Amanda Knapp
The jelly layup is a complicated basketball move that requires years of practice to perfect. It involves getting in the air, floating, kicking your legs open, and flicking the ball with wrist action, using different angles off the backboard. The move was popularised by Isaiah Washington and his NYC crew in 2017, who added their own Harlem swag to a move that was originally a finger roll layup. To perform a jelly layup, you can start by practising Mikan drills and max jump approaches, and focus on getting the ball to touch the net and swing it around for a reverse layup.
How to do a Jelly Layup in Basketball
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | More difficult than it looks |
| Similar Moves | Finger roll layup |
| Technique | Double scoop, repositioning the ball mid-air, finishing with a spin, get in the air, float, kick legs open, flick with some English, use different angles off the glass |
| Practice | Requires years of practice to perfect |
| Variations | Left hand, right hand, reverses |
| Additional Tips | Focus on one element at a time, add new moves as you improve, keep your package to a few instinctual moves |
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What You'll Learn
Practice Mikan drills and max jump approaches
Mikan drills are an essential part of basketball practice, credited to the legendary George Mikan and his coach at DePaul University, Ray Meyer. This drill helps players develop rhythm, timing, and scoring techniques, especially for rebounds and layups. To perform the Mikan drill, start under the basket and make a right-handed layup. Then, catch the ball under the net with your left hand and make a left-handed layup. Continue alternating hands, focusing on quick grabs and accurate shots while taking the permitted two steps. This drill is so renowned that greats like Shaquille O'Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar have practiced and advocated it.
To further enhance your layup skills, you can practice finishing variations of the Mikan drill. Try making layups from different spots on the backboard and add more spin to the basketball. Focus on getting as much height as possible on each jump.
Now, let's discuss the maximum jump approaches to elevate your game. Improving your vertical leap and jump height can be beneficial for layups and dunks. Here are some approaches and exercises to achieve that:
- Perform exercises targeting your leg muscles, such as jump squats, deadlifts, calf raises, power skips, and box jumps.
- Try the Depth Jump: start on a bench or box, jump down, and immediately jump back onto the box. This trains your body to utilize elastic energy for higher jumps.
- Increase your horizontal speed before jumping. When going for a layup or dunk, take 2-3 running steps to build momentum.
- Lower your center of gravity on the penultimate step.
- Swing your arms before and during the jump. As you take the penultimate step, swing your arms back, and as you jump, swing them forward to generate more upward momentum.
- Extend your ankles, knees, and hips during takeoff to raise your center of mass quickly.
- Practice "hopping into your jump shot." Catch the ball as your non-dominant foot steps out, bend your knees, and jump.
- Try jump rope exercises to strengthen your calves. Stand upright, turn the rope over your head, and jump with both feet as the rope passes.
- For special strength work, consider medicine ball drills, including throws and jumps with a medicine ball or heavy basketball.
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Master the finger roll
The finger roll is a type of layup shot in basketball. It is an essential skill to master, as it is one of the easiest shots to make, especially when there are no defenders nearby.
Steps to Perform a Finger Roll:
Right-Handed Players:
- Start behind the three-point line, directly in front of the basket.
- Begin dribbling the basketball with your right hand, moving towards the basket in a straight line.
- As you reach the free-throw line area, take a step with your right foot and hold the ball with both hands.
- Take the final step with your left foot, still holding the ball.
- Jump as high as possible with the same left foot, extending your right arm towards the basket.
- Release the ball with an underhanded motion, rolling it over the front of the rim.
Left-Handed Players:
- Start behind the three-point line, directly in front of the basket.
- Begin dribbling the basketball with your left hand, moving towards the basket in a straight line.
- As you reach the free-throw line area, take a step with your left foot and hold the ball with both hands.
- Take the final step with your right foot, still holding the ball.
- Jump as high as possible with the same right foot, extending your left arm towards the basket.
- Release the ball with an underhanded motion, rolling it over the front of the rim.
Tips to Improve Your Finger Roll:
- Practice the finger roll from the free-throw line before attempting it from different positions on the court.
- The finger roll is useful when you are directly in front of the basket, as it is challenging to make a basic layup off the backboard from this position.
