Have you started keeping score and now wonder which numbers can guide the next game? The Four Factors offer one framework: effective shooting, turnovers, offensive rebounding, and free throws. They can help explain how a team created or lost scoring opportunities instead of treating the final score as the whole story.
Dean Oliver popularized this framework in Basketball on Paper. The traditional approximate weights are 40% shooting, 25% turnovers, 20% rebounding, and 15% free throws. Treat these as a general analytical guide, not a prediction or a rule that fits every team. This article is written by the developer of BoardStrategist, an iPad tactics-board and scorebook app; the concepts can also be applied using a paper scoresheet.
1. Effective field-goal percentage (eFG%)
Ordinary field-goal percentage counts a made two and a made three as one make each, even though the three is worth 1.5 times as many points. Effective field-goal percentage adjusts for that value:
eFG% = (2-point makes + 1.5 × 3-point makes) ÷ field-goal attempts
For example, making 4 of 10 two-point shots gives 40% eFG. Making 3 of 10 three-point shots gives 45% eFG, reflecting the nine points versus eight. The measure helps compare shot efficiency; it does not say whether a shot was a good decision in context. Review shot locations and quality before choosing a practice focus.
2. Turnover percentage (TOV%)
A raw turnover total is hard to compare when teams have different numbers of possessions. TOV% estimates the share of possessions that end in a turnover. A common estimate is turnovers divided by possessions, with possessions approximated from field-goal attempts, free-throw attempts, and turnovers (one common form is FGA + 0.44 × FTA + TOV). Definitions can vary by data provider, so compare like with like. Note the situations behind turnovers—such as a rushed transition decision or a crowded drive—and practice the decision or skill involved.
3. Offensive rebound percentage (ORB%)
Offensive rebounds extend a possession after a missed shot. A common rate is team offensive rebounds divided by the sum of team offensive rebounds and opponent defensive rebounds. Reviewing this rate alongside shot efficiency helps show whether a team is creating second chances. Coaches can clarify who boxes out, who pursues the rebound, and who gets back on defense.
4. Free-throw rate
The Japanese source defines FT Rate as free throws made divided by field-goal attempts. Other references may use free-throw attempts instead; check the formula used by your scorebook before comparing figures. This measure is intended to show scoring from the line relative to field-goal volume. Pair it with free-throw accuracy and observations about drives to the basket rather than treating a single number as a verdict.
Use the numbers to set one practice priority
Record the four measures for your team and opponent after each game. Look at the gap: perhaps shooting was similar but turnovers gave away possessions. Choose the largest actionable difference as one focus for the next practice. Translate statistics into a behavior players can practice—for example, “pull the ball out when the lane is crowded”—instead of using a percentage to scold them. Use multiple games where possible; small samples can swing sharply.
Using BoardStrategist
BoardStrategist’s scorebook records plays by tapping and aggregates box scores and player statistics. The article describes automatic advanced statistics, including eFG%, and shot charts in dot, zone, and heat-map views. Reports can be exported as PDF or Excel files. Feature availability and plan details can change; see the features page and pricing page. Manual tracking or another scorebook can support the same Four Factors review.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Four Factors?
They are effective field-goal percentage, turnover percentage, offensive rebound percentage, and free-throw rate, a framework popularized by Dean Oliver for examining factors associated with winning.
Why does eFG% count a three as 1.5 makes?
A made three is worth 1.5 times a made two, so the formula weights three-point makes by 1.5 to reflect their point value.
Can youth and school teams use this framework?
Yes, as a way to organize review and choose a practice focus. Compare teams using the same definitions and avoid drawing strong conclusions from a small sample.
Do I need to calculate everything by hand?
No. A scorebook may calculate advanced measures from recorded events. Check its definitions, since providers can use different formulas.