Andrew Pace
Dribbling a basketball is a fundamental skill in the game, and one of the first skills a player will learn. It is important to dribble with your fingertips, not your palm, to gain more control of the ball. Indiana Pacers’ player Paul George recommends against palm-to-ball contact, as it “slows down the whole dribbling process”. To dribble, you should get in a low stance, with your feet shoulder-width apart, and bend your knees. Bounce the ball off the ground firmly, using your fingertips to push it down every time it makes contact with your hand.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hand Position | Keep your fingers relaxed and spread out evenly on the basketball. Only the fingertips should touch the ball, not the palm. |
| Body Posture | Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and bend your knees slightly. Keep your hips back and your head up. Avoid standing upright. |
| Ball Control | Use your fingertips to push the ball towards the floor and back into your hand. Avoid soft dribbles, as they can cause you to lose control of the ball. |
| Eye Contact | Avoid looking down at the ball when dribbling. Keep your eyes up to locate teammates and be aware of your position on the court. |
| Ball Position | Keep the ball close to your body and low to the ground, preferably below waist level. |
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What You'll Learn
Keep your fingers relaxed
Keeping your fingers relaxed is an important part of dribbling a basketball. When you place your hand on the ball, your hand should sit comfortably. Stiff hands will result in a loss of control of the ball.
To dribble a basketball, you should only be touching the ball with your fingertips. Avoid using your palm. Many beginners tend to keep their fingers together, but it is important to spread your fingers out across the surface of the ball. This increases the surface area and gives you more control.
When dribbling, you should bend your knees and stay low to the ground. This gives you more power and means that you can immediately explode past your opponent if they try to steal the ball.
It is also important to keep your eyes up when dribbling. This enables you to look around the court and locate teammates to pass to.
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Avoid using your palm
When dribbling a basketball, it is important to avoid using your palm. This is because dribbling with your palm can slow you down and cause you to lose control of the ball. Instead, you should use your fingertips to dribble, as this will give you more control and allow you to bounce the ball faster.
To avoid using your palm when dribbling, spread your fingers out across the surface of the ball. This will give you a wider, more even contact area with the ball. Keep your palm directly over the ball as it bounces, so that it bounces up into your fingertips. This will help you maintain control of the ball without using your palm.
It is also important to keep the ball low and close to your body when dribbling. This will make it harder for defenders to steal the ball. Bend your knees and drop your hips back slightly, as if you were sitting in a chair. Keep your head up and shoulders square, and avoid bending at the waist. This position will help protect the ball while also giving you mobility.
By following these tips, you can avoid using your palm when dribbling a basketball and improve your control and speed. Remember that dribbling takes a lot of practice, so don't be discouraged if you don't master it right away. Keep working on your technique and you will see improvement.
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Adopt a low stance
To dribble a basketball with your fingertips, it is important to adopt a low stance. This means spreading your feet about shoulder-width apart, bending your knees, and dropping your hips back slightly, as if you were sitting in a chair. Keep your head up and shoulders square, maintaining a comfortable posture.
This low stance offers several advantages. Firstly, it helps protect the ball from defenders, giving you better control and making it harder for opponents to steal. Secondly, it provides you with greater mobility and balance, allowing you to quickly change directions and explode past defenders.
By staying low, you can also shield the ball with your non-dribbling arm, forming a barrier between the ball and potential defenders. This position enables you to maintain possession and gives you the ability to quickly adjust your movements in response to your opponents.
Additionally, a low stance helps you maintain a low dribble, keeping the ball below your waist. This is crucial because the higher the dribble, the easier it is for defenders to steal the ball. By dribbling low to the ground, you reduce the risk of losing possession and increase your defensive capabilities.
Overall, adopting a low stance while dribbling a basketball with your fingertips is essential for ball protection, mobility, balance, and defensive capabilities. It empowers you to control the flow of the game and respond effectively to the actions of your opponents.
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Keep the ball low
Keeping the basketball low to the ground is a crucial aspect of dribbling. This technique not only improves your control over the ball but also makes it more difficult for defenders to steal it. Here are some tips to keep the ball low and improve your dribbling skills:
- Maintain a low stance: Bend your knees, drop your hips back slightly, and keep your feet shoulder-width apart. This posture not only helps protect the ball but also gives you better mobility and balance. Avoid bending at the waist, as it can expose the ball to defenders.
- Bounce the ball close to the ground: The shorter and quicker the ball bounces, the harder it is for opponents to steal. Focus on bouncing the ball with force, using your fingertips to push it towards the floor. This will also help you maintain control and speed.
- Keep the ball below your waist: Ensure that the ball stays below your waist level when dribbling. The higher the dribble, the easier it is for defenders to reach in and steal the ball.
- Shield the ball: Use your non-dribbling arm to shield and protect the ball from defenders. Keep your body between the defender and the ball, never dribbling on the same side as your defender. This helps prevent the ball from being stolen.
- Practice with both hands: Develop your dribbling skills with both your dominant and non-dominant hands. This will increase your versatility on the court and make it more challenging for defenders to predict your moves.
Remember, keeping the ball low is just one aspect of dribbling. Combining it with techniques such as spreading your fingers, maintaining a firm bounce, and keeping your eyes up will further enhance your dribbling skills and make you a more formidable player on the court.
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Look up, not down
Looking up, not down, is a crucial aspect of dribbling a basketball with your fingertips. While it may feel counterintuitive at first, keeping your eyes up helps you maintain awareness of your surroundings and control of the ball.
When you're learning how to dribble, it's natural to look down at the ball. However, keeping your eyes on the court in front of you is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it helps you locate open teammates to pass the ball to, and it also allows you to be aware of your position on the court. Additionally, looking up enables you to keep an eye on your opponents and anticipate their moves, reducing the risk of them stealing the ball.
To master the art of dribbling with your fingertips while keeping your eyes up, start by getting comfortable with the ball. Relax your fingers and spread them out evenly across the surface of the ball, avoiding the use of your palm. This gives you a wider contact area and more control. Practice bouncing the ball off the ground with your fingertips, using a quick and steady motion. Keep the ball low, close to your body, and below your waist to make it more challenging for opponents to steal it.
As you get more comfortable with dribbling, you can work on maintaining your balance and posture. Bend your knees slightly and drop your hips back, as if you were sitting in a chair. Keep your head up and shoulders square, maintaining a low defensive stance. This position not only helps protect the ball but also gives you greater mobility and balance.
Remember, dribbling with your fingertips and keeping your eyes up takes practice. Don't be discouraged if it feels awkward at first—with persistence and repetition, it will become second nature, and you'll be able to dribble with control and confidence while scanning the court and making strategic decisions.
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Frequently asked questions
Your fingertips should be the only part of your hand that's touching the ball. Spread your fingers out across the surface of the ball for a wider, more balanced contact area. Avoid slapping the ball with your palm.
Spread your feet about shoulder-width apart, bend your knees and drop your hips back slightly, as if you were sitting in a chair. Keep your head up and shoulders square. This position helps protect the ball while also giving you plenty of mobility.
Bounce the ball off the ground firmly, but not so hard that you use serious arm strength. Your dribble should be quick, yet steady and controlled.
Keep your eyes up and off the ball while dribbling so that you can look around the court and locate open teammates to pass the ball to.
