Amanda Knapp
Improving ball handling in basketball requires imagination and practice in game-like situations. Drills are an excellent way to improve ball handling, such as dribbling pounds, crossovers, between the legs, and behind the back. It is also beneficial to use two balls for drills to improve handling skills. Players should also work on their weak hand, as it is critical that players can handle the ball with both hands. Additionally, it is important to keep your head up to maintain a good view of the court and use speed and misdirection to throw off defenders.
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What You'll Learn
Keep the ball low and use both hands
Keeping the ball low and using both hands is a fundamental skill in basketball, helping players improve their handling skills and overall performance. Here are some detailed tips to master this technique:
Firstly, always keep the ball below waist level. This makes it harder for defenders to steal the ball, as they will have a more challenging angle to reach it. Use your fingertips to push the ball down and control it, rather than your palm. This gives you a better feel for the ball and improves your handling.
Next, develop comfort with both hands. Practice dribbling with your weak hand, and use it to protect the ball when dribbling with your dominant hand. This will improve your control and make you less predictable to defenders. You can also try drills with two balls, one in each hand, to improve your overall ball handling and coordination.
Additionally, focus on your dribbling technique. Practice dribbling the ball hard and fast, as this increases your control and the quicker the ball returns to your hand, the less chance there is for a defender to steal it. Don't be afraid to experiment and go beyond your comfort zone. Try different dribble moves like crossovers, between the legs, and figure eights.
Finally, keep your head up. It is important to have a good view of the court and be aware of your teammates and defenders. Look at the rim or a spot on the wall during practice to help you develop this habit.
Mastering the skill of keeping the ball low and using both hands will improve your ball handling, protect the ball from defenders, and ultimately enhance your performance on the court.
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Practice dribbling with two balls
Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball, and it takes a lot of practice to become a great ball handler. One way to improve your dribbling is to practice with two balls, which can help you build up strength and coordination in both hands. Here are some tips and drills for practicing dribbling with two balls:
Two-Ball Dribbling Drills:
- Two-Ball Pound: Dribble both balls at the same time, varying the height from ankle, waist, and shoulder heights. This helps improve ball control and coordination.
- Alternating Heights: Dribble one ball high while dribbling the other low. This improves your ability to control the ball at different heights.
- Two-Ball Weave: Set up a line of chairs and weave in and out while dribbling two balls. Dribble forward and backward, switching directions after each chair. This drill improves your ability to dribble and maneuver through defenders.
- Two-Ball Crossover: Perform a crossover dribble with both hands simultaneously while navigating through a set of chairs. This improves your ball handling and coordination.
- Hesitation: Act like you're slowing down or coming to a stop, then explode out of the dribble with force. This helps improve your acceleration and change of pace.
- Stationary Drills: Start with stationary drills to loosen up and get a feel for the balls. Try alternating dribbles, with one ball reaching your hand as the other hits the floor. You can also cross the balls in front of your body or dribble one ball behind your back while crossing the other in front.
General Tips for Dribbling:
- Keep your head up to maintain court awareness and make better decisions. Avoid looking down at the ball.
- Use your fingertips to dribble, not your palm. This gives you more control and a better grip on the ball.
- Keep the ball low, preferably below waist level, to make it harder for defenders to steal.
- Practice using both hands to improve ambidexterity and protect the ball from defenders.
- Vary the speed and pace of your dribbles to keep defenders guessing. Include quick changes from slow to fast dribbles.
- Practice different dribble moves such as crossovers, between the legs, and behind the back.
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Change of pace and direction
One of the most important skills in basketball is the ability to change pace and direction while handling the ball. This skill can help you attack the rim and create space from your defender, giving you more opportunities to make plays for your team. Here are some ways you can improve this skill:
Firstly, it is crucial to develop a feel for the basketball. This means getting comfortable with the ball in your hands and being able to control it effectively. You can start by practising dribbling with one ball, focusing on dribbling hard and fast to improve your control. Stand on the baseline and try to control the ball, then gradually add movement by following the lines around the court.
Next, you can challenge yourself by incorporating drills that use two balls. Any dribble or drill you can do with one ball will be even more effective with two, as it will improve your control and force you to focus on keeping your head up and maintaining awareness of the court. Start by standing on the baseline and trying to control both balls, then gradually increase your movement and speed.
