Ayrton Oneill
Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball, and one that players need to maintain through practice and drills. While it may be tempting to look down at the ball, dribblers should keep their eyes on the game, using their fingertips, not their palms, to control the ball. Drills are an excellent way to improve dribbling skills, and there are many online resources that offer tips and routines to improve ball control and handling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Practice frequency | 10-15 minutes a day |
| Equipment | Kyrie bag, heavy ball, deflated ball, plastic bags |
| Posture | Head up, focus on a spot on the wall, don't look at the ground |
| Ball contact | Use fingertips, not the palm |
| Ball height | Bounce no higher than waist height |
| Drills | Front V-dribble, figure eight, alternating legs, two balls |
| Game-like situations | Practice with defenders present |
| Comfort zone | Practice outside your comfort zone |
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What You'll Learn
Drills to improve dribbling
Dribbling is a skill that can be practiced alone and perfected with drills. Here are some drills to improve your dribbling:
- The Cone Drill: Set up cones in different spots on the court and dribble to each cone, making moves such as a crossover, between the legs, or a behind-the-back dribble. This drill helps improve your dribbling and your ability to change directions.
- The Figure 8 Drill: Start with your feet spread apart and the ball in your right hand. Then dribble the ball through your legs to your left hand and immediately dribble it back to your right hand. This drill helps improve your dribbling and your ability to switch hands.
- The Two-Ball Dribble: Start at the baseline with a basketball in each hand. Dribble both balls to the free-throw line and back, then to half-court and back, and finally to the other baseline and back. This drill improves ball handling while changing directions at different speeds.
- The Chair Drill: Set up a chair as a defender and dribble towards it, using moves like a crossover or going behind the back as you advance past the chair. This drill helps improve your dribbling and your ability to make moves on defenders.
- The Partner Drill: Get a partner and dribble from one side of the court to the other while your partner slides and defends you. This drill helps improve your dribbling and your ability to handle pressure.
- The Three-Ball Dribble: This drill is similar to the two-ball dribble, but with an added ball and a partner. Start by dribbling two balls, one in each hand. Then pass the ball in your left hand to your partner and dribble the ball in your right hand to your left. Your partner will then throw you a ball, and you'll dribble it with your right hand, continuing the pattern. This drill helps improve your crossover, explosiveness, and ability to switch hands mid-play.
In addition to these drills, it's important to always have a basketball around to develop a feel for it. You can also try dribbling with worn-down or deflated basketballs to improve your control. Practicing in game-like situations with defenders present is also crucial to improving your dribbling skills.
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Practising ball handling
Ball handling is a skill that integrates dribbling, passing, and decision-making. It involves knowledge of the game and requires practice in competitive, game-like situations with defenders present. Here are some tips and drills to improve your ball-handling skills:
- Dribble with your fingertips, not your palm: Use your fingertips to control the ball, allowing for more precise and quicker dribbles.
- Dribble hard: The more time the ball spends in your hand, the more control you have. Dribbling harder will get the ball back into your hand quicker.
- Keep your head up: Avoid looking at the ground or the ball. Focus on a spot on the rim or a spot on the wall during practice to help you maintain your head position.
- Practice outside your comfort zone: Experiment with dribbling faster or harder than you are used to. If you only practice within your comfort zone, your progress will be slower.
- The Front V-Dribble: This move is used for in-and-out fakes and can help you get around a defender. Start by dribbling with only your right hand, moving the ball side-to-side in front of your body in a "V" shape. Your upper body should move with the rhythm. Switch to your left hand and repeat.
- Figure Eight Dribble: Widen your stance and dribble the ball in a figure-eight pattern around both of your legs. As the ball moves from one side to the other, switch hands quickly, keeping the hand that is not in use between your legs.
- Two-Ball Pound and Pass: This drill requires two basketballs. With a ball in each hand, pound the balls simultaneously on each side of your body. Then, pass one ball behind your back and one in front to the opposite hand. Repeat the pounding, and change direction after five repetitions. Focus on increasing your speed as you get more comfortable.
- Use different balls: Try dribbling with deflated or heavy balls to improve your control and strength.
- Follow online routines: Accounts on Instagram and YouTube provide daily handling workouts, videos, and drills to improve your skills. Setting a routine for yourself can help you train more efficiently.
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Gaining comfort with the basketball
Start by simply having a basketball around you and getting a feel for it. You don't always have to be dribbling it, but keeping it close by will help you develop a sense of familiarity and comfort. This might seem obvious, but it's an important first step.
