Master The Spider Basketball Drill For Better Ball Handling

how to do the spider basketball

The Spider Dribble is an advanced basketball drill that can help improve your ball-handling skills, eye coordination, and hand quickness. It is a challenging drill to learn but can be picked up with continuous practice. The dribble involves standing with your legs spread apart and dribbling the basketball with alternating hands, passing it through your legs and around your body in a figure-eight motion. The steps are simple, but the execution can be tricky and requires concentration.

Characteristics Values
Leg Position Legs spread apart
Movement Alternate hands in front and behind the legs, dribbling the ball
Hand Movement Hit the ball with alternating hands in front and behind
Ball Movement Pass the ball through the legs, alternating hands
Drilling Start slow and increase speed as you get comfortable
Objective Improve ball handling, dribbling with both hands, and comfort putting the ball through the legs

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Stand with your legs apart

To begin the spider dribble, start by standing with your legs spread apart. Drop the basketball in front of you and hit it with alternating hands, first with the right hand and then the left. Next, reach behind you and repeat the process, hitting the ball with alternating hands. Continue this motion, moving your hands in front of you, behind you, and so on. As you do this, you are essentially passing the ball through your legs, alternating hands with each pass.

It is important to maintain a wide stance throughout this process. This stance provides stability and allows for easier hand switching as you reach around your body. Think of your legs as the foundation that enables smooth and controlled hand movements.

As you become more comfortable with the basic motion, you can start to incorporate more complex movements. For example, you can dribble the ball with your right hand and then pass it to your left hand through your legs. This creates a figure-eight motion around your legs and body.

The key to mastering the spider dribble is to start slowly and focus on doing it correctly. As you improve, you can increase your speed and lower the ball closer to the ground. This drill is challenging, but it will significantly improve your ball handling and dribbling skills with both hands.

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Dribble with alternate hands

The spider dribble is an advanced basketball move that requires good hand-eye coordination and quickness. It is a challenging drill that can improve dribbling skills with both hands around all parts of the body.

To begin, stand with your legs spread apart and the ball in front of you. Dribble the ball with your right hand, then pass it to your left hand, making a figure eight through your legs. Then, with the ball in your left hand, dribble it around your left leg, pass it behind your back, and then forward through your legs back to your right hand. This completes one cycle of the spider dribble.

To continue the spider dribble, alternate your hands in front of and behind your legs, pushing the ball back and forth. Keep your head up and eyes forward, and try to maintain a low, balanced stance. This will help you keep control of the ball and improve your coordination.

Practicing the spider dribble can be challenging, but with repetition and increased speed, you can master this impressive move and improve your ball-handling skills.

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Pass the ball through your legs

Passing the ball through your legs is a flashy way to dribble and can help keep the ball out of a defender's grasp. It's a tricky move that requires good balance and coordination. Here's how to do it:

First, get into a basic dribbling stance. Stand with your legs spread apart, knees slightly bent, and lean forward slightly to prepare for movement. Keep your chest and head pointed straight ahead. Bounce the ball in front of you at knee height using your dominant hand, keeping it close to your body. Try to bounce the ball next to your knee—this provides some protection from defenders. Instead of resting your palm on the ball, use your fingertips to push down on it, which gives you more precise control.

Next, take a diagonal step forward with your opposite foot. As you do this, shift your hand to the side of the ball so that only your thumb is on top. Then, use your hand to push the ball between your open legs, so it bounces underneath you and comes up behind you. You can also try alternating hands in front of and behind you as the ball moves through your legs. This is the basis of the "spider dribble," an advanced dribbling technique.

As the ball emerges behind you, move your opposite hand behind you to receive it. Use the pads of your fingers to control the ball as soon as it arrives. Be careful at this point, as an alert defender could poke the ball out from between your legs. You can lean forward on your back foot to prepare for your next move. The hardest part of this technique is timing your forward movement.

Practice this move to improve your ball handling and dribbling skills. Start slowly and focus on doing it correctly before increasing your speed. It's a tricky move, but with practice, you can use it to impress crowds and leave defenders behind!

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Alternate hands behind your back

To perform the 'Spider Basketball' trick with alternating hands behind your back, start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and place the basketball on the floor in front of you. You will need to bend your knees slightly and lean forward, keeping your back straight, to maintain balance throughout the move.

With your dominant hand, reach behind your back and grasp the basketball, bringing it up and over your head in a smooth, arcing motion. As the ball reaches its apex, release it from your dominant hand and simultaneously catch it with your non-dominant hand, which should be positioned behind your back. This will create the illusion that the ball has passed through your body.

The key to success is co-ordinating this fluid alternating hand movement behind your back. Practice is essential. It is important to maintain a steady, controlled pace, ensuring the ball doesn't stray too far from your body, and keeping your eye on the ball at all times.

Once the ball is securely in your non-dominant hand, repeat the same fluid motion, transferring it back over your head and into the waiting grasp of your dominant hand, which should again be positioned behind your back. This continuous alternating movement creates the 'spider' effect, with the basketball appearing to weave up and down like a spider moving swiftly across its web.

Remember to maintain a smooth, rhythmic flow, and keep your arms and hands relaxed to ensure the trick looks effortless. With enough practice, you'll be performing the 'Spider Basketball' move with alternating hands behind your back seamlessly!

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Practice to increase speed

To increase the speed of your spider dribble, you must first master the technique. Start with your legs spread apart, and dribble the basketball with your right hand, passing it to your left hand through your legs. Then, dribble with your left hand and pass it back to your right hand through your legs, completing the figure-eight motion. As you get better, you can slowly increase your speed, focusing on keeping the ball lower to the ground.

To further increase your speed and improve your dribbling skills, you can practice the following drills:

  • Side-to-Side Dribble: Keep the ball in one hand and bounce it from side to side. Switch hands and repeat the drill. This helps in improving ball control with each hand.
  • Torso Rotation: Stand with your feet apart, holding the ball with two hands between your legs. Let the ball bounce, and then rotate your torso so that one hand is in front of your legs while the other is behind. Catch the ball after it bounces once. This drill improves your ability to quickly change directions with the ball.
  • Full-Body Wrap: Start with the ball in your hands, then wrap it around your head, waist, and legs, and back up to your hands. This drill helps you become more comfortable with the ball and improves your overall ball control.

Remember, when practicing the spider dribble, it's important to start slowly and focus on doing it correctly. As you master the technique, you can gradually increase your speed. Practicing the above drills will help you improve your overall ball-handling skills, which will translate into faster and more efficient spider dribbles.

Frequently asked questions

Stand with your legs spread apart and the basketball held with both hands between your legs. One hand should be in front of the leg and the other behind.

Let the ball bounce and rotate your torso to alternate which hand is in front and which is behind, catching the ball after it has bounced once.

Dribble the ball with your right hand and pass it to your left hand between your legs, then repeat in the opposite direction, making a figure eight through your legs and around your body.

Start slow and concentrate on doing it correctly rather than with speed. As you get better, you can increase your speed and get lower to the ground.

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