General
swish
What does swish mean?
A made shot that passes through the basket without touching the rim or backboard, producing the distinctive net sound.
"Nothing but net — pure swish from the corner."
Origin
Onomatopoeic, from the sound of the ball through the net.
Frequently asked questions
What does swish mean in basketball?
It's a made shot that passes cleanly through the hoop, touching only the net and neither rim nor backboard.
Why is it called a swish?
The word is onomatopoeic, imitating the soft 'swish' sound the ball makes as it slides through the net.
What is the difference between a swish and a splash?
They're nearly identical clean makes; 'swish' emphasizes the net sound while 'splash' is more often used for long-range threes.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.