Next, when you are dribbling, focus on using your fingertips to control the ball rather than your palm. This gives you more precision and control over the ball. Keep your dribbles low, ideally no higher than waist height, especially when starting out. The harder you dribble, the quicker the ball returns to your hand, giving you more control.
It's also important not to look at the ground while dribbling. Keep your head up and your eyes on the rim or a spot on the wall during practice. This helps you maintain awareness of your surroundings, just like in a real game. Imagine game scenarios and visualize when and how you would use each dribble. This mental preparation is an important part of gaining comfort with the basketball.
To improve your comfort and control, you can also try dribbling with different balls. Use worn-down or deflated balls to practice harder, and then switch to a ball with more air to improve your control. You can also put plastic bags inside the balls while dribbling to add another challenge.
Lastly, there are numerous dribbling drills you can use to improve your comfort with the basketball. For example, the front V-dribble is great for practicing in-and-out fake moves, helping you get around defenders. Start with your right hand, dribbling the ball side-to-side in front of your body in a V-shape. Switch to your left hand and repeat. This drill helps you get comfortable with dribbling and moving in different directions.
Remember, the more time you spend with the basketball, the more comfortable you'll become. So keep at it, practice regularly, and don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone!
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Mastering the fundamentals
Firstly, spend as much time as possible with a basketball in your hand. The more comfortable you are with the ball, the better your ball control will be. Dribble for at least 10-5 minutes every day and always have a ball around, even if you're just carrying it or throwing it up in the air. Use dribbling drills such as the "Maravich Drills", named after the legendary Pete Maravich, to improve your ballhandling skills.
Secondly, when you're dribbling, use your fingertips to control the ball rather than your palm, and keep the ball close to your body, no higher than waist height. As your dribbling gets faster, your dribbles should get lower to the ground. This gives you more control over the ball and allows you to accelerate quickly.
Thirdly, practice dribbling with your head up, looking at the rim or a spot on the wall. Avoid looking down at the ball. This helps you develop peripheral vision and awareness of your surroundings, which is crucial during a game. Imagine game scenarios and visualize when and how you would use each of the dribbles.
Additionally, focus on the basics and practice dribbling in a straight line. Basketball is a game of angles, so try to recapture a direct line to the basket after making an "East-West" move. Don't do things in two dribbles that you can do in one. The primary purpose of dribbling is to create opportunities for lay-ups, so work on getting those opportunities with a single dribble.
Finally, to take your dribbling to the next level, practice outside your comfort zone. Try dribbling faster or harder than you're used to, and don't be afraid to experiment with new skills. Use different balls, such as deflated or heavier balls, to challenge yourself and improve your ball control.
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Practising outside your comfort zone
Vary your routine
Add some variety to your dribbling routine by practising on different surfaces. For example, try dribbling on a carpet, which will force you to dribble harder to keep the ball under control. This will help you develop a feel for the ball and improve your technique.
Use gloves
Borrow a pair of gardening gloves and try dribbling while wearing them. The gloves will reduce your sense of touch and natural grip on the ball, forcing you to focus harder on maintaining control. This technique was even used by NBA star Kyrie Irving to improve his dribbling skills.
Use two balls
Any dribbling drill you can do with one ball, you can do with two. Practising with two balls will improve your ball control and coordination. Start with stationary drills, then move on to dribbling half court and then full court.
Push yourself during drills
When practising dribbling drills, push yourself to go faster or harder than you usually would. This will help you improve your skills and avoid slowing your progress. Don't be discouraged if you make mistakes—this means you're challenging yourself!
Learn to dribble with both hands
It's important to be able to dribble with both your dominant and non-dominant hand. This will make you less predictable to defenders and give you more options when attacking.
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Frequently asked questions
Practice, practice, practice. Dribbling is a skill that can be practiced alone, so keep a basketball with you at all times and dribble for 10-5 minutes a day.
Try the "Maravich Drills", named after the late ball-handling wizard Pete Maravich. You can also do the front V-dribble, which is used for in-and-out fake moves to get around a defender.
Keep your head up and look at the rim or a spot on the wall, not the ground. Use your fingertips to dribble, not your palm, and dribble hard and fast to improve control.
Basketball is a game of angles, so try to move in straight lines. Use dribbling to separate from your defender, then beat them with your feet. Practice dribbling in competitive, game-like situations with defenders present.
Yes, dribble with worn-down or deflated basketballs to improve your handling. You can also put the basketball in a bag and dribble it for a week or two to improve your handles.
