A system and method for improving a player's shooting efficiency by providing a player with various shooting challenge routines at which a player makes either a total number of shots or a total number shots in a row. Statistics regarding the player's performance are stored, printed and/or evaluated and the player can use the information to improve his or her efficiency at one or more of the plurality of different locations where the player shoots the basketball. In another embodiment, a measuring or detection system is used in combination with or separate from a ball launcher. The system is adapted to measure at least one of a distance of a player from the launcher, height of a shot made by the player after catching a basketball, release angle, release time, or arc of a shot; entry angle of the basketball into a goal; hold or release time; or shot arc.