True Shooting Percentage (TS%)
True shooting percentage (TS%) measures scoring efficiency across every way a player puts the ball in the basket - two-pointers, three-pointers and free throws - in a single number. It weights each shot by the points it is worth, so it captures value that plain field goal percentage misses.
Also known as: true shooting, shooting efficiency.
Formula
TS% = Points / (2 x (FGA + 0.44 x FTA)) x 100
The 0.44 multiplier estimates how many possessions free throw attempts actually consume.
Worked example
A player with 25 points on 16 field goal attempts and 6 free throw attempts has a TS% of 25 / (2 x (16 + 0.44 x 6)) x 100, which is about 68% - highly efficient.
Benchmarks
| Tier | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Elite | 60%+ |
| Good | 56 - 60% |
| Average | 52 - 56% |
| Below average | under 52% |
Ranges are approximate and drawn from public league-average data; exact figures move season to season and vary by source. Use them as a read, not a hard cutoff.
How coaches and scouts use it
- Compare scorers fairly - a high-volume three-point shooter and a rim-running big can be judged on the same efficiency scale.
- Spot players who get to the free throw line efficiently, since TS% rewards it where field goal percentage ignores it.
- Flag a low-TS% high-usage player whose volume is quietly costing the offense points.
Common mistakes
- Using field goal percentage instead - it ignores the extra value of threes and all free throw scoring.
- Comparing TS% without context on role; a spot-up shooter should post a higher TS% than a primary shot creator.
True Shooting Percentage (TS%) is calculated automatically inside Scouting4U.
Track true shooting and shot efficiency in Scouting4U player analyticsFrequently asked questions
Related metrics
Effective field goal percentage (eFG%) explained: field goal percentage adjusted for the extra value of the three-pointer, with the formula and benchmarks.
Usage rate (USG%) explained: the share of possessions a player finishes on the floor, with the formula, benchmarks, and how to read it with efficiency.
Offensive rating (ORtg) explained: points scored per 100 possessions, the formula, elite vs average benchmarks, and how scouts use it to rank offenses.