What this calculator does
True shooting percentage measures scoring efficiency across everything: two-pointers, three-pointers and free throws. It divides points by twice the true shooting attempts, where attempts are field goal attempts plus 0.44 times free throw attempts.
The 0.44 is the interesting part. It is not 0.5, because not every pair of free throws corresponds to a used possession: three-shot fouls, and-ones and technical free throws all break the pairing. The figure was derived empirically from play-by-play data and has held up well.
The formula
True shooting attempts are the field goal attempts plus 0.44 times the free throw attempts. True shooting percentage is points divided by twice that figure, expressed as a percentage. The doubling is because a field goal attempt is worth up to two points in the baseline, which is what makes the scale comparable to a field goal percentage.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| TS% | True shooting percentage, points per scoring attempt scaled like a field goal percentage. |
| TSA | True shooting attempts: field goal attempts plus 0.44 times free throw attempts. |
| 0.44 | The empirical coefficient estimating what fraction of free throw attempts consume a possession. |
| eFG% | Effective field goal percentage, which adjusts for threes but excludes free throws. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Total points scored | Total points scored. |
| Field goals attempted | Field goal attempts. |
| Free throws attempted | Free throw attempts. |
When to use it
Comparing scorers fairly
A player who draws many fouls converts free throws efficiently, which plain shooting percentages ignore entirely. True shooting is the measure that counts it.
Assessing a scoring line
Twenty-four points on 18 shots and 5 free throws is a different performance from 24 on 25 shots, and one number separates them.
Evaluating shot selection
True shooting captures the combined value of three-point volume and foul drawing, which are the two efficient scoring routes in the modern game.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How does the points total change true shooting?
The same attempt volume with the points scored varying.
| Points scored | True shooting percentage | True shooting attempts (TSA) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 44.6% | 20.20 |
| 24 | 59.4% | 20.20 |
| 30 | 74.3% | 20.20 |
Questions
What is a good true shooting percentage?
Around 56 to 58% is roughly league average in the modern NBA, above 60% is very good and above 65% is elite. It reads higher than field goal percentage because it counts three-pointers and free throws, both of which are efficient scoring routes.
Why 0.44 and not 0.5?
Because not every two free throws consume a possession. And-one free throws follow a made basket, technical free throws are awarded outside the normal flow, and three-shot fouls give three attempts on one possession. The 0.44 figure came from fitting play-by-play data and is the accepted convention.
What is the difference from effective field goal percentage?
eFG% adjusts for three-pointers being worth more but ignores free throws entirely. True shooting includes them. A player who draws a lot of fouls will look considerably better on true shooting than on eFG%.
Can true shooting exceed 100%?
In principle yes, over a very small sample where almost every attempt produced three points or an and-one. Over any meaningful number of attempts it does not, since the arithmetic would require scoring more than two points per attempt on average.
For shooting from the field alone, see the eFG% calculator. For a full performance summary, see the NBA game score calculator.