Kristian Ferrell
Improving your ball handling in basketball requires dedication, repetition, and a growth mindset. While dribbling and ball handling are often used interchangeably, they are distinct skills. Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball with one hand, while ball handling involves dribbling, passing, decision-making, and knowledge of the game. To improve your ball handling at home, you can practice drills such as fingertip touches, ball slaps, body circles, and figure 8's. It is important to keep your head up while dribbling, use your fingertips instead of your palm to control the ball, and vary your speed and direction to keep defenders guessing. You can also set up a chair at the corner of the free-throw line and practice attacking it with different moves, finishing with lay-ups or pull-up jumpers. Additionally, you can practice dribbling through cones, pretending they are defenders, and visualize game situations such as pick-and-rolls, traps, and fast breaks. By integrating imagination with technique, you can improve your ball handling skills and become a more confident and effective player.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Drills | Fingertip touches, ball slaps, body circles, around the ankles, knees, waist, head, around the world, around 2/1, 1 hand in front/behind, 2 hands in front/behind, figure 8, figure 8 behind the back, body circles, overhead tosses, stationary dribbling routine, two-ball dribbling, full-court ball handling, point moves, guard moves |
| Techniques | Use fingertips, not palms, to control the ball, keep the ball low, below the waist, keep your head up, practice outside your comfort zone, practice faster dribbles, practice with defenders present, practice with cones as defenders, visualize game situations, practice with your weak hand |
| Benefits | Improved control, faster dribble returns, improved confidence, improved athleticism, improved hand-eye coordination, improved dexterity, improved hand quickness |
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What You'll Learn
Practice drills at home
Fingertip touches: Perform 5-10 reps of each drill: above your head, at your waist, and at your feet.
Ball slaps and body circles: Do 5 reps in each direction, including around the ankles, knees, waist, and head.
Around 2/Around 1: Do 2 circles around your waist and 1 circle around your ankles.
Figure 8s: Dribble the ball in a figure 8 motion in front of and behind your back.
Stationary dribbling routine: Practice 5-10 dribbles of each drill: pound dribble (high, low, side, front, back, middle), push-pull dribble (right and left sides), side-to-side dribble, crossovers, and behind-the-back crossovers.
Full-court ball handling: Stay low and perform walking crossovers, walking between the legs, pull backs, and push-offs from the back leg.
Box Drill: Start in one corner of an imaginary court. Make 2 inside-out moves before reaching the half-court line. At the half-court line, spin dribble and change hands. Continue to the opposite sideline, making a behind-the-back move. Finish with a hesitation move and a lay-up on the same side of the court you started.
Point Moves: Place a chair at the corner of an imaginary free-throw line. Start at half court and attack the chair, practicing different moves to get by. Vary your finishes in the paint, such as lay-ups or pull-up jumpers.
Two-ball dribbling: Practice dribbling with two balls in various ways, such as out in front, side-to-side, and push/pull.
Dribble through cones: Set up cones or imaginary defenders and dribble through them, then explode into a jump shot or pass.
Speed and direction changes: Practice dribbling at different speeds and changing directions to throw off defenders and create space.
Weak hand practice: Ensure you are able to dribble and handle the ball with both your dominant and non-dominant hands.
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Use your fingertips
Using your fingertips is a crucial aspect of ball handling in basketball. Here are some tips to improve your fingertip control at home:
Fingertip Drills
Perform drills that focus specifically on improving your fingertip control. One such drill involves using only your fingertips to tap the ball quickly from hand to hand. Start with your arms extended straight out in front of you, then move to doing the drill above your head, below your waist, and finally, behind your back. This drill helps improve your fingertip control in various positions and expands your range of motion.
Dribbling with Fingertips
When dribbling, focus on using your fingertips to control the ball rather than your palm. This gives you a better feel for the ball and improves your overall ball handling. Keep the dribble low to the floor, pushing down with your fingertips to prevent the ball from going above your waist. This makes it harder for defenders to steal the ball from you.
Wrap and Pass
Another drill to improve fingertip control is to wrap the ball around different parts of your body and then pass it through your legs. Start by wrapping the ball around your head, then your waist, and then your legs. Work your way back up to the starting position. This drill helps improve your control and coordination in manipulating the ball with your fingertips.
Cone Drill
Set up a cone or any similar object at home. Dribble towards the cone and stop right in front of it. Then, use controlled fingertip dribbles to dribble around the cone in a full rotation. This drill helps improve your fingertip control while dribbling and allows you to work on changing directions smoothly.
Figure Eight
Stand with your knees about shoulder-width apart and bend over slightly. With the ball in your right hand, pass it between your legs in a figure-eight motion to your left hand. This drill improves your fingertip control and coordination while also working on your leg movement, which is essential for dribbling effectively.
By incorporating these drills into your practice routine, you will improve your fingertip control and overall ball handling skills in basketball. Remember to start slowly and increase your speed as you become more comfortable with each drill.
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Keep the ball low
Keeping the ball low is an important aspect of ball handling in basketball. Here are some reasons why you should keep the ball low and how it can improve your overall game:
Stability and Quickness
Keeping the ball low gives you a lower centre of gravity, which improves your stability and balance. This lower position allows you to make quicker moves and change directions faster. You'll be able to accelerate and decelerate more effectively, which can throw off your defender and create opportunities for your team.
