Ayrton Oneill
The finger roll is a specialized type of basketball layup shot that is considered one of the easiest shots to make in basketball, especially when there are no defenders. It involves an offensive player jumping in the air and using an underhand motion to roll the ball off their fingertips into the basket. The finger roll is a close-range shot that does not use the backboard. The spin applied to the ball by rolling it off the fingers will carry the ball into the basket. The objective of the finger roll is to get the ball over a defender trying to block the shot. The finger roll is notoriously difficult to master, and few players use it as their primary shot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Objective | Get the ball over a defender trying to block the shot |
| Motion | Underhand |
| Palm | Always facing up |
| Spin | Spin applied by rolling over fingers will carry the ball to the basket off the backboard |
| Wrist | Flick your wrist to roll the ball off your fingers |
| Leg | For a right-hand finger roll, lift your left leg. For a left-hand finger roll, lift your right leg |
| Practice | Start at the free-throw line |
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What You'll Learn
The finger roll is a type of layup shot
To execute a finger roll, the player should start by dribbling towards the basket. For a right-handed player, they should step with their right foot while holding the ball, and then with their left foot. This order is reversed for left-handed players. As the player jumps, they should extend their arm towards the basket, keeping it almost fully extended but not locked. At the peak of their jump, they should flick their wrist to roll the ball off their fingertips, with a smooth and fluid motion. The ball should arc softly and drop into the basket.
It is important to note that the finger roll is a one-handed shot, which makes it harder to protect the ball while executing. It is also a delicate shot that requires practice to master. Players should focus on the spin of the ball and the angle of approach to ensure that the ball does not bounce past the rim. Practicing backspin by tossing the ball and manipulating it to spin in different directions can help improve the technique.
The finger roll was pioneered by Wilt Chamberlain in the 1960s and later popularized by George Gervin, who used it to great effect in the NBA during the late 1970s and early 1980s. While the finger roll is challenging to master, it can be a valuable weapon in a player's offensive arsenal when executed successfully.
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It's a close-range shot, making it one of the easiest to make
The finger roll is a type of layup shot that is executed by an offensive player in possession of the basketball near the basket. It is a close-range shot, making it one of the easiest shots to make, especially if there are no defenders to block the shot. The player jumps in the air and uses an underhand motion to roll the ball off their fingertips into the basket. This technique allows the ball to travel high in the air, arcing over a defender that might otherwise block a regular jump shot or dunk.
The finger roll is a specialized shot that is notoriously difficult to master, and few players use it as their primary shot. The shot is also one-handed, making it harder to protect the ball while executing. However, its simplicity and effectiveness make it a valuable weapon for those who can perfect it.
To perform a finger roll, the player should start by dribbling towards the basket. If you’re new to the finger roll, begin at the free-throw line. As you approach the rim, gather the ball with both hands and take two steps. For right-handed players, step with your right foot while holding the ball, then your left foot. Left-handed players should do the opposite, stepping with their left foot first.
As you jump, extend your arm towards the basket. Your arm should be almost fully extended but not locked. At the peak of your jump, near the basket, flick your wrist to roll the ball off your fingers. The motion should be smooth and fluid. The ball should arc softly and drop into the basket. For a right-handed finger roll, lift your right leg as you shoot with your right hand. Bend your right knee and point it toward the basket, while raising your right arm to shoot the ball. Left-handed players should follow the same technique but with the left hand and leg.
Practicing the spin of the ball is crucial for mastering the finger roll. With this delicate shot, you rely more on the bounce from the spin than the momentum of the ball. You can practice backspin by tossing the ball and manipulating it to spin in all four directions. Get comfortable with the feel of putting forward, back, and side spin on the ball. Start under the hoop, then gradually increase your speed until you reach game speed.
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The ball is rolled off the tips of the player's fingers
The finger roll is a specialised type of basketball layup shot. It is performed by rolling the ball off the tips of the player's fingers, using an underhand motion, to arc the ball into the basket. This technique does not use the backboard, unlike a basic layup. The finger roll is a delicate shot that requires a small angle of approach to ensure the ball does not bounce past the rim.