- The flick of the wrist is not necessary but can add style and power to your shot.
- Focus on mastering one element at a time, gradually adding new skills to your package.
- Practice getting the ball to touch the net and swinging it around for a reverse layup.
- The higher you can jump, the easier the finger roll becomes, so work on your vertical leap.
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Repositioning the ball mid-air
To execute this move effectively, you need to get a good jump and hang time. The higher you can get, the easier it will be to make those adjustments mid-air. Practice improving your vertical leap, and work on your timing so that you're comfortable hanging in the air for that extra moment needed to reposition the ball.
The actual repositioning of the ball can take many forms, depending on your creativity and the specific situation in the game. You might flick, scoop, or adjust the angle of the ball to throw off your defender and keep them guessing. Practice different variations: left hand, right hand, reverse scoops—mix it up to keep defenders on their toes.
The key to mastering this skill is repetition and experimentation. Practice the Mikan drill and max jump approaches to improve your technique and comfortability with the ball in the air. Focus on one element at a time, gradually adding new moves to your repertoire. With time and dedication, you'll develop a smooth, instinctual jelly layup that will leave defenders in the dust.
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Finishing with a spin
The spin component of the jelly layup can take the form of a 360-degree spin, where the player rotates their body fully while in the air, adding an element of showmanship to the move. This spin can be used to deceive defenders, making it harder for them to predict the finishing point of the shot. However, it is important to note that the 360-degree spin increases the complexity of the move and the risk of missing, so it is more commonly used in All-Star games, dunk contests, and streetball matches rather than regular games.
Additionally, the spin can be utilised as a defensive manoeuvre to dodge defenders. By spinning, players can change direction, shield the ball, and create a clear path to the basket, making it difficult for defenders to block the shot. This spin move can be especially effective if the defender is expecting a straight drive to the basket, as the sudden change in direction can throw off their balance and timing.
To practice finishing with a spin, players can start with the Mikan drill, gradually increasing the height of the ball bounces off the glass as they master the technique. This will help improve their vertical leap and overall fluidity of the move.
Overall, the jelly layup with a spin finish is an advanced technique that requires practice and a good understanding of body control and positioning. It adds an exciting element to the game, showcasing the player's skill and creativity on the court.
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Using different angles
The jelly layup is a showy, more complicated version of a regular layup that is popular in streetball and is becoming more common in organised basketball. It is often a showboating shot that adds flair to a regular layup. The jelly layup requires coordination, timing, and finesse, making it more challenging than a standard layup.
The jelly layup involves using different angles off the glass. You can reposition the ball mid-air and finish with a spin. You can jump up, touch the ball on the net or as close as you can, and then finish the layup with either hand and whatever angle. No backboard, using a backboard, no square, using the square—all kinds of angles are possible.
Practising difficult layups like the jelly prepares you for rare situations where your body may be contorted, forcing you to attempt a difficult shot. It also helps you learn to spin the basketball off the backboard from different angles, which is a valuable skill in basketball. You will also begin to have a better feel for the basketball, gaining control of the ball in different positions and allowing you to contort yourself to spin the ball and make the layup.
The jelly layup can also be used to deceive defenders. The exaggerated motion can throw off a defender's timing and make the shot harder to block. The underhand style can surprise defenders, who might expect a regular layup or dunk.
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Frequently asked questions
A jelly layup is a more complicated version of a finger roll layup. It involves getting in the air, floating, kicking your legs open, and then repositioning the ball mid-air to finish with a spin.
To perform a jelly layup, you need to get in the air and float. Then, kick your legs open and reposition the ball mid-air using different angles off the glass. Finish with a spin using either your left or right hand.
Focus on one element at a time and practice getting the ball to touch the net. You can also try Mikan drills and max jump approaches to improve your vertical jump.
A jelly layup is more complex than a regular layup and involves more movement and variation. It is characterized by its "Harlem swag," as described by Isaiah Washington, who popularized the move.
Aside from the jelly layup, the hook shot is another advanced technique. It is difficult to block due to its unique body positioning, and you don't need to jump high most of the time to execute it effectively.
