Amanda Knapp
Dribbling a basketball between your legs is a flashy move that can help you keep the ball away from defenders. It's a tricky skill to master, but with practice, it can be an effective way to create scoring opportunities and impress crowds. To get started, you'll need to perfect your dribbling stance and ball control. Crouch down low, bend your knees, and keep the ball close to your body, bouncing it at knee height. Then, use your wrist and fingertips to guide the ball between your legs with a hard pound dribble.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of move | Dribbling move |
| Use case | Helpful when a defender is guarding the player in possession of the ball |
| Body position | Crouch down low, bend knees, lower hips, lean forward |
| Ball position | Keep the ball close to the body, near the knee |
| Hand position | Use fingertips instead of the palm to push down on the ball |
| Wrist action | Snap the wrist down to bounce the ball |
| Height of the bounce | Keep the bounce low, preferably at knee height |
| Variations | Standard form and reverse between the legs dribble |
| Practice | Practice by sitting on a bench and dribbling through the legs |
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What You'll Learn
Basic dribbling stance
To begin dribbling a basketball, you must first get into an athletic stance. This involves placing your feet about shoulder-width apart, bending your knees slightly, and straightening your back. This stance helps you stay balanced and facilitates effective dribbling, especially against potential on-ball defensive pressure. It is important to keep your head up and eyes forward, enabling you to survey the court, locate teammates, and keep an eye on defenders.
When dribbling, you should aim to bounce the ball firmly off the ground, using your fingertips to make contact and guide the ball. The highest point of the bounce should be around hip height, and you should avoid bouncing it too high, as this can make it easier for defenders to steal the ball. Keep the ball close to your body, around 3 inches away from your side, and try to bounce it near your knee. This provides protection from opponents while allowing you to maintain precise control.
It is important to develop a comfortable and loose stance that works for you. Some players recommend getting as low as possible, even having your "nose behind your toes," to gain leverage and protect the ball. This lower stance can also help with explosiveness. However, another suggestion is to only slightly bend your knees and keep your back straight, as recommended by "Pistol Pete."
Practicing dribbling with your off-hand is crucial. Developing ambidextrous dribbling skills will enable you to execute more dribbling moves and create scoring opportunities. It also makes it more challenging for defenders to guard your stronger side. Additionally, it is beneficial to practice dribbling while moving in different directions or doing crossovers, as this will help you maintain control of the ball during gameplay.
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Controlling the ball
To control the basketball while dribbling between the legs, there are several techniques to master. Firstly, it is important to get into a basic dribbling stance. Crouch down low by bending your knees and lowering your hips, keeping your back straight and your chest and head lifted. Lean forward slightly, ready to move, and ensure your stance is stable.
Next, dribble the ball with your dominant hand, keeping it close to your body. Try to bounce the ball at knee height, close to your knee, and use your fingertips to push down on the ball rather than your palm. This gives you more precise control over the ball's movement. Keep your fingers spread apart to maximise control.
To bounce the ball, snap your wrist down to push the ball with force. The harder the dribble, the more control you will have, but this will take practice. You can also use your wrist to flick the ball through your legs, almost as if you are scratching your ankle.
When you are dribbling, try to keep your head up and eyes forward, avoiding looking down at the ball. This will help you maintain control while being aware of your surroundings.
If you are catching the ball after a crossover, position your hand on the side of the ball instead of on top. This will help you to continue dribbling and maintain control.
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Crouching and lowering
When dribbling between the legs, it's important to use your wrists and fingertips for precise control. Snap your wrist down to bounce the ball with force, keeping your fingers spread apart. You can also try dribbling with your palm facing up, using your fingertips to guide the ball. This technique allows for more control and protection from opponents.
Practicing dribbling at a slower pace will help you get comfortable with the motion. Focus on crouching down low and maintaining a stable stance. Once you've mastered the basic movement, you can increase the speed and power of your dribble. Remember to use your wrists and fingertips to guide the ball, and don't be afraid to squat lower to get into a more powerful position.
Lowering your body and crouching down not only helps with control but also creates more power in your dribble. By getting into a lower position, you can utilize your legs and hips to generate more force. This power can help you change directions quickly and execute smooth crossovers. Practice transitioning from a standing position to a crouched position, working on your speed and agility.
In addition to crouching and lowering your body, it's important to maintain good posture. Lift your chest and head while dribbling to keep your eyes forward and avoid looking down at the ball. This helps you maintain awareness of your surroundings and makes it easier to react to defenders. Practice dribbling with a straight back and a lifted chest to improve your balance and stability.
