a Kareem-style skyhook would make it onto Sportscenter.

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**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2007, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basketball-why-doesnt-anybody-use-the-skyhook-anymore/394834/23 "2007-03-08T20:59:41Z")

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[QUOTE=spoke-]  
I dunno; I feel pretty confident that someone breaking out with a Kareem-style skyhook would make it onto Sportscenter.  
[/QUOTE]

True, but it is a lot easier to dunk!

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**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basketball-why-doesnt-anybody-use-the-skyhook-anymore/394834/24 "2007-03-09T21:09:27Z")

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[QUOTE=middleman]  
All but the most efficient players seemed to have abandoned the midrange shot.  
[/QUOTE]  
Like the bounce pass.

Don’t even get me started on Shaq.

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basketball-why-doesnt-anybody-use-the-skyhook-anymore/394834/25 "2007-03-09T21:14:12Z")

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[QUOTE=middleman]  
Also, the skyhooks is a midrange shot. A lot of NBA players seem to have fallen in love with the 3pt shot. The only way to get on Sportscenter is the 3ptr or the dunk.  
[/QUOTE]

Is a skyhook really more efficient than a trey?

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**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basketball-why-doesnt-anybody-use-the-skyhook-anymore/394834/26 "2007-03-10T01:10:26Z")

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[QUOTE=Marley23]  
Is a skyhook really more efficient than a trey?  
[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah, by a bunch, those who could shoot one back in the day usually hit over 50% IIRC.

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