Andrew Pace
Ball handling is a fundamental skill in basketball, and mastering it can elevate your game to the next level. It is essential for success on the court, enabling you to manoeuvre past defenders, create scoring opportunities, and maintain possession of the ball. While some players naturally excel at ball handling, others need to work harder to develop their skills. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of ball handling for beginners, covering essential techniques, drills, and strategies to improve your dribbling skills and take your game to new heights.
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What You'll Learn
Dribble with precision and control
Dribbling is the skill of repetitively bouncing the basketball to legally move on the court while in possession of the ball. It is a key method of progressing the basketball down the court to create opportunities for your team to shoot for a point at the hoop, as well as to break away from your defender and escape areas of congestion.
To dribble with precision and control, you need to focus on using your fingertips to dribble the ball, instead of your palm. This gives you more control and makes it difficult for defenders to steal the ball. Keep your head up while dribbling to help you see your teammates, anticipate defenders, and find scoring opportunities. You can develop this skill through practice and repetition, gradually becoming more comfortable dribbling with your head up.
It is also important to vary the pace and direction of your dribble to throw off your defender and create space for your team. Practice dribbling fast and then slowing down quickly, and changing the looks and speed of your different moves.
Additionally, try dribbling with two balls at the same time. This will help you improve your dribbling skills and build confidence. Start by standing stationary and controlling both balls, then gradually move to dribbling half court and then full court.
Finally, remember to keep your body between defenders and the ball. When defenders are covering you, use your body to defend the ball and block attempts to intercept it.
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Change of pace and direction
To improve your change of pace and direction, you can incorporate various drills into your practice routine. Start with basic drills like the figure-eight and the between-the-legs dribble, and then progress to more advanced drills such as the two-ball dribble, which challenges your coordination and ambidexterity. Chair drills are also effective; for example, place a chair 21 feet from the basket and dribble straight towards it. At the chair, use a change of direction dribble (crossover, inside-out, behind the back, etc.) to go beyond the chair and make a lay-up.
Ladder drills and cone drills are also excellent for improving your footwork, change of direction, and overall ball control. As you advance, increase the intensity and complexity of the drills to push yourself further. Remember to focus on maintaining a low, balanced stance while practicing change of direction moves, and incorporate defensive pressure to simulate game-like situations.
In addition to drills, it's crucial to develop your court vision. Practice dribbling while keeping your head up, scanning the court for open teammates and potential scoring opportunities. This will improve your decision-making abilities and create more scoring chances for yourself and your team.
When it comes to changing pace, practice dribbling at different speeds. Work on dribbling fast and then quickly slowing down, varying the looks and speed of your moves. Incorporate moves like crossovers, jab steps, and hesitation dribbles to throw off your defender's timing and make your next move less predictable.
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Behind-the-back dribbling
To execute the behind-the-back dribble, you need to follow a "`V`" shape dribbling pattern, similar to a crossover, but behind your back. The ball should move from one hand to the other, bouncing behind your back. To get the angle right, your hand needs to be on the outside part of the ball, pushed behind your back and off the floor in a straight line towards your other hand. Keep in mind, the more sideways movement you have, the less effective the dribble will be.
This move requires practice and can be improved by experimenting with different dribbling drills. For example, you can try dribbling with two balls, or try the "`Figure 8`" drill, where you wrap the ball around your legs, crossing it between them. Another drill is to dribble the ball around one leg and through the legs, keeping the hand that is not dribbling tucked into your chest.
Remember, when working on new skills, don't be afraid of making mistakes. Focus on improving your control and speed, and always keep your head up with your eyes on the rim or a spot on the wall.
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Ball handling drills
Ball handling is an important skill to master in basketball, and daily work on these skills can help you become a great all-around player. Here are some drills to help you improve your ball handling:
Figure 8s
This drill helps to improve your overall dribbling skills. Spread your legs about shoulder-width apart and dribble the ball through and around your legs in a figure 8 motion. You can do this in multiple ways: front to back, back to front, low dribbles (as many dribbles as possible with the dribble about shoe height), or as few dribbles as possible (high dribble).
