Andrew Pace
Dribbling is one of the fundamental skills in basketball, and improving your dribbling can help you and your team have more opportunities on the court. The more time you spend with a basketball in your hand, the better your ball control will be. You can practice dribbling anywhere, and there are many drills you can do to improve your skills.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Practice | Spend time with a ball in your hand, practice dribbling 10-5 minutes a day, and practice with two balls |
| Basics | Use your fingertips, not your palm, and bounce the ball no further than waist height |
| Hand placement | Spread your fingers to make contact with the top and side of the ball, allowing the upper part of your palm to make contact for maximum power |
| Stance | Bend your knees, drop your hips back, keep your head up, and avoid a tall, vertical posture |
| Drills | Crossover dribbling, low dribbling, running while dribbling, protective dribbling, power dribbling, front V-dribble, figure-eight dribble, chair dribbling, cone dribbling, zig-zag dribbling |
| Game scenarios | Practice dribbling in competitive, game-like situations with defenders present |
| Comfort zone | Practice outside your comfort zone, go faster or harder than you're used to, and experiment |
| Speed | Practice dribbling at high speeds, and practice running with the ball without losing control |
| Vision | Keep your head up by focusing on a spot on the wall, and don't look at the ground |
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What You'll Learn
Practice with two balls
Practising with two balls is a great way to improve your dribbling skills. It is a challenging task that will help you develop great one-on-one moves. Once you have mastered the basics, you can begin to experiment with two balls.
Start with stationary practice to build confidence. Stand on the baseline and try to control both balls. You can vary the height of the dribble from ankle, waist, and shoulder height. Once you feel comfortable, start to move. Go half-court, then full court. Follow the lines around the court or any route you can think of.
There are several two-ball dribbling drills you can try. For example, the Two Ball Pound, where you dribble both balls at the same time, and the Alternating Dribble, where as one ball hits the floor, the other ball should be reaching your hand. You can also try the Two Ball High-Low Dribble, where you dribble one ball below your knees and the other at shoulder height.
Another drill is to dribble laterally while catching tennis balls from a partner. This will help improve your reaction time. You can also use chairs or cones to add another level of difficulty, forcing you to move side to side while performing the dribble moves.
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Hand placement
When dribbling, you should also avoid using too much arm strength. For the best results, avoid slapping the ball with your palm and instead use your fingertips. When first starting out, make sure that you are using your fingertips and not the palm of your hand, and that you are bouncing the ball no further than waist height.
To improve your dribbling skills, you can try the "Kyrie bag the ball technique", where you put the ball in a bag and dribble it for 1-2 weeks. This will help you improve your handles. You can also try dribbling with a heavy ball, a deflated ball, or a ball with plastic bags placed inside. These techniques will help you improve your control and handling of the ball.
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Crossover dribbling
Practice the Basics
Start by mastering the fundamentals of dribbling. This includes using proper hand placement, touching the ball with your fingertips instead of your palm, and bouncing the ball no higher than waist height. Practice dribbling with both your dominant and non-dominant hands to build dexterity. The more you work on these basics, the better your ball control will be.
Stay Low and Wide
When performing a crossover dribble, it is important to stay low to the ground and lead with the foot on your dominant side. This helps keep the ball out of reach of the defender. Keep your head up and maintain a low, defensive stance to protect the ball.
Change Directions and Speeds
The crossover dribble is all about quick changes in direction. Practice crossing from your right hand to your left hand and vice versa, and vary your speeds during the drill. Start slow and then explode through the crossover move. This will help keep the defender off-balance and create opportunities for scoring.
Practice with Cones
Set up straight-line cones about three feet apart to simulate defenders. Dribble towards each cone, focusing on dribbling low and tight, and then quickly stepping through the cone as if it were a defender. This will help you develop agility and improve your crossover technique.