To execute the finger roll, the player should begin by dribbling towards the basket. When starting out, it is recommended to begin at the free-throw line. More advanced players can approach the basket from the front or side, depending on their position and the defenders. As the player jumps, they should extend their arm towards the basket, keeping it almost fully extended, but not locked. At the peak of the jump, the player should flick their wrist, smoothly rolling the ball off their fingertips. The ball should arc softly and drop into the basket.
For a right-handed player, the right leg should be lifted and bent towards the basket, with the right arm raised to shoot the ball. The same applies in reverse for a left-handed player. The follow-through of the arm motion after the shot is important to maintain a smooth and fluid movement. The finger roll is a challenging technique to master, requiring practice to perfect the angle and spin of the ball.
The finger roll is an effective way to get the ball over a defender who is trying to block the shot. The soft release of the ball allows it to arc high into the basket, making it difficult for defenders to block. This technique was pioneered by Wilt Chamberlain in the 1960s and later perfected by George Gervin, who used it to great effect during his time with the San Antonio Spurs.
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The palm always faces up
The finger roll is a type of layup shot that is executed by an offensive player near the basket. It is performed by jumping in the air and using an underhand motion to roll the ball off the fingertips into the basket. The palm always faces up in a finger roll, which is a key difference from a basic layup, where the palm can face up or down.
To perform a left-hand finger roll, start at the top behind the three-point line, directly in front of the basket. Dribble the ball with your left hand while moving towards the front of the basket in a straight line. Take the penultimate step with your left foot and grab the ball with both hands. Then, take the final step with your right foot, still holding the ball. As you jump, extend your arm towards the basket, keeping it almost fully extended but not locked. At the peak of your jump, near the basket, release the ball with your right hand and take an underhand shot with your left hand, ensuring your left palm is facing up. Flick your left wrist to roll the ball off your fingers, creating a soft touch that allows the ball to drop into the basket without touching the rim.
For a right-hand finger roll, the steps are similar but inverted. Start at the top behind the three-point line and dribble the ball with your right hand while moving towards the front of the basket. Take the penultimate step with your right foot and grab the ball with both hands. Then, take the final step with your left foot, still holding the ball. As you jump, extend your arm and, at the peak of your jump, release the ball with your left hand. Take an underhand shot with your right hand, ensuring your right palm is facing up, and flick your wrist to roll the ball off your fingers.
The finger roll is a delicate shot that requires practice to master. Focus on the spin of the ball and the angle of your approach. With a small angle of approach and the right spin, you can ensure the ball doesn't bounce past the rim and gently drops into the basket.
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It's a one-handed shot, so it's harder to protect the ball
The finger roll is a one-handed basketball shot that is challenging to master. It requires a player to execute an underhand motion, rolling the ball off their fingertips into the basket without using the backboard. This technique makes it harder to protect the ball during the shot.
The finger roll is a delicate move that relies on the spin of the ball rather than momentum. The spin allows the ball to arc high into the basket, making it difficult for defenders to block. However, the spin also means that there is less control over the ball's direction, and it takes practice to perfect the technique.
To perform a finger roll, a player should start by dribbling towards the basket. They will then gather the ball with both hands and take two steps, with the opposite foot to their shooting hand stepping first. As they jump, they should extend their shooting arm towards the basket, keeping it almost fully extended but not locked.
At the peak of their jump, the player executes the shot by flicking their wrist to roll the ball off their fingers. This motion should be smooth and fluid. The shooting hand's palm should face up, and the player should lift the same-side leg, bending the knee towards the basket. After releasing the ball, the player should keep their arm moving in a smooth follow-through.
The finger roll is a challenging shot to master, and few players use it as their primary shot. It requires a great deal of practice to develop the necessary touch and feel for the ball. However, when executed effectively, the finger roll can be a powerful weapon in a player's offensive arsenal.
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