Ts True Shooting Calculator
Track your ts% true shooting with our free sports calculator. Get personalized stats, rankings, and performance comparisons.
Reviewed for accuracy by Sher, Sports Science & Nutrition Specialist
Ts True Shooting Calculator
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Formula: TS% = PTS / (2 * (FGA + 0.44 * FTA)) * 100
Worked example — TS%: 69.7% - Elite efficiency scorer
Formula
TS% = PTS / (2 * (FGA + 0.44 * FTA)) * 100
Where PTS is total points scored, FGA is field goal attempts, and FTA is free throw attempts. The 0.44 coefficient adjusts for the fact that not all free throw attempts consume a full possession (and-ones, technicals, flagrants). The denominator represents True Shooting Attempts.
Worked Examples
Example 1: High-Efficiency Scorer
Problem:A player scores 30 points on 10/18 FG (3/6 from three) and 7/8 FT. Calculate TS%.
Solution:True Shooting Attempts = FGA + 0.44 * FTA = 18 + 0.44 * 8 = 18 + 3.52 = 21.52 TS% = Points / (2 * TSA) = 30 / (2 * 21.52) = 30 / 43.04 = 69.7% eFG% = (10 + 0.5 * 3) / 18 = 11.5 / 18 = 63.9% Standard FG% = 10/18 = 55.6%
Result:TS%: 69.7% - Elite efficiency scorer
Example 2: Volume Scorer with Free Throws
Problem:A player scores 28 points on 8/22 FG (2/8 from three) and 10/12 FT. Calculate TS%.
Solution:True Shooting Attempts = 22 + 0.44 * 12 = 22 + 5.28 = 27.28 TS% = 28 / (2 * 27.28) = 28 / 54.56 = 51.3% eFG% = (8 + 0.5 * 2) / 22 = 9 / 22 = 40.9% Standard FG% = 8/22 = 36.4%
Result:TS%: 51.3% - Below average efficiency despite high free throw rate
Frequently Asked Questions
What is True Shooting Percentage and why is it important?
True Shooting Percentage (TS%) is an advanced basketball efficiency metric that measures how effectively a player scores by accounting for field goals, three-pointers, and free throws in a single number. Unlike traditional field goal percentage, which ignores the extra value of three-pointers and completely excludes free throw shooting, TS% provides a comprehensive view of scoring efficiency. The formula weights all scoring methods appropriately, recognizing that three-pointers are worth 50% more than two-pointers and that free throws are earned at a lower cost than field goal attempts. This makes TS% the gold standard for comparing scoring efficiency across different playing styles and eras.
How is True Shooting Percentage calculated?
True Shooting Percentage uses the formula: TS% = Points / (2 * True Shooting Attempts), where True Shooting Attempts = FGA + 0.44 * FTA. The 0.44 multiplier for free throw attempts is a key part of the formula because not all free throws cost a possession equally. And-one free throws, technical free throws, and flagrant foul free throws do not use a possession, while standard two-shot and three-shot fouls do. The 0.44 coefficient is an empirically derived average that accounts for this mix of free throw types across the league. A TS% of 50% means the player scores exactly one point per true shooting attempt, which serves as the baseline for evaluation.
What is a good True Shooting Percentage in the NBA?
NBA True Shooting Percentage benchmarks have shifted upward over time as the league has become more efficient. The current league average TS% hovers around 57-58%, up from roughly 52-53% in the early 2000s. A TS% above 60% is considered excellent and typically indicates an All-Star caliber scorer. Elite scorers like Stephen Curry regularly post TS% above 62%. Players reaching 65% or higher are exceptionally rare and usually combine elite three-point shooting with strong free throw rates. Below 52% is generally considered inefficient by modern standards. Context matters though, as high-volume scorers with 58% TS% may be more valuable than low-volume players at 62%.
How does TS% differ from effective field goal percentage (eFG%)?
True Shooting Percentage and Effective Field Goal Percentage both improve upon traditional FG% but address different aspects of scoring efficiency. eFG% adjusts for the extra value of three-pointers using the formula (FGM + 0.5 * 3PM) / FGA, but it completely ignores free throw shooting. TS% goes further by incorporating free throw attempts and makes into the calculation, providing a more complete picture. A player who draws many fouls and shoots well from the line will have a notably higher TS% than eFG%. For example, James Harden historically showed large gaps between eFG% (around 52%) and TS% (around 62%) because he drew so many free throws. Both metrics have value, but TS% is considered more comprehensive.
