Games / Arcade Games / Hoop Flick / Guide
Hoop Flick
A sunset rooftop court, a hoop, and 60 seconds on the clock. Flick the ball up to shoot, string swishes together to set the net on fire, and keep your streak alive while the hoop starts to move.
What is Hoop Flick?
Hoop Flick is a basketball shooting game in the spirit of an arcade hoop machine. You get one ball at a time, a minute on the clock, and a hoop that gets harder to hit the better you do. It's free, plays in your browser on a phone, tablet or computer, and there's no download.
The twist is that the hoop reacts to your streak. Make three in a row and it starts sliding side to side. Keep going and it speeds up, starts bobbing up and down, and the rim gets a little tighter every time you score.
How to shoot
Phone and tablet
Put your finger on the screen and flick upward. The length of the flick sets the power and the sideways angle of the flick sets your aim. A short flick falls short, a long one sails over the back of the rim.
Computer
Click and drag upward with the mouse the same way. Or use the keyboard: Left and Right (or A and D) nudge your aim, then hold Space or Up to fill the power meter. The meter swings up and down, so let go when it's in the sweet spot. P or Esc pauses and M mutes.
There's a short pause while the next ball rolls up. If you flick during that pause, your shot is saved and fires as soon as the ball is ready.
Scoring
| Shot | Points |
|---|---|
| Make (touches the rim) | 2 |
| Bank shot (off the backboard) | 3 |
| Swish (nothing but net) | 4 |
| Any make while on fire | Double |
| Any make in the last 15 seconds | Double |
On fire: two swishes in a row light the net up. From then on, every basket counts double until you miss. The swish that lights the fire scores normally, the doubling starts with the next one.
Double points: when the clock hits 15 seconds, every basket counts double. This stacks with fire, so a swish while on fire in the final 15 seconds is worth 16 points.
Missing: one miss resets your streak, puts the fire out and stops the hoop moving. It then hops to a new spot on the court and sits still.
How the hoop moves
| Streak | What happens |
|---|---|
| 3 in a row | The hoop starts sliding side to side |
| 6 in a row | It slides faster |
| 10 in a row | Wild hoop: wider swings and a little up and down |
| 15 in a row | Legend mode: fastest and least predictable |
The rim also shrinks a touch with each basket in a streak, up to 15. It goes back to full size after a miss.
Modes
- Arcade: 60 seconds, everything described above. Your best goes on the Arcade leaderboard if you're signed in.
- Daily Shootout: also 60 seconds, but the hoop's spots and movement follow the same pattern for every player that day. It keeps a day streak.
- Practice: no timer, no fire, and the hoop stays still and full size. Each make is 1 point and your best is your longest streak. Turn the Guide on to see the arc of your shot before you let go.
Coins and the Ball Rack
Every point you score in Arcade or the Daily Shootout becomes a coin. In Practice you earn one coin per make. Spend coins in the Ball Rack.
| Ball | Cost |
|---|---|
| Classic | Free |
| Retro | 60 coins |
| Beach | 150 coins |
| Melon | 300 coins |
| Fuzzy | 450 coins |
| Moon | 650 coins |
| Disco | 900 coins |
| Galaxy | 1,300 coins |
| Lava | Make 12 swishes in one game |
| Gold | Hit a 15 streak |
Tips for a higher score
Learn your flick length in Practice
Power comes from how far your finger travels, not how fast it moves. The sweet spot is a flick of roughly a third of the screen's height. Small errors near that length are forgiven, big ones aren't. Spend a few minutes in Practice with the Guide on and you'll feel it quickly.
Swishes are where the points are
A swish is double a plain make, and two in a row light the fire, which doubles everything after. A careful centered shot that drops clean is worth far more than a fast shot that rattles in. Since there's a reload pause between balls, you can't win by shooting faster. Accuracy wins.
Bank shots are a safe 3
If the hoop is moving and you're not sure about the swish, a shot off the backboard scores 3. That's more than a rim make, though it won't count toward lighting the fire.
Shoot the moving hoop at the end of its swing
Once your streak hits 3, the hoop slides back and forth in a smooth rhythm. It's slowest right as it turns around at each end. Time your flick for that moment. The game also leads the hoop for you a little, so aim at the hoop rather than far ahead of it.
Save something for the last 15 seconds
Double points kick in at 15 seconds left. If you're on fire when that happens, every swish is worth 16. Playing steady through the middle of the game so your fire is alive at the 0:15 mark is the single biggest score boost there is.
After a miss, take the easy one
A miss parks the hoop in a new spot and it stops moving. That next shot is the easiest you'll get, so use it to restart your streak calmly instead of rushing.
Beat the buzzer
A ball that's already in the air when time runs out still counts if it goes in. Always get one last shot off in the final second.
Questions
Is Hoop Flick free to play?
Yes. Hoop Flick is a free basketball shooting game that runs in your browser on phone, tablet or computer, with no download.
How many points is a swish in Hoop Flick?
A swish is 4 points. A bank shot is 3 and a make that touches the rim is 2.
How do you get on fire?
Make two swishes in a row. Every basket after that counts double until you miss.
Can you play Hoop Flick with a keyboard?
Yes. Aim with the arrow keys or A and D, hold Space or Up to charge the power meter, and release to shoot.
Why does the hoop start moving?
The hoop moves once you make three in a row and gets faster at 6, 10 and 15. A miss stops it.
How do you unlock the Gold ball?
Hit a streak of 15 baskets in a row. The Lava ball needs 12 swishes in one game.
