Is the three point lines on a basketball court exact semicircles?

Answer 1

Great question. The simple answer is no. FYI: The three point lines are semicircles plus a little extra straight line. The center point of the arc is the center of the goal, but the three point line starts out straight. Starting from directly behind the center of the goal and extending right and left for a distance of 9 feet 10.5 inches along the baseline the inside of the 3 point line emerges. This 2 inch wide perpendicular straight liner continues for 63 inches away from the base line where it then connects to one side of a 19 foot 9 inch semicircle. So the 3 point lines are really composite shapes including the 20' 9'' College and the 23' 9'' NBA 3 point lines.