Accuracy and Control
By keeping the ball low, you increase the accuracy of your dribbling. The lower the ball is to the ground, the shorter the distance it has to travel from your hand to the floor, resulting in more controlled dribbles. This also means the ball spends more time in your hand and less time exposed, making it harder for defenders to steal it.
Protecting the Ball
When you keep the ball low, you're also better able to protect it from defenders. Use your off-hand and body to shield the ball, making it challenging for defenders to get to it. This doesn't mean pushing off with your off-hand, as that could result in a foul, but rather using it to resist the defender's attempts to steal the ball.
Simplifying Moves
Dribbling with the ball low simplifies your moves. When the ball is at waist height or higher, passing and dribbling become more complex as you have to avoid your legs and hips. Simple moves like crossovers become more challenging when the ball is high. Keeping the ball low makes executing these moves easier and reduces the number of errors you make on the court.
Drills to Improve
To improve at keeping the ball low, you can practice various drills. Try dribbling at shoe-top height while performing moves like the crossover, step-back, and torso twist. The "Maravich Drills", named after the legendary Pete Maravich, are also excellent for improving ball handling. Remember to use your fingertips to control the ball and keep your head up to maintain court awareness.
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Change pace and direction
Changing pace and direction is a crucial skill to develop as a basketball player. It helps you create separation from defenders and opens up opportunities for your team. Here are some ways to improve this skill at home:
Drills and Exercises
Start with basic drills like the figure-eight and the between-the-legs dribble. These drills help improve your coordination and dexterity. As you get more comfortable, increase the complexity and intensity of the drills. Try the two-ball dribble, where you dribble two balls simultaneously, challenging your coordination and ambidexterity.
Change of Direction Moves
Practice drills that incorporate quick changes of direction, such as the Zig-Zag dribble. This drill helps you develop the ability to switch directions swiftly while maintaining solid form. Focus on keeping the ball low during these drills, as it gives you better control and makes it harder for defenders to steal.
Speed Variation
When practicing dribbling, vary your speed. Start slow, focusing on maintaining good form and control. As you get comfortable, gradually increase your speed. This will help you get accustomed to dribbling at different paces and improve your overall ball handling.
Game-like Situations
While drills are essential, it's also crucial to practice in game-like situations. Set up scenarios with a defender trying to steal the ball from you. This will help you develop the ability to change pace and direction under pressure, simulating actual game conditions.
Court Vision
Work on developing your court vision alongside your dribbling skills. Keep your head up and scan the court for open teammates while dribbling. This will help you make better decisions and create scoring chances for your team. Practice this by dribbling while focusing on a spot on a wall, simulating keeping your eyes up during a game.
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Visualise game situations
Visualising game situations is a crucial aspect of improving your ball-handling skills in basketball. While drills and exercises are essential, they are only effective when complemented by the ability to picture and react to game-like scenarios.
To develop this skill, start by working on your court vision. When practising dribbling, keep your head up and eyes off the ball, scanning the court for potential teammates and scoring opportunities. This will help you make better decisions and create chances for your team. Imagine defenders approaching and practice creating separation from them, using your dribbling skills to generate space.
Incorporate full-court dribbling drills and situational exercises that simulate game scenarios. Practise reading defensive positioning and predicting their movements, making quick decisions on whether to pass, shoot, or continue dribbling. This will enhance your overall basketball IQ and decision-making abilities.
Additionally, utilise your imagination when practising. Picture when and how you would use specific dribbles, and vary your speed and direction to keep defenders guessing. Visualise different game situations and how you would react, such as finishing a lay-up or pulling up for a jumper.
By visualising game situations and incorporating them into your practice routine, you will improve your ball-handling skills, decision-making, and overall court presence.
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Frequently asked questions
Ball handling involves dribbling, passing, and decision-making. Here are some tips to improve your ball handling at home:
- Practice your dribbling with drills such as "Maravich Drills", named after the late ball-handling wizard Pete Maravich.
- Use your fingertips to dribble, not your palm, and keep the ball low, preferably below your waist.
- Keep your head up at all times to maintain a good view of the court.
Here are some drills you can do at home:
- Fingertip touches: perform 5-10 reps of fingertip touches at different heights, such as above your head, at your waist, and at your feet.
- Pound dribble: forcefully pound the ball 30 times with each hand without looking down.
- Figure 8: spread your legs about shoulder-width apart and dribble the ball through and around your legs in a figure 8 motion.
- Chair drill: place a chair at the corner of the free throw line and start at half court. Attack the chair and make different moves to get by it, such as inside out, hesitation, cross-over, and behind the back. Finish with a lay-up or pull-up jumper.
Some common mistakes to avoid include:
- Spending too much time on drills: while drills are important, especially for beginners, limit yourself to 5-6 minutes of each practice. Focus on functional drills that simulate game-like situations.
- Dribbling for no reason: the primary purpose of putting the ball on the floor is to get a lay-up. If you don't have an opportunity for a lay-up, don't dribble unnecessarily.
- Not practicing outside your comfort zone: if you only practice things that are comfortable, you will never improve. Be willing to experiment, go faster, and use your imagination.
