How To Do A Layup: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Do a Layup PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Ryan Tremblay

Last Updated: September 10, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Right-Handed Layup
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  • Left-Handed Layup
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This article was co-authored by Ryan Tremblay. Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 781,581 times.

A layup is considered the easiest shot in basketball, because it's taken so close to the basket that odds are you'll score every time. Since you're moving toward the basket when making a layup, the most important part of a layup to master is the footwork. Learning how to do a layup from both the left and right side of the basket will increase your ability to score against your opponents.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 2:

Right-Handed Layup

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  1. Step 1 Dribble... 1 Dribble close to the basket with your right hand. Since you're doing a right-handed layup, angle your approach toward the right side of the basket. You want to get close enough to have easy access to the basket, but not so close that you end up directly under it.[1]
    • Layups are often taken off of a running dribble. Practice approaching the basket slowly at first, and increase your speed once you've got the footwork down.
    • You can do a right-handed layup if you're starting near the center or right side of the basket. If you're approaching the basket from the left, you'll want to do a left-handed layup.
  2. Step 2 Step toward the basket with your right foot. 2 Step toward the basket with your right foot. When you're just a few feet from the basket, take a step toward it with our right foot. Use this step to gain distance and position yourself within easy shooting range. Dribble the ball one last time just outside your right foot. Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Jump... 3 Jump off of your left foot. As soon as your left foot lands, use it to jump in the direction of the basket. Your body should be moving toward the basket, but don't lean forward. Ideally, you'll be positioned close enough to the basket that you can jump straight up to take your shot. As you jump, bring the ball out of the dribble to your chest to prepare for the shot.[2]
  4. Step 4 Shoot... 4 Shoot with your right arm as you lift your right leg. As you jump, imagine a string attached to your right arm and your right leg. Move them at the same time as you shoot, as though someone were pulling upward on the string. Your right knee should be bent and pointed toward the basket while your right arm moves up to shoot the ball. Arch your arm toward the basket. Shoot with your elbow slightly bent, so that your arm looks like the neck of a swan.
    • When you're doing a layup, the shooting technique is slightly different from that of a regular shot. Instead of using your left hand to steady the ball, you want to shoot the ball using only your right hand. This gives you more reach, and since you're so close to the basket that it's difficult to miss the shot, you don't really need your left hand to steady the ball.[3]
    • As you shoot, slightly rotate your wrist inward to give the ball a little bit of spin, rather than snapping your wrist forward as you would for a regular shot. The gentle spin will keep it from hammering off the rim or backboard with too much force.
  5. Step 5 Aim for the sweet spot on the backboard. 5 Aim for the sweet spot on the backboard. One of the reasons a layup is such a sure bet is because you can always use the backboard to help ease the shot into the basket. When you're doing a right-handed layup, the sweet spot is slightly above the top right corner of the small square in the center of the backboard. This spot absorbs the impact of the ball and drops it right down through the net.
    • You'll get two points no matter how you make your shot, but it's better to aim for the backboard instead of trying to just tip the ball over the rim. The backboard allows more room for error, but if you hit the rim funny the ball will bounce right out. There's nothing worse than missing a wide-open layup when you have full access to the basket, so work on hitting that sweet spot every time.
  6. Step 6 Practice until your muscles remember the movement. 6 Practice until your muscles remember the movement. The layup is a fundamental basketball move that will become second nature after you practice it enough. You should get to the point where your body remembers what to do and you don't have to think about which foot to put forward and which one to jump off: you just do it. Do layups as part of every basketball practice.
    • As you practice, you'll start to get a good sense for how fast to approach the basket and from what distance to begin your layup footwork and launch into a jump.
    • Work on doing layups while you're being defended or off of a long pass.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2 Method 2 of 2:

Left-Handed Layup

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  1. Step 1 Dribble close to the basket with your left hand. 1 Dribble close to the basket with your left hand. Approach the left side of the basket with a dribble. Get close enough to have easy access to the basket so you can launch into your layup from a few feet away. Don't get so close that you end up directly under the basket.
    • If you're right-handed, the left-handed layup may also be referred to as a reverse layup, since it's the reverse of your standard layup. If you're left-handed, the right-handed layup is the reverse.
    • It's difficult to do a layup with your opposite hand, but it's completely worth the time and effort it takes to learn how to do it. If you're approaching the basket from the left side, crossing over to the right side can be hard, and will slow you down. You'll have a much better chance of scoring if you know how to sink one from the left.
  2. Step 2 Step toward the basket with your left foot. 2 Step toward the basket with your left foot. When you're just a few feet from the basket, start your layup footwork by taking a step toward the basket with your left foot. Give the ball one last hard dribble just to the outside of your left foot.
  3. Step 3 Jump off of your right foot. 3 Jump off of your right foot. As soon as your right foot lands, use it to jump in the direction of the basket.[4] Your body should be moving toward the basket, but don't bend forward. Ideally, you'll be positioned close enough to the basket that you can jump straight up to take your shot. As you jump, bring the ball out of the dribble and position it close to your chest to prepare for the shot.[5]
  4. Step 4 Shoot with your left arm as you lift your left leg. 4 Shoot with your left arm as you lift your left leg. As you jump, imagine a string attached to your left arm and your left leg. Move them at the same time as you shoot, as though someone were pulling upward on the string. Your left knee should be bent and pointed toward the basket while your left arm moves up to shoot the ball.
    • When you're doing a layup, the shooting technique is slightly different from that of a regular shot. Instead of using your right hand to steady the ball, you want to shoot the ball using only your left hand. This gives you more reach, and since you're so close to the basket that it's difficult to miss the shot, you don't really need your right hand to steady the ball.
    • As you shoot, slightly rotate your wrist inward to give the ball a little bit of spin, rather than snapping your wrist forward as you would for a regular shot. The gentle spin will keep it from hammering off the rim or backboard with too much force.
  5. Step 5 Aim for the sweet spot on the backboard. 5 Aim for the sweet spot on the backboard. For a left-handed layup, the ball should tap the backboard slightly to the left of the center of the square. When you hit that spot, you'll sink the shot every time, since the backboard absorbs the ball's impact and helps it drop right down through the net.
    • It's better to aim for the backboard instead of trying to just tip the ball over the rim. The backboard allows more room for error, but if you hit the inside or outside rim, the ball could bounce right out.
  6. Step 6 Practice until your muscles remember the movement. 6 Practice until your muscles remember the movement. The layup is a fundamental basketball move that will become second nature after you practice it enough. You should get to the point where your body remembers what to do and you don't have to think about which foot to put forward and which one to jump off: you just do it. Do layups as part of every basketball practice.
    • As you practice, you'll start to get a good sense for how fast to approach the basket and from what distance to begin your layup footwork and launch into a jump.
    • Work on doing layups while you're being defended or off of a long pass.
    7. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