Ball Slaps
Slap the ball as hard as you can with one hand while the other hand holds the ball. Rotate hands with each slap. This drill helps improve hand quickness and strength.
Finger Tips
Extend your arms and push the ball back and forth with your fingertips. Once you feel comfortable, move the ball from high above your head to low in front of your ankles. This drill helps improve hand-eye coordination and grip strength.
Wraps
Wrap the ball around your head, waist, and ankles. You can do each wrap separately or all three together as one rep. This drill helps improve your overall ball control and coordination.
2-Ball Dribbling
Similar to the one-hand pound, but now you are dribbling with both hands at the same time. You can do 2-ball rhythm and 2-ball alternating for 30-45 seconds each. This drill helps improve your dribbling skills and coordination.
Single-Leg Dribbling
Dribble the ball with your right hand in circles around your right leg, then switch and do the same with your left hand and leg. This drill helps improve your dribbling skills, balance, and coordination.
Passing Drill
Stand 10-15 feet away from a partner or a wall. If using a wall, pick a spot and try to hit the same spot with each pass. Focus on stepping into your passes and putting as much power into each one as possible. This drill helps improve your passing skills and power.
Full-Court Lay-ups
Start on the baseline and dribble the ball as hard as you can. The harder you dribble, the quicker the ball gets back to your hand. This drill helps improve your dribbling speed and control.
Remember, the key to improving your ball handling skills is to practice regularly, push yourself outside your comfort zone, and always keep your head up with your eyes forward to maintain court vision.
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Developing hand-eye coordination
There are a variety of drills that can help beginners develop hand-eye coordination. A simple and common drill is to throw a ball against a wall and practice catching it with one hand, then the other. This can be developed further by throwing the ball harder and aiming for a specific spot on the wall, or throwing the ball off-centre so it bounces at an angle, forcing you to move your feet to adjust. You can also try tossing and catching the ball around your leg, body, or head.
Juggling is another great way to improve hand-eye coordination, and it can be done anywhere. It improves reaction time, reflexes, spatial awareness, and concentration.
Another drill is to stand on the baseline and dribble two balls at the same time. This can be done stationary at first, and then moving. This drill will help with ball control and handling.
Finally, a drill that helps with quick-shifting focus skills is to use two objects at the same distance, one to your left and one to your right. Focus on one, then quickly shift your focus to the other. This will help with inbounding the ball, as you'll need to be able to quickly scan the court and find your teammates.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some drills that beginners can use to improve their ball handling:
- Ball slaps: Slap the ball as hard as you can with one hand while the other hand holds the ball. Rotate hands with every slap.
- Finger Tips: Extend your arms and push the ball back and forth with your fingertips. Once comfortable, move the ball from above your head to in front of your ankles.
- Wraps: Wrap the ball around your head, waist, and ankles. Do each separately, then do all three together as one rep.
- Figure 8: Wrap the ball around your legs, first in front of them, then behind one knee. Bring the ball back in front, then wrap it behind the other knee.
- Single-Leg Dribbling: Dribble the ball with your right hand in circles around your right leg, then do the same with your left hand and leg.
- Two-Ball Dribbling: Dribble with both hands at the same time.
Here are some tips for beginners to improve their ball handling:
- Keep your head up and eyes forward.
- Use your fingertips to dribble, not your palms. Spread your fingers out to cover the ball and gain more control.
- Practice dribbling with speed and force. The harder you dribble, the quicker the ball gets back into your hand.
- Practice outside your comfort zone. Don't be afraid to lose the ball.
- Focus on footwork, balance, speed, and quickness to outmaneuver defenders.
To dribble with more control, you must be able to change directions and speeds quickly. Practice the following:
- Jab steps, crossovers, and hesitations to create space between you and your defender.
- Changing speeds from slow to fast.
- Dribbling through cones set up in various patterns at high speed.
- Sprinting back and forth between two points 15-20 feet apart while dribbling.