Once you have developed a good feel for the ball, you can begin to focus on changing your pace and direction. This involves using speed and misdirection to your advantage, throwing off your defender and creating space. Practise dribbling at different speeds, going from slow to fast and mixing it up. You can also try drills that involve dribbling in different patterns, such as figure 8s or dribbling the ball through your legs.
Additionally, work on incorporating moves like jab steps, crossovers, and hesitations. These moves will help you change directions quickly and keep your defender off-balance. Practise these moves at different speeds and in different directions to improve your versatility. Remember to use your non-dribbling hand to protect the ball and don't be afraid to use your weak hand as well.
Finally, it's important to translate these skills into game-like situations. Practise your ball-handling skills with defenders present to simulate competitive gameplay. This will help you apply your improved pace and direction changes in a more realistic setting, allowing you to become a more effective ball handler during actual games.
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Practice game-like situations
Once you have developed a feel for the ball, it is important to practice your ball handling in competitive, game-like situations with defenders present. This will help you improve your ball handling skills and get comfortable with the ball.
To create game-like situations, you can use drills such as the Maravich series, which is a favourite of pro coach Don Kelbick. One example of a drill in this series is dribbling the ball through and around your legs in a figure 8. Another drill is to stand on the baseline and try to control two balls at the same time. Start with stationary practice and then gradually add movement by following the lines around the court.
You can also practice dribbling outdoors by yourself and work on changing speeds and directions. This will help you improve your ball handling and create extra space for your team during a game. Jab steps, crossovers, and hesitations are all moves that will help you create that extra space.
Additionally, it is important to keep your head up as a ball handler to have a good view of the court. A simple drill to help with this is to sit in front of the TV and try to watch your favourite highlights while dribbling, or focus on a spot on the wall while dribbling without looking at the ball.
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Use fingertips, not palms
When it comes to basketball, ball handling is a crucial skill to possess. Using your fingertips instead of your palms to control the ball is an important technique to master. This method offers several advantages and can significantly improve your performance on the court.
First and foremost, using your fingertips provides greater control over the ball. By pushing down with your fingertips, you can keep the ball low and close to your body, making it more difficult for defenders to steal. This technique also allows for quicker reactions and faster dribbling. The more forcefully you dribble with your fingertips, the faster the ball returns to your hand, enabling rapid and unpredictable movements that can throw off defenders.
Additionally, using your fingertips encourages proper form and posture. When you rely on your fingertips, you naturally maintain better balance and posture, keeping your head up and improving your court awareness. This posture also helps you maintain a low defensive stance, making it easier to react to your opponent's moves and quickly change directions.
Mastering the use of fingertips instead of palms requires dedicated practice. Start with basic dribbling drills, focusing on developing a feel for the ball. Practice dribbling with force and speed, pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone. Gradually add variations such as dribbling between the legs, behind the back, and in figure-eight motions. As you improve, incorporate movement into your drills, progressing from stationary dribbling to walking, jogging, and eventually sprinting.
Remember, improving your ball handling is about more than just drills. It requires imagination and visualizing game-like situations. Think about when and how you would use each dribble in a competitive context. Practicing with two balls can also enhance your control and handling skills. Ultimately, the key to mastering ball handling in basketball is to constantly challenge yourself, step out of your comfort zone, and translate your skills into real-game scenarios.
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Frequently asked questions
Basic dribble moves include dribble pounds, crossovers, between the legs, and behind the back. All dribble moves are a combination of these fundamentals.
Start with stationary drills and work your way up to movement. You can begin with dribbling the ball through and around your legs in a figure 8. Then, try controlling two balls at the same time while standing on the baseline, then moving up to half court and full court.
You can make dribbling drills more challenging by wearing a glove, wrapping a plastic bag around the ball, or using heavy balls. You can also try to dribble faster than you are used to, or practice dribbling outdoors and changing direction.
You can use your offhand to protect the ball from defenders, but do not push off with it as that will result in an offensive foul.
It is important to keep your head up and eyes off the ball when dribbling so that you can maintain a good view of the court.
