5-Out Offense: Foundation
The modern spacing shell: five players outside the arc to open the paint, stretch help, and turn every drive into a read.
Team Offense
Four-Out One-In Offense (4-Out 1-In)
The 4-Out 1-In offense places four perimeter players spaced around the three-point line with one post player on the block.
Direct answer
What is Four-Out One-In Offense (4-Out 1-In)?
The 4-Out 1-In offense places four perimeter players spaced around the three-point line with one post player on the block.
Quick facts
| Category | Team Offense |
|---|---|
| Diagram | four-out-spacing |
| Source volume | BASKETBALL_PLAY_VAULT.md |
What it is
- The 4-Out 1-In offense places four perimeter players spaced around the three-point line with one post player on the block.
How it works
- This spacing maximizes driving lanes while maintaining a post threat.
- It is the dominant offensive framework at the college and high school level and is increasingly used in the NBA by teams that have a single interior scoring threat (e.g., a dominant center or power forward) surrounded by shooting.
- Spacing rule: The four perimeter players occupy the four perimeter spots: two wings (45-degree areas) and two corners.
- The post player occupies the ball-side block.
- Seal and maintain position on the block (ball-side)
Reads and counters
- Driver reads the post defender: if the big helps off the post on penetration, dump to the sealing post on the block for a layup.
- If the post defender stays home, the driver reads the weak-side and kicks to the corner shooter whose man rotated to help.
- Wing with the ball reads the post's seal: if he has deep position against a smaller switch, throw the entry and let him score one-on-one.
- Cutter reads his own defender on basket cuts: if that defender turns his head to the ball, cut hard backdoor through the open middle.
- Post reads the defense pre-catch: high-side fronting means flash to the short corner or duck-in across the lane for the lob.
Teaching cues
- Seal and hold the line
- Pin and finish
- Spray to the corner
- Drive and dump
- Cut on a turned head
Bilingual terms
| English | Four-Out One-In Offense (4-Out 1-In) |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 四外一内进攻（4-Out 1-In） |
| Traditional Chinese | 四出一進進攻（4出1進） |
Related concepts
5-Out Entry Series: Delay
"Delay" is the second most common 5-Out entry.
5-Out Entry Series: Wide
"Wide" is the most common 5-Out entry — the ball is pushed to one side of the floor into a DHO or pindown action.
Utah Jazz 5-Out Offense
Key features: One of the purest 5-Out systems in the NBA
3.6 Modern Post Play in 5-Out Offenses
Big receives ball at the top via Pistol action
5-Out Transition Structure
The sprint: 5 players sprint to get ahead of the defense; priority is filling the 3 spots ahead of the ball (two wings, one trail)