Details of Basketball's 3 Point Shot

Aside from the dunk and alley-oop, the three point shot is one of the most exciting and useful plays in the game of basketball. The three point shot changed the game of basketball greatly when it was introduced and the shot added a whole new aspect to the game. Sharpshooters could make themselves more useful by stepping back and having the chance to add three points to their teams total instead of the traditional two. A coach from my younger days once told my team, "Three points is worth more than two." Though this statement seems very obvious and almost pointless, it really does present a philosophy that coaches use at all levels.

In the United States, high school and college three point rules are currently the same. The three point line is 19 feet 9 inches from the hoop. This measurement is the most commonly used distance for the three point line. Recently, however, the NCAA has made a decision to change the three point line distance for mens basketball from the current 19 feet 9 inches to 20 feet 9 inches for the 2008-2009 season. The college line for women basketball players will not change for at least another year if the decision is ever made at all.

In international basketball, the three point line is different from the United States rules. For almost any level in international basketball, the three point line distance is 20 feet 6 inches. This line distance is also used by the WNBA of the United States. This distance is very popular among basketball fans as many of them think that this distance should be more widely used in the United States.

The line currently used by the NBA is a more complicated measurement than other three point lines. The NBA line consists of two parallel lines that go along the sidelines on the court, and an arch that connects the two parallel lines. The parallel lines extend 6 feet 3 inches up from the baseline and are 3 feet from the sidelines. The distance from the sideline three point lines to the basket is 22 feet. The arch then joins the ends of these parallel lines and creates a distance of 23 feet 9 inches from the basket.