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  • Question How can I practice laying up as a beginner? Ryan Tremblay Ryan Tremblay Basketball Coach Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame. Ryan Tremblay Ryan Tremblay Basketball Coach Expert Answer Try going off two feet instead of just one—this is also known as a jump stop. This method helps you to stay under control, concentrate well, and go up strong versus going off just one foot. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 27
  • Question Which leg goes up on a layup? Ryan Tremblay Ryan Tremblay Basketball Coach Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame. Ryan Tremblay Ryan Tremblay Basketball Coach Expert Answer Either or! Basketball is evolving to a point where players can go off whatever foot for a layup. Still, if you're just starting out, it's easier to learn how to go off your right foot first. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 16
  • Question What are the different types of layups? Ryan Tremblay Ryan Tremblay Basketball Coach Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame. Ryan Tremblay Ryan Tremblay Basketball Coach Expert Answer Some players do zero-step layups, while other players prefer to go off different feet. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 26
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Video

Tips

  • Practice doing a lay up in your basketball court or at the park, or even off a wall if you have no hoop.[6] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Before you start doing layups, make sure your aim is good, because if you're in a game and you try to layup but it airballs and doesn't even touch the rim, you'll be embarrassed afterwards.[7] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • If you're coming from the right, aim for the right side of the white square on the backboard, and vice versa if you're coming from the left. This is called the "sweet spot." Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 4
Show More Tips

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
  • When you're ready to do a layup in the game, just remember: Right layup = right leg up, right hand up. Left layup = left leg up, left hand up.
  • Make sure you don't take more than 2 steps when holding the ball. If you do, it will be a travel.
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Do not lay it up too hard or else it will rocket off the backboard or not make it far enough. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 1
  • Be careful that you don't go too far underneath the basket. This sometimes happens when you are running too fast and results in a missed shot. Thanks Helpful 8 Not Helpful 1
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0z7QqblJaM
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0z7QqblJaM
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0z7QqblJaM
  4. ↑ Ryan Tremblay. Basketball Coach. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ http://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/fundamentals/layups.html
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0z7QqblJaM
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0z7QqblJaM

About This Article

Ryan Tremblay Co-authored by: Ryan Tremblay Basketball Coach This article was co-authored by Ryan Tremblay. Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame. This article has been viewed 781,581 times. 87 votes - 81% Co-authors: 80 Updated: September 10, 2025 Views: 781,581 Categories: Basketball Shooting Article SummaryX

To do a lay-up, start by dribbling the ball and approaching the basket. When you’re close to the basket, take a step toward it with your right foot and then jump up as soon as your left foot comes down. Push off with your left foot and bring the ball to your chest. As you bring your right leg up, also bring up your right arm to shoot the ball into the basket. If you aim just to the right of the square on the backboard, you’ll have the best chance of having the ball go in and scoring 2 points. If you want to learn how to do a left-handed lay up, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Sarah Ding

    Sarah Ding

    Aug 5, 2020

    "Had to help my 6 year old practice his layup, but I have never played basketball, this article helped a lot...." more
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Ryan Tremblay Co-authored by: Ryan Tremblay Basketball Coach Co-authors: 80 Updated: September 10, 2025 Views: 781,581 81% of readers found this article helpful. 87 votes - 81% Click a star to add your vote Sarah Ding

Sarah Ding

Aug 5, 2020

"Had to help my 6 year old practice his layup, but I have never played basketball, this article helped a lot...." more Ava Booker

Ava Booker

Nov 17, 2022

"It helps me with the form of the layups and how I should approach the basket and I learn how to do a hop step,..." more Dante Sagz

Dante Sagz

Oct 25, 2016

"I never knew that you are supposed to jump off your right foot if you use your left hand. All this time I've..." more Valerie Ledesma

Valerie Ledesma

Apr 1, 2020

"This story helped me understand more on how to do this certain topic. I feel this article was very helpful." Varmella Saltalamacchia

Varmella Saltalamacchia

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"You guys helped me do great for my basketball tryouts. Using your layup moves, I was a star player. :)" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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