What is a corner 3?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 11, 2026
The corner three is the shortest shot a basketball player can take to earn their team three points if it goes in.
Is a corner 3 easier?
Twenty-two feet from the center of the rim, the corner 3 is considered the easiest 3-point shot in the NBA, but it doesn't come without its challenges — mainly space, time to shoot, and being defended by more than just who's on the court.
How short is a corner 3?
Those 21 little inches, the difference between a 22-foot corner three and the 23'9" distance at every other spot on the arc, changed everything about the Spurs' offensive attack. And as has long been the case with NBA innovation, the rest of the league eventually caught on to what Popovich and San Antonio were doing.
How far out is a corner 3?
Also, corner threes allowed teams to take advantage of a loophole in the NBA rulebook—that all shots behind the arc extending around the hoop are worth three points, no matter the distance. The three-point line in the corner sits just 22 feet away from the rim, 21 inches closer than it is at the top of the key.
Why is the corner 3?
As the name implies, a “Corner 3” is a 3-point shot taken from either corner facing the basket (see image to the right). Some consider it the most important shot in basketball because it “stretches” a defense if you can put a great 3-point shooter in those corners.
42 related questions foundAre corner 3-pointers shorter?
Remember that three-point shots from the corner are 1 foot, 9 inches shorter than shots from beyond the arc. However, shooting from the top of the key gives you a chance to score on shots that bounce off the backboard. The backboard is less likely to help you when you're shooting from the corner.
How far is a corner 3 in the NBA?
Similar to the drop off in mid-range shots, the logic for the rise in corner 3s makes total sense – it is the shortest shot on the floor (22 feet away) that can deliver the most points (3), since the corner 3 is nearly two feet closer than the above the break 3-point shot (23 feet, 9 inches).
How far is the 3 point line from the rim?
At the top of the arc, the three-point line is 6.75 meters from the center of the basket or 22.15 feet. This measurement works out to about 22 feet, two inches. The FIBA three-point line, which has also been adopted by the WNBA, is over a foot and a half closer than the NBA line.
How far is the high school 3 point line?
3 Point Line or Arc:
19.75 ft (6.01 m): High School. 20.75 ft (6.32 m): NCAA.
How far is a high school 3 point line from the backboard?
The three-point line is 22.15′ from the center of the basketball hoop. The free throw lane is 15 feet from the backboard and 19 feet from the edge of the field.
How do you find the 3pt line?
In the U.S., college and high school rules for both men and women specify a distance of 19 feet, 9 inches (6.02 m) from the basket. This line lies at the same distance from the basket as the top of the key, so the 3 point line coincides with the top of the key at the center point.
What is the 3 point line in high school basketball?
At the NCAA level, the 3-point line distance is 20.75 feet, for both men and women. At the high school level, the 3-point line distance is 19.75 feet, for both boys and girls. Junior high uses the same 3-point line distance as high school.
When did high school 3 point line start?
While certain college basketball conferences experimented with it in the early '80s, the NCAA didn't universally implement a 3-point line until 1986, with high school basketball following suit a year later.
What size are WNBA balls?
One of the major differences between the men's and women's game is the size of the basketball. During NBA and FIBA play men use a Size 7 basketball, with a circumference of 75 centimetres, while women use a Size 6 ball measuring 72.5cm around.
How can I shoot my 3s better?
Start around five feet from the basket, and shoot until you make a shot all-net before moving back one step. Repeat the process until you get all the way back to the 3-point line. Continue shooting until you make an all-net 3-pointer.
How far is the free throw line in basketball?
The free-throw line, where one stands while taking a foul shot, is located within the three-point arc at 15 feet from the plane of the backboard.
Is the NBA rim 12 feet?
The rims have always been 10-feet high since James Naismith posted 13 rules for a game he called “Basket Ball” in a Springfield, Mass., YMCA gym in 1891.
Is the 3 point line the same distance?
The distance from the basket to the three-point line varies by competition level: in the National Basketball Association (NBA) the arc is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) from the center of the basket; in FIBA, the WNBA, the NCAA (all divisions), and the NAIA, the arc is 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in).
How tall is the basket in NBA?
Throughout gyms, parks, and driveways around the world, basketball hoops are almost always 10 feet (3 meters) off the ground.
Is college a 3 point line?
Last Thursday, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Committee approved moving the women's three-point line to 22' 1.75" from the current 20' 9" for the upcoming 2021-22 season for all divisions. This change aligns the distance of a three-point attempt with the WNBA and the international line.
Who made the first NBA 3-pointer?
Late in the first quarter, Chris Ford hits the first 3-pointer in NBA history. Six players hit 3s that night. Because Ford's 3 came in the first quarter of the early slate of games, it's believed his shot was the first in history.
Who invented the 3-point line?
Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics is credited with making the NBA's first 3-pointer, in a 114-106 win over the Houston Rockets. The 3-point line made its way to all FIBA competitions at a distance of 20-feet and six inches in 1984 before making its Olympic debut in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea.
When was the 3-point line moved back?
The NBA shortened its 3-point line to a uniform 22 feet before the 1994-95 season but moved it back after the 1996-97 season. The smallest gap was last season, at . 011 points per shot.
How far is a college 3-point shot?
College basketball's 3-point line in the DI men's game moves back this season for the first time since 2008. In case you missed the news, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved moving it back to 22 feet, 1¾ inches in June. That's the same distance used in international basketball.
Can you touch the 3-point line?
The shooter must have at least one foot on the floor outside the three-point field goal line prior to the attempt. The shooter may not be touching the floor on or inside the three-point field goal line.