Basketball Shooting Calculator
FG%, eFG% and true shooting from a line — two of which can exceed 100%, and which can rank two nights the opposite way round.
Threes made are counted inside the field goals made, not on top of them. The 0.44 in true shooting is an estimate rather than a rule — see below for what it does if it is wrong. Nothing is uploaded.
Neither of these is a percentage, and they can disagree
A made three counts as one and a half made shots, so effective field goal percentage tops out at 150% — one perfect three from one attempt reads 150% while the same shot from two feet reads 100%. True shooting goes further still: a player who only shoots free throws and makes them all lands on exactly 113.6%, which is 1 over twice the 0.44.
| Shooter | Points | FG% | eFG% | TS% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rim runner All twos, high percentage | 18 | 66.7% | 66.7% | 69.9% |
| Three-point specialist Nothing but threes | 15 | 41.7% | 62.5% | 62.5% |
| Foul merchant Few shots, lives at the line | 16 | 40.0% | 40.0% | 71.7% |
| Volume scorer A bit of everything | 27 | 45.0% | 52.5% | 58.5% |
| One perfect two One shot, one make | 2 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| One perfect three One shot, one make, worth three | 3 | 100.0% | 150.0% | 150.0% |
And they do not merely differ in scale — they can rank two nights the opposite way round. One made two, two missed free throws reads 100% on effective field goal and 53.2% on true shooting; A solid all-round night reads 55.0% and 63.8%. Perfect on one metric, clearly worse on the other, because a missed free throw is invisible to the first and costly to the second.
The 0.44 is an estimate, not a definition
It stands for how many trips to the line one free throw attempt represents, averaged over two-shot fouls, three-shot fouls, and-ones and one-and-ones. That mix is not fixed — it varies by league, era and rule set — so the constant is a fitted number that everyone inherits. Worth stating; not worth worrying about.
| If the coefficient were | True shooting reads |
|---|---|
| 0.3 | 61.1% |
| 0.35 | 60.1% |
| 0.44 — the usual value | 58.5% |
| 0.5 | 57.4% |
| 0.55 | 56.6% |
Across that whole range the answer moves 4.5 percentage points — real, but small next to the gap between two players. It matters most to whoever lives at the foul line and not at all to a player who never gets there, since with no free throw attempts the coefficient drops out of the arithmetic entirely. Effective field goal percentage has no such constant in it, which is the one thing it has over true shooting.
How to use
- Enter field goals made and attempted.
- Enter threes made, counted inside the field goals.
- Enter free throws made and attempted.
- Compare the three percentages, and what the 0.44 is doing.
Frequently asked questions
What is effective field goal percentage?
Field goals made plus half the threes, over attempts — it credits a made three as one and a half made shots, since it is worth one and a half times as much. That gives it a ceiling of 150%, not 100%.
Can these really go above 100%?
Both can. A single made three from one attempt reads 150% on effective field goal and on true shooting. A player who only shoots free throws and makes them all lands on exactly 113.6%, which is 1 divided by twice the 0.44.
What is true shooting percentage?
Points divided by twice the scoring attempts, where scoring attempts are field goal attempts plus 0.44 times free throw attempts. The doubling is what makes it comparable to a field goal percentage rather than to points per shot.
Where does the 0.44 come from?
It is an estimate of how many trips to the line one free throw attempt represents, averaged over two-shot fouls, three-shot fouls, and-ones and one-and-ones. That mix varies by league and era, so it is a fitted number rather than a definition.
How much does the 0.44 matter?
Less than its prominence suggests. Sweeping it from 0.30 to 0.55 moves a typical line by about four percentage points — real, but small against the gap between two players. It matters most to whoever lives at the foul line.
Do eFG% and TS% ever disagree?
Yes, and not marginally. One made two-pointer with two missed free throws reads a perfect 100% on effective field goal and about 53% on true shooting, which puts it behind a solid all-round night on one metric and ahead on the other.
Which one should I use?
True shooting if free throws are part of what you are judging, effective field goal if they are not. The first sees everything and carries an estimated constant; the second sees only shots from the floor and carries none. Neither is a percentage.
Does this send anything anywhere?
No. Every figure is computed in your browser, and nothing is uploaded or stored.
🔒 This tool runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded, logged, or stored.