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Using your wrist
Dribbling a basketball between your legs is a great way to keep the ball out of a defender's grasp. To perform this move, it is essential to have good control of the ball. This can be achieved by getting into a basic dribbling stance with your knees slightly bent, lowering your hips, and leaning forward.
When dribbling between the legs, wrist action is crucial. Instead of resting your palm on top of the ball, use your fingertips to push down on it with force, snapping your wrist down. This gives you more precise control over the ball's movement. Keep your fingers spread apart to maximize control. The key is to use a hard pound dribble, as a soft dribble can cause you to lose the ball.
It is important to maintain the correct height when dribbling. The ideal height for bouncing the ball is at your knee or thigh level. Bouncing it too high, especially at waist height, gives defenders an opportunity to steal it. Practice dribbling at the correct height and work on your wrist action to perfect the between-the-legs move.
When performing crossovers, try to release and catch the ball as close to the ground as possible. This minimizes the time the ball is out of your hands, giving you more control. While performing the between-the-legs dribble, focus on using your wrist to guide the ball and make smooth transitions.
Remember to practice this move regularly, starting with sitting and standing drills, and gradually incorporating wider steps and lower body movements. With repetition and a focus on wrist action, you will be able to dribble between the legs smoothly and confidently.
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Drills for beginners
Dribbling a basketball between the legs is a great trick to help keep the ball out of a defender's grasp. Here are some drills for beginners to learn how to do this:
Basic dribbling stance
Get into a basic dribbling stance with your knees slightly bent and your head and chest pointed straight ahead. Bounce the basketball with the pads of your fingers in your dominant hand, keeping it close to your body. Try to bounce the ball near your knee. Instead of resting your palm on top of the ball, push down on it with your fingertips. Your knee provides some protection from opponents, while your fingertips give you precise control. Keep your fingers spread apart to maximize control.
Catching the ball
Place your opposite hand over the ball to catch it, but keep your palm off the ball. Get into the habit of letting the ball hit your fingertips. Push the ball down with some force to continue bouncing it at knee height. Practice crossing the ball over while standing in place. When you're comfortable, transition to trying to put the ball between your legs.
Zig-zag slides
This drill is great for teaching beginners how to defensive slide properly and how to drop step when playing defense. Line up all players on the baseline, with each player on one of the corners. No player should have a basketball. The first player will defensive slide from the corner to the high post and perform a 90-degree drop step so that they are now sliding back to the opposite sideline. This process continues until the player reaches the opposite baseline. They then come back down the opposite side of the court using the same technique.
Dribbling variations
Every player has a basketball and lines up on the baseline. The coach will instruct the players to use different dribbling movements to dribble up to either the half-court line or full court. Some variations include: right hand up, left hand back; crossovers; behind-the-back; through-the-legs; dribble low; and dribbling backward. Players must keep their heads up at all times. Once they develop good technique, focus on pushing off with their outside foot when making a move.
Scarecrow tiggy
This is a fun game to practice dribbling. Every player has a basketball. The taggers do their best to tag each player dribbling a basketball. When a dribbler is tagged, they must stand in the place they were tagged with their legs wide and hold the ball on top of their head. They can be freed by other dribblers by rolling the basketball through their legs. Players are not allowed to throw the ball between a teammate's legs; it must be rolled. Dribblers are not allowed to travel, double dribble, or any other violation.
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Frequently asked questions
The between-the-legs dribble is a dribble move in basketball where an offensive player dribbles the basketball with one hand between their legs and then catches the ball with their opposite hand. It is used to create scoring or playmaking opportunities near the basket or perimeter areas of the court.
To perform the between-the-legs dribble, you need to dribble the ball with your dominant hand, keeping it close to your body. Try to bounce the ball next to your knee and use your fingertips instead of your palm to control the ball's movement. Crouch down low by bending your knees and lowering your hips, and lean forward slightly. Use enough force to bounce the ball at knee height.
Practice the move! Some suggest sitting on a bench and practicing dribbling through your legs, then standing up and doing the same. Additionally, you can try to dribble like you want to grab your balls, using your wrist like with shooting or passing.
The between-the-legs dribble is typically used by perimeter-oriented basketball positions such as the point guard, shooting guard, or small forward. It is effective against on-ball defenders, especially those who use their speed and quickness to apply defensive pressure.
