True Shooting Percentage Calculator (TS%)

In basketball, true shooting percentage refers to an advanced APBRmetrics (Association for Professional Basketball Research Metrics) stat that tracks how efficiently a player scores. It is intended to provide a clearer view of a player’s shooting ability compared to using field goal percentage, free throw percentage, or three-point percentage separately. This metric includes two-point shots, three-point attempts, and free throws in its formula. It is commonly abbreviated as TS%..

What is the true shooting percentage in basketball?

True shooting percentage is an advanced stat created by the Association for Professional Basketball Research Metrics. It is now commonly used in both pro and amateur leagues. Commonly written as TS or TS%, this metric helps you understand how efficient a player is when shooting. Instead of looking at just field goals, TS% combines field goals, three-pointers, and free throws to give a clearer picture of a player’s overall scoring effectiveness.

Definition – What is True Shooting Percentage?

True Shooting Percentage (TS%) provides a clearer scoring picture by balancing total points with field goal attempts and free throw attempts. It is intended to measure how efficiently a player scores overall.

When compared to field goal percentage (FG%), TS% adjusts for the value difference between 2-point shots, 3-point shots, and free throws.

When compared to effective field goal percentage (eFG%), it adds free throws to the calculation, which are not included in eFG%.

Some criticize TS% because the formula behaves strangely in extreme cases, such as when a player records a TS% above 100%.

Formula – How to Calculate True Shooting Percentage

TS% = Points ÷ ((2 × Field Goal Attempts) + (0.88 × Free Throw Attempts))

Where:

• “Points” means the total points scored by a player.
• “Field Goal Attempts” includes all shot attempts, including two and three shots.
• “Free Throw Attempts” is the number of free throws taken.

Example

A player scores 1851 points with 1205 field goal attempts and 665 free throw attempts.

TS% = 1851 ÷ ((2 × 1205) + (0.88 × 665))

TS% = 1851 ÷ (2410 + 585.2)

TS% = 1851 ÷ 2995.2

TS% = 0.618

Therefore, the player’s true shooting percentage is 0.618, or 61.8%.

Glossary of Terms Used in the TS Calculator

Even if you already understand how to find true shooting percentage, you may still want some clarification on the abbreviations and numbers shown in this tool. Below is a brief glossary of terms used in the true shooting calculator. Hopefully, it will help clear up any confusion:

FGA – Field Goal Attempts — A field goal is a basket made from any regular shot or tap that is not a free throw, and can count as two points or three points depending on where the attempt was taken. When finding a player’s true shooting percentage, both 2-point and 3-point field goal attempts are included.

FTA – Free Throw Attempts — A free throw refers to a shot taken from the marked free throw line area without being contested by any defender.

TSA – True Shooting Attempts — TSA is a useful basketball stat that is created by adding the number of FGAs to the number of FTAs, where free throw attempts are multiplied by 0.44 before being added.

Why is True Shooting Percentage Useful?

Sports statistics can play a very important role for athletes who want to improve their performance. Understanding your current level is the first step towards development, and True Shooting Percentage gives a basketball player a very accurate assessment of their scoring efficiency. Other helpful tools include a run rate calculator or a batting average calculator.

Additionally, fans also benefit from knowing this statistic. Whether you enjoy betting on sports and want the best possible outcome or you are just a regular follower trying to learn more about your favorite players, True Shooting Percentage helps you clearly and reliably gauge a player’s skill level.

Why TS% Matters

Coaches and analysts use TS% to see if a player is truly improving their scoring efficiency or just taking too many shots. By tracking this statistic, teams can find real impact scorers and make smarter choices about rotations, matchups, and contracts. Players with strong TS% typically earn more minutes because they help the team in meaningful and consistent ways.

TS% is valuable because it accurately compares different scoring styles. A center scoring near the rim may naturally have a higher TS%, while a guard shooting hard jumpers needs elite three-point accuracy or free-throw success to match that efficiency. This shows how smart shot selection and drawing fouls shape offensive value.

TS% also helps compare players across eras. Even as basketball styles change, TS% remains a stable way to measure true efficiency. This makes it useful for ranking legends or discussing Hall of Fame cases with greater accuracy.

Ultimately, TS% supports player development. Coaches use it to teach young players not only the value of working hard, but also the value of taking smart shots. Over time, focusing on TS% builds good habits and strengthens individual and team performance.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions