Helena Frye
Being a good basketball handler is an important skill for any player. While shooting is important, if you can't move around the floor with the ball, you won't be able to score. To improve your ball handling, you should focus on dribbling drills, such as the Maravich Drills, named after the legendary Pete Maravich. These drills include one-ball and two-ball dribbling, dribbling through cones, and tennis ball dribbling. You can also try the Cone Slalom Series, which involves setting up eight cones in a straight line and dribbling through them. It's important to keep your drills simple at first and focus on building a great foundation of control. In addition to drills, you should also work on your footwork and experiment with different speeds and styles to keep defenders guessing. Remember, it's about being aggressive with the ball and not being afraid to make mistakes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Drills | Fingertip touches, ball slaps, body circles, in and out dribbles, crab dribbles, fast dribbles, high dribbles, low dribbles, between the legs dribbles, behind the back dribbles, stationary crossover dribbles, etc. |
| Practice | Practice dribbling with each hand while walking or jogging up and down the court, dribble with a plastic bag over the ball, practice dribbling two balls at once, practice juggling multiple balls at once, etc. |
| Game scenarios | Work on skills like moving around defenders or creating space |
| Footwork and stance | Maintain a slightly bent posture with your feet shoulder-width apart to ensure quick response time and greater power |
| Hand positioning | Understand where your hands need to be positioned to redirect the ball forward after a move |
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What You'll Learn
Develop a feel for the basketball
Developing a feel for the basketball is a crucial aspect of becoming a better basketball handler. This involves a set of drills that focus on improving hand-eye coordination, hand quickness, ambidexterity, throwing, and catching skills. Here are some specific exercises and techniques to achieve this:
Maravich Drills
The Maravich Drills, named after the legendary ball-handler Pete Maravich, are a well-known set of exercises that can help you develop a feel for the basketball. These drills include a variety of dribbling exercises, such as one-ball dribbling, dribbling through cones, two-ball dribbling, and the tennis ball dribble.
Stationary and Slow-Moving Drills
Improving your feel for the basketball often starts with stationary and slow-moving drills. These exercises help you develop a sense of control and precision. For example, you can try dribbling the ball in a figure-8 pattern between your legs, alternating between the front and back, and focusing on keeping the dribbles low or high. Another drill is the "Drop and Catch," where you hold the ball between your legs and drop it, quickly switching your hand positions to catch it before it hits the ground.
Cone Slalom Series
Set up eight cones in a straight line with 5 feet of distance between each cone. Stay in an athletic stance and walk through the cones, pounding the ball as hard as you can control it. This drill helps you develop a feel for the force you can apply to the ball while maintaining control.
Single Leg Circles
Get into a low stance and wrap the ball around one calf as quickly as possible for 10 seconds. Midway through, reverse the direction, and then switch to the other leg. This drill improves your ball control and coordination while moving.
Power Dribbling
Power dribbling involves dribbling at different heights, such as from your knees to your waist and then to shoulder level. This helps build muscle memory and overall ball control. You can also try power dribbling while sprinting to improve your ability to push the ball up the court during fast breaks.
Blindfolded Dribbling
To truly develop a feel for the basketball, try dribbling with a blindfold or with your eyes closed. This technique forces you to rely on your sense of touch and improves your ball control without visual assistance.
By incorporating these drills and exercises into your practice routine, you will develop a better feel for the basketball, which is a crucial foundation for becoming a more skilled and effective basketball handler.
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Practice dribbling with one and two balls
Practice dribbling with one ball
Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball, and improving your dribbling skills can make you a more effective player. There are several ways to practice dribbling with one ball:
- Practicing dribbling with a plastic bag over the ball can help improve your handle.
- Practicing specific moves like behind-the-back moves can help program your muscle memory.
- In and out dribbles, crab dribbles, fast dribbles, high dribbles, low dribbles, and between-the-legs dribbles are all moves you can practice.
- Drive from one end of the court to the other at full speed and attempt a layup. This will expose any poor ball-handling skills.
- Practicing dribbling for 5-15 minutes each day can help you feel more relaxed and natural while playing.
Practice dribbling with two balls
Two-ball dribbling drills can improve dribbling skills and coordination, making handling one ball in a game situation relatively easy by comparison. Here are some two-ball dribbling drills to try:
- Two-Ball High-Low Dribble: Dribble one ball below your knees while dribbling the other at shoulder height. Switch hands on the way back.
- Two-Ball High-Low Alternate Dribble: Dribble low with one hand and high with the other around a chair. Switch the low dribble hand and high dribble hand around each chair.
- Two-Ball Crossover Dribble: Crossover with both hands when you come to each chair.
- Two-Ball Weave Dribble: Weave in and out of chairs, dribbling forward to backward and backward to forward after each chair.
- Alternating Heights: Dribble one ball high while dribbling the other low.
- Hesitation: Act like you're slowing down or coming to a stop, then explode out of the dribble as hard as you can.
- Behind the Back & Crossover: Take one ball behind your back while crossing the other ball in front.
- Alternating Piston Drill: Get into a good basketball (triple threat) position and dribble both balls at waist height but alternate sides. You can also do this drill on the move, up and down the floor.
- One High, One Low: Dribble a ball on each side, one as high as you can with the other low to the floor. Then change sides.
- Side V-Dribble, "Push-Pull": Similar to the 1-ball side V-dribble, "push it" from behind and "pull it" from the front, back and forth.
- Front V-Dribble - Windshield: After learning the "1-Ball Front V-dribble," try it with two balls. Bounce the balls at waist height, and roll your hand over the top of the ball, outside to inside and vice versa.
- 2-Ball Figure 8 Drill: Dribble two balls around one leg, then try this figure 8 drill. Only one ball goes around the leg, while the other stays in front, and the same ball always stays in the same hand.
- 2-Ball Front & Back Crossover: Practice your front and rear crossover dribble at the same time. Cross over one ball in front and cross over the second ball behind you.
- 2-Ball One Around the Back: Dribble both balls in front. Then, every few dribbles, swing one ball around the back to the other side while crossing over the other ball in front to the other hand.
- 2-Ball Shuffle: Similar to the "One Around the Back" drill, but instead of going behind the back, the ball is dribbled through the legs. Bounce it a few times, then crossover one ball in front and the other through the legs.
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Learn to change speeds and directions
Being able to change speeds and directions effectively is a crucial skill in basketball. It helps keep defenders off-balance and guessing, allowing you to get past them, create space, and set up shots. Here are some tips to improve your speed and direction changes:
Drills and Exercises:
Stadium Stair Running: This drill improves stamina and footwork, enabling you to change directions quickly. Run up and down stadium stairs, placing your feet on each step. Vary the drill by alternating between placing your feet on each step and every other step. This improves your ability to change directions quickly and enhances your footwork.
Three Cone Drill: This classic drill has been used for years to improve athletes' ability to change directions and speeds. Set up three cones in a triangle formation and practice weaving in and out of the cones as quickly as possible. This drill helps improve your agility and speed, allowing you to change directions more effectively.
Dribbling Techniques:
Incorporating dribbling into your speed and direction changes adds a layer of complexity. Practice changing your pace while dribbling to become more unpredictable to defenders. Here are some specific techniques:
- Hesitations: Use hesitations between pace changes to throw defenders off-balance. You can create hesitations with your feet or by pump faking the ball, misleading the defender into believing you're going in a different direction.
- Varying Speeds: Develop an arsenal of different speeds. Great ball handlers like Kyrie Irving typically have 3-5 distinct speeds that they use to keep defenders guessing. Practice transitioning between these speeds to improve your ability to change pace effectively.
- Drastic Changes: Try techniques like two hard dribbles followed by a hard stop. This abrupt change in pace can cause the defender to fly by, creating an opportunity for you to take a shot.
Additional Tips:
- Deception: While speed is important, deception is key. Focus on being unpredictable and keeping defenders guessing. Change directions sharply and use feints to misdirect your opponents.
- Practice: Consistency is crucial. Practice these drills and techniques regularly to improve your speed and direction changes over time.
- Study Great Players: Watch and learn from players known for their speed and direction changes, such as Steve Nash and John Stockton. Observe how they use deception and pace changes to their advantage.
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Improve your hand-eye coordination
To improve your hand-eye coordination for basketball, you can try a variety of drills and exercises. Hand-eye coordination is a critical aspect of becoming a skilled basketball player.
Firstly, it's important to develop a feel for the basketball. This can be done through a variety of dribbling drills, such as the well-known Maravich drills, which include one-ball and two-ball dribbling, as well as dribbling through cones and the Steve Nash passing series. These drills improve hand-eye coordination, hand quickness, ambidexterity, and ball control.
Additionally, tennis ball drills are highly effective for developing hand-eye coordination. This can be as simple as tossing a tennis ball in the air with one hand and dribbling a basketball with the other, or it can involve more complex drills such as figure 8's, where you dribble the tennis ball around your legs, torso, or head in a figure 8 motion. You can also vary the type of throw and catch, such as using one hand or two hands, or tossing the ball above a theoretical target.
Another drill to improve hand-eye coordination is the "Drop and Catch" drill. For this drill, hold a basketball between your legs with your right hand in front of your body and your left hand behind. Drop the ball and quickly switch your hand positions to catch it before it hits the ground.
It's important to note that while practicing these drills, you should also focus on developing your overall athleticism and decision-making skills. This includes working on your footwork, speed, and ability to read the game. For example, try to move in straight lines and recapture a "North-South" path (a direct line to the basket) as quickly as possible after making an "East-West" move.
By incorporating these drills and exercises into your training regimen, you will significantly improve your hand-eye coordination, making you a more skilled and effective basketball player.
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Strengthen your weak hand
Strengthening your weak hand is an important aspect of becoming a better basketball handler. Many athletes tend to favour their dominant hand as it is more comfortable. However, being able to use both hands effectively is crucial in basketball, especially when it comes to dribbling, passing, and making quick decisions on the court. Here are some tips to help you strengthen your weak hand:
Dribbling with Both Hands
Start by keeping your dominant hand behind your back and focus on dribbling only with your weak hand. This may feel uncomfortable at first, but it will help you develop better control and coordination with your non-dominant hand. As you improve, you can try dribbling with two basketballs at the same time, one in each hand. This will further enhance your dribbling skills and improve your weak hand.
Passing Drills
Grab a partner and stand about ten feet apart. Put your dominant hand behind your back and use only your weak hand to pass and receive the ball. Start at a comfortable pace and gradually increase the speed as you get better. Each player should aim for twenty passes with their non-dominant hand, which equals one set. This drill will improve your weak-hand passing and make you a more versatile player.
Off-Court Habits
Improving your weak hand isn't just about what you do on the court. Try incorporating your non-dominant hand into your daily activities. Eat, open doors, brush your teeth, or use your phone with your weak hand. Initially, these tasks may feel challenging, but with consistency, they will become more comfortable. By forming these habits, you'll develop a more natural feel for using your weak hand, which will translate to smoother and more confident moves on the court.
Weak-Hand Dribbling Program
Consider following a structured dribbling program designed to improve your weak hand. Coach Kamil, for example, has created a 3-phase dribbling program that includes various dribbling exercises and footwork drills. These programs help you create space with your weak hand, make better decisions, and improve your overall dribbling skills. Additionally, video-taping your 5v5 games can provide valuable insights into the situations defenders put you in, allowing you to replicate those scenarios in your solo training.
By consistently implementing these tips and drills, you'll notice significant improvements in your weak hand, making you a more versatile and well-rounded basketball player.
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Frequently asked questions
You can start with basic drills like dribbling pounds, crossovers, between the legs, and behind the back. You can also try the figure-eight drill, dribbling the ball through and around your legs. Once you master the basics, you can add movement and work on dribbling while walking or jogging. You can also try more advanced drills like the Maravich series, one-ball dribbling, and two-ball dribbling.
Incorporate defensive pressure and simulated game scenarios into your training. Scrimmaging and playing in pick-up games are excellent ways to practice ball handling in a competitive environment. You can also film your performances and review them with a coach or mentor to identify areas for improvement.
Many players and coaches spend too much time on drills that are not functional or applicable to game situations. While it's important to practice drills, limit yourself to 5-6 minutes of each practice and focus on simulating game-like scenarios. Don't neglect the fundamentals of dribbling, such as keeping your eyes up and using your fingertips for control.
Advanced ball handlers can work on changing their pace and direction to throw off defenders and create space. You can practice this by dribbling at different speeds and changing directions quickly. Additionally, you should develop a primary dribble move and a counter dribble move to keep defenders guessing. For example, you can use the crossover as your primary move and the inside-out as your counter move.