Watch and Learn from the Best
Study videos of great crossover players like Allen Iverson and Tim Hardaway. Observe their techniques, such as Iverson's emphasis on setup or Hardaway's quick power dribble, and try to imitate their moves. Learning from the masters of the game can help you refine your own crossover dribbling skills.
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Running while dribbling
To improve your dribbling while running, you must first develop excellent ball control. This means spending as much time as possible with a basketball in your hand, dribbling whenever and wherever you can. Practice dribbling with varying speeds and intensities, pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. The more you practice, the more natural dribbling will become, and you'll be able to trust the ball without looking at it.
When running with the ball, you should push it ahead of you and then sprint to catch up with it. This technique is used by professionals and helps you move quickly up the court. The harder you dribble, the longer the ball will stay in your hand. However, be careful not to dribble too hard, as this can result in a loss of control.
To protect the ball while running, you can dribble with one hand while raising your non-dribbling arm to hold off the defender. You can also dribble the ball at your side, rather than in front of you, when defenders are nearby. This forces them to reach across your body to attempt a steal.
Additionally, work on maintaining a low, defensive stance while running and dribbling. Bend your knees, drop your hips back, and keep your head and shoulders up. This stance helps protect the ball and gives you mobility. Avoid bending at the waist, as this can be bad for your back and make you more likely to stumble forward.
Finally, focus on using proper hand placement when dribbling. Use your fingertips and the upper part of your palm to make contact with the ball, allowing you to achieve both control and power. Avoid slapping the ball with your palm, as this will reduce your control.
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Protective dribbling
To execute protective dribbling, dribble with one hand (usually your dominant hand) while raising your non-dribbling arm to hold back the defender. This will make it difficult for the defender to steal the ball. Centers and power forwards often practice dribbling with their back to the defender and the basket to protect the ball, using their size to their advantage.
In addition to this, there are other ways to protect the ball while dribbling. One way is to get into a low, defensive stance with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, and hips dropped back slightly. This position helps protect the ball while also giving you plenty of mobility. It is important to avoid a tall, vertical posture, as this leaves the ball vulnerable to being stolen.
Another technique to protect the ball is to dribble between your legs. This can be done by standing with your feet hip-width apart and crossing the ball under your hips between your legs. This technique creates a barrier between the offender and defender and allows for misdirection.
Practicing protective dribbling and other ball-handling drills will help you improve your dribbling skills and become a better basketball player.
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Frequently asked questions
Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball that requires hand-eye coordination, good timing, and lots of practice. Here are some ways to improve your dribbling skills:
- Practice dribbling with your fingertips, not your palm, to ensure better control.
- Practice dribbling with both your left and right hands to increase your offensive opportunities and make it harder for the defence to stop you.
- Practice dribbling in game-like situations with defenders present.
- Practice dribbling with two balls to improve control and confidence.
Here are some dribbling drills you can practice:
- Front V-dribble: This move is used for in-and-out fakes to get around a defender. Start by dribbling side-to-side in front of your body with your right hand, forming a V. Switch to your left hand and repeat.
- Crossover dribbling: This involves passing the ball back and forth between your left and right hands while keeping the ball low.
- Running while dribbling: Focus on building speed without losing control of the dribble.
- Protective dribbling: This technique involves dribbling with one hand while using your non-dribbling arm to hold off a defender.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Practice outside your comfort zone by experimenting with faster speeds or more challenging drills.
- Avoid a tall, vertical posture. Instead, bend your knees, drop your hips back, and keep your head up to protect the ball and improve mobility.
- Dribble to the side when you're near defenders to make it harder for them to steal the ball.
- Develop court awareness to avoid dribbling into double teams or your teammates.
Improving your dribbling skills takes time and dedication. Stay patient and remember that progress may be slow. Set specific goals, such as mastering a new dribbling move or improving your speed. Keep track of your progress and celebrate your improvements. Finally, remember to have fun and enjoy the process of learning and refining your dribbling skills.