Why does the TS% formula use 0.44 instead of 0.5 for free throw attempts?
The 0.44 coefficient in the True Shooting Attempts formula is an empirically calibrated constant rather than a theoretical value. If every free throw opportunity consisted of exactly two free throw attempts from a standard shooting foul, the coefficient would be 0.5 (since two FTA replace one FGA in terms of possession cost). However, several types of free throws do not consume a full possession: and-one opportunities (one FTA, no possession used), technical free throws (one FTA, no possession used), flagrant foul free throws, and three-shot fouls. When researchers analyzed the actual mix of free throw types across the NBA, the average possession cost per free throw attempt worked out to approximately 0.44 rather than 0.50, making this the standard coefficient used in the formula.
Can True Shooting Percentage be misleading in certain situations?
True Shooting Percentage can be misleading in several specific scenarios that analysts should be aware of. First, small sample sizes produce unreliable TS% values, so evaluating a player based on one or two games is problematic. Second, TS% does not account for shot creation difficulty. A player who only takes wide-open layups will have a high TS% but may not be generating efficient offense for the team. Third, and-one conversions can inflate TS% because the player gets both a made field goal and a free throw attempt, essentially double-counting some scoring. Fourth, garbage time performance can skew numbers when starters rest and opponents disengage defensively. Finally, TS% treats all points equally regardless of game context or situational importance.
How has league-average True Shooting Percentage changed over time?
League-average True Shooting Percentage has increased significantly over basketball history, reflecting evolving offensive strategies and rule changes. In the 1980s, league average TS% hovered around 52-54%. Through the 1990s and early 2000s, it remained in the 51-53% range as physical defense and isolation-heavy offenses limited efficiency. The introduction of rule changes limiting hand-checking after 2004 pushed TS% upward to 54-55%. The three-point revolution beginning around 2014-2015 accelerated the trend, with teams shooting more threes and fewer long two-pointers. By the 2020s, league average TS% reached 57-58%. This historical context is essential when comparing players across eras, as a 55% TS% in 1998 was above average but would be below average today.
How should coaches use True Shooting Percentage for game planning?
Coaches can leverage True Shooting Percentage data in multiple ways to improve team performance and strategic decision-making. First, TS% can identify which players should receive more shot attempts and which should reduce their volume. If a role player has a higher TS% than a team's primary scorer, it may indicate the need for better shot distribution. Second, coaches can analyze opponent TS% to identify defensive priorities and determine which opposing players to force into difficult shots. Third, tracking TS% by shot zone helps coaches design offensive sets that maximize high-efficiency looks. Fourth, comparing practice TS% with game TS% can reveal players who struggle under pressure. However, coaches should always combine TS% analysis with film study and contextual evaluation.
What is the relationship between shot volume and True Shooting Percentage?
The relationship between shot volume and True Shooting Percentage is generally inverse, meaning that as players take more shots, their efficiency tends to decline. This occurs because high-volume scorers must create difficult shots against focused defensive attention, while low-usage players often take only open shots generated by teammates. The best scorers in NBA history are those who maintain high TS% despite heavy shot loads. Stephen Curry maintaining 62%+ TS% on high volume is exceptionally rare. Analytics departments use efficiency curves that plot TS% against usage rate to identify the optimal shot volume for each player. The goal is finding the point where marginal shot value equals the team's next-best alternative scorer.
How do three-point shooting and free throw rates interact with True Shooting Percentage?
Three-point shooting and free throw rates are the two primary drivers of high True Shooting Percentage, and players who excel at both achieve elite efficiency. A player shooting 40% from three has an expected value of 1.2 points per attempt, equivalent to shooting 60% on two-pointers, which is extremely difficult to maintain. Free throws typically convert at 75-80% and cost only 0.44 possessions per attempt, making them highly efficient. Players who combine high three-point volume with frequent free throw trips (like James Harden or Luka Doncic) can achieve TS% well above 60% even with modest two-point field goal percentages. This mathematical reality has driven modern NBA strategy toward maximizing threes and free throws while minimizing mid-range jumpers.
References
Reviewed for accuracy by Sher, Sports Science & Nutrition Specialist · Editorial policy
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