# If I practise basketball with a smaller hoop than the standard..

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-practise-basketball-with-a-smaller-hoop-than-the-standard/261935>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 28, 2004, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-practise-basketball-with-a-smaller-hoop-than-the-standard/261935 "2004-08-28T10:11:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![LuckySevens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@LuckySevens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LuckySevens)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2004, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-practise-basketball-with-a-smaller-hoop-than-the-standard/261935/1 "2004-08-28T10:11:35Z")

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Would my ability in a game with a regular size hoop be better than someone who used a regular ring to practice?  
Suppose the ring is the same height (10ft), same distance from the backboard, but the only difference is the circular size. Lets say its 3 centremetres (an inch and a bit) small all the way around the rim than the standard sized hoop.

I practice on this hoop daily. Will my shots now be more effective, because I’m less lazy about shooting, and can achieve it on a much more difficult ring?

You could apply this to American Football kickers as well (using less wide goal posts) etc etc.

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**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-practise-basketball-with-a-smaller-hoop-than-the-standard/261935/2 "2004-08-28T17:25:58Z")

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My high school gym had one basket with a smaller inner hoop (1967,) so it’s not a new idea. I have no info about whether it works.

There’s a device being sold now that claims to improve a player’s shot percentage by forcing a higher shot arc. The gadget is a clear plastic wall about a foot higher than the rim, and it’s about 3 times the diameter of the hoop. Shallow-arc shots simply bounce off the gadget, never reaching the hoop.

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2004, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-practise-basketball-with-a-smaller-hoop-than-the-standard/261935/3 "2004-08-28T17:43:19Z")

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[This site](http://www.wolverinesports.com/basketball1.html) agrees with your theory.