Ayrton Oneill
Passing in basketball is a fundamental skill that can improve team chemistry and create scoring opportunities. While the chest pass is a basic type of basketball pass, it is ineffective when closely guarded. In such situations, a more advanced passing technique is required, such as the elbow pass, also known as the bent-elbow pass. This pass is thrown from just in front of the shoulder, with the elbow bent and tight to the body, allowing for powerful delivery from various angles. This pass can be particularly useful for evading defenders and creating scoring chances.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Elbow Pass, Bent-Elbow Pass, or Behind-the-Back Elbow Pass |
| Ball Position | Just in front of the passer's shoulder |
| Hand Position | Hand behind the ball |
| Elbow Position | Directly under the ball, tight to the body, and bent |
| Variations | High Hook-Pass, Ear Punch-Pass, Pocket-Pass, Reach-Around, Eye-fake passes |
| Drills | Stand about ten feet from a wall and aim at a target at shoulder height; repeat passes ten times with each hand |
| Notable Users | Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Jason Williams |
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What You'll Learn
Hold the ball in front of your shoulder, with your elbow under it and bent
To perform an elbow pass in basketball, you need to hold the ball in front of your shoulder, with your elbow under it and bent. This is different from a chest pass, where the ball is thrown from a single delivery point, i.e., the chest. With the elbow pass, you can deliver the ball with power from several delivery points. This makes it harder for defenders to close down passing angles.
To execute this move, stand with your elbow bent and placed securely under the ball, which should be held just in front of your shoulder. Your hand should be behind the ball, and your elbow should be tight to your body. From this position, you can snap the ball high over a defender's head, punch it at shoulder height past their ear, or perform a bounce pass by their hip. You can also wrap the ball around their outstretched hand.
The elbow pass is a must-have skill for any serious basketball player. It is a favourite of Steve Nash and Chris Paul and was popularized by former NBA point guard Jason Williams.
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Drive the ball with a piston-like motion
To perform an elbow pass in basketball, the ball is held just in front of your shoulder, with your hand behind it and your elbow bent and tight to your body. This elbow position allows you to drive the ball with a piston-like motion, similar to the piston in a car engine. This motion is what gives the pass its name.
The piston-like motion is a powerful and accurate way to deliver the ball. By keeping your elbow bent, you can utilise several delivery points. For example, you can snap the ball high over a defender's head, punch it at shoulder height, or crack a low bounce pass by their hip. This variety of options makes it difficult for a defender to predict or intercept the pass.
The key to achieving this piston-like motion is in the setup. Hold the ball in front of your shoulder, with your elbow directly under it. This position allows for the quick, snappy movement that characterises the piston action. When you pass, your elbow should lead the way, with your hand following through behind the ball.
This type of pass is particularly useful when you are closely guarded by a defender. The traditional chest pass is often ineffective in these situations as it only allows for a single delivery point, which a good defender can easily anticipate and block. The elbow pass, on the other hand, offers multiple passing angles, making it a valuable skill to have in your arsenal.
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Snap the ball high over the defender's head
To perform an elbow pass in basketball, the ball is held just in front of the passer's shoulder, with the hand behind the ball and the elbow directly under the ball, tight to the body. The elbow should be bent and ready to drive the ball with a piston-like motion. This pass is called the Bent-Elbow Pass.
To snap the ball high over the defender's head, the passer must use a combination of power and accuracy. This can be achieved by practising a low-wide stance, twisting the core with each pass, and using an explosive out-breath to generate power. The ball should be held with both hands, with the fingers creating a stable grip and the thumbs on the sides of the ball. The elbows should be bent slightly as the ball is raised above the head, and as the ball is released, the arms should be fully extended with a snapping wrist action for force and precision.
The overhead pass is a fundamental skill in basketball, and it is widely taught as an essential move for players to master. It is particularly useful when trying to pass over taller opponents and when closely guarded by a defender. It can also be used to escape pressure from defenders when being double-teamed.
It is important to note that this pass should not be telegraphed, which means the passer should avoid looking directly at the intended receiver. This can give the defence valuable information and time to react. Instead, the passer should keep their eyes up and forward, even while dribbling, and take advantage of unexpected opportunities.
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Punch the ball past the defender's ear
To punch the ball past the defender's ear, you need to start by holding the ball just in front of your shoulder, with your hand behind it. Your elbow should be directly under the ball, tight to your body, and bent at a right angle, ready to drive the ball forward with force. This is the key to a successful elbow pass in basketball.
The elbow pass is a powerful move that can surprise your opponents and create opportunities for your teammates. It is especially useful when you are closely guarded by a defender, as it allows you to quickly pass the ball from several delivery points, making it harder for the defender to block your pass.
To execute the punch pass effectively, you want to focus on generating power. Twist your core and use an explosive out-breath as you release the ball. This will help you pass with speed and accuracy. Practice this technique in a drill by standing about ten feet away from a wall and aiming at a small target at shoulder height. Repeat this drill ten times with each hand to improve your passing skills.
The elbow pass is a great addition to your basketball arsenal, allowing you to deliver passes with precision and speed. It is a favourite move of basketball greats like Steve Nash and Chris Paul, and mastering it will surely elevate your game.
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Wrap the ball around the defender's outstretched hand
To perform an effective elbow pass in basketball, it's important to understand the mechanics of the move and how it differs from a traditional chest pass. The chest pass is a basic basketball pass where the ball is thrown with two hands from the passer's chest area towards the chest area of a teammate. However, at higher levels of play, defenders can easily take away passing angles when using a chest pass, especially when trying to reach dangerous areas on the court.
This is where the elbow pass comes in. The elbow pass, popularized by former NBA point guard Jason Williams, involves holding the ball just in front of your shoulder, with your hand behind the ball and your elbow bent and tight to your body. This setup allows you to generate power from a piston-like motion, similar to a car engine.
One of the key advantages of the elbow pass is the variety of delivery points it offers. You can snap the ball high over the defender's head, punch it past their ear at shoulder height, or perform a bounce pass by their hip pocket. One of the most challenging but effective techniques is wrapping the ball around the defender's outstretched hand.
To master the art of wrapping the ball around the defender's outstretched hand, it's crucial to practice a specific drill. Stand about ten feet away from a wall in a low-wide stance, and twist your core with each pass while exhaling explosively to generate power. Aim at a target the size of a dime, placed at shoulder height on the wall. Perform the following passes ten times with each hand: high hook passes, ear punch passes, pocket passes, reach-around snaps (the focus of this drill), and eye-fake passes.
The reach-around snap, or wrapping the ball around the defender's outstretched hand, is a complex move that requires precision and practice. It involves snapping your arm straight out wide, using the piston-like motion of your elbow to quickly wrap the ball around the defender's hand. This move can be especially effective when combined with eye-fake passes, where you create an opening by looking at one passing window and then passing through another.
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Frequently asked questions
A variation of the behind-the-back pass, the elbow pass involves throwing the ball behind your back to a teammate for a scoring opportunity. The elbow pass was popularised by former NBA point guard Jason Williams.
The elbow pass is useful when you are closely guarded by a defender. The chest pass is ineffective in these situations as it has only one delivery point, whereas the elbow pass can be delivered with power from several delivery points.
To perform an elbow pass, hold the ball in front of your shoulder with your hand behind it. Keep your elbow directly under the ball, bent and tight to your body, ready to drive the ball with a piston-like motion.
Stand about ten feet away from a wall and aim at a small target at shoulder height. Practice the following passes ten times with each hand: High Hook-Passes, Ear Punch-Passes, Pocket-Pass, Reach-Around, and Eye-fake passes.
