Amanda Knapp
Passing is a fundamental skill in basketball, a team sport where players work together to score points. Effective passing can turn the game around, and some of the best players in history, like Magic Johnson, are known for their incredible assists. Passing techniques include the chest pass, bounce pass, overhead pass, baseball pass, dribble pass, behind-the-back pass, and more. To improve passing skills, players can work on their ball handling, peripheral vision, and strength, as well as practice passing drills to increase accuracy and distance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Types of passes | Air pass, bounce pass, chest pass, overhead pass, wrap-around pass, baseball pass, dribble pass, behind-the-back pass, pick and roll pass |
| Passing tips | Develop a good mid-range pull-up jumper, have court awareness, practice ball handling, develop peripheral vision, pivoting, practice grip, practice looking around the court |
| Passing drills | Practice passing against a wall, fence, or any surface that can bounce the ball back; practice passing with movement, competition, and other objects |
| Passing strength/speed/distance exercises | Backup until your pass is weak, then practice until strong; repeat daily, increasing distance; throw a big bouncy ball in your basement, targeting objects; practice chest pass, bounce pass, one-handed pass, left and right-handed |
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What You'll Learn
Pivoting and positioning
When pivoting, you can pass to teammates who aren't directly in front of you. To do this, bring the ball towards your chest, bending your elbows and keeping them tucked in close to your body. The ball should be close to or touching your chest, and you should maintain a good grip on it. Find an open teammate and position your upper body to face them. You should have full control over the ball at this point. Then, take a step with your dominant foot and throw the ball, following through with a full extension of your arms.
It is important to practice your grip on the ball, but be careful not to hold it in front of you for too long during a game, as it can be easily stolen. Practicing your pivoting and positioning can be done with a wall, a fence, or anything else that can capture the ball and send it back to you. You can also move forward and backward to control the distance of the pass and the speed of the return.
Passing is an important skill in basketball, and some of the best players in history, like Magic Johnson, were known for their ability to effectively pass the ball.
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Grip and handling
Hand Placement and Grip Type
When holding a basketball, the placement of your hands and fingers is vital. Most actions in basketball, such as dribbling, shooting, and passing, involve intricate hand movements. To develop a consistent grip, place your thumb on the straight groove that runs around the middle of the ball. Position your index, middle, and ring fingers on the groove just above the center groove. Your fingertips should be doing most of the work, providing grip and control. Avoid gripping the ball with your palms, as this can interfere with the shooting motion.
Grip Strength
Developing strong grip strength is essential for basketball players. It gives you more control when dribbling and improves your "touch" when shooting or passing. To increase grip strength, you can perform various exercises:
- Finger stretches: Place your hand palm-down on a flat surface and stretch your fingers flat for 30 seconds to a minute.
- Fingertip push-ups: Assume a standard push-up position, but instead of placing your palms on the floor, use your fingertips.
- Squeeze exercises: Practice squeezing a basketball or a stress ball to strengthen your fingers and improve grip strength.
- Weight plate walks: Hold a heavy weight plate in each hand while walking to challenge your grip and build muscular endurance.
Guide Hand Positioning
The positioning of your guide hand (non-dominant hand) is also important. Hold the ball so that your guide hand is on the side, with your fingers pointed at the ceiling when the ball is at the set point. This position allows for a smoother release during shooting or passing. If your guide hand is towards the top or front of the ball, it will require a larger movement to release, increasing the time and room for error.
Drills and Practice
To improve your grip and handling, incorporate specific drills into your practice sessions. Simulate game-like scenarios that challenge your grip and control, such as dribbling and shooting at different speeds or when fatigued. This helps enhance your muscle memory and makes your skills more instinctive during high-pressure game situations. Additionally, focus on developing a consistent grip and release technique to improve your overall performance.
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Types of passes
Passing is one of the most fundamental yet under-taught skills in basketball. It is a team sport, and passing among teammates can lead to easy baskets and many victories. There are two main types of passes: Air Passes and Bounce Passes. Each type of pass has its own variations, and here are some of the most common ones:
Chest Pass
The ball is brought towards the chest, elbows bent and tucked in close to the body. The chest should face the intended teammate, and the passer should have full control over the ball. The dominant foot is then used to step forward and throw the ball, following through with a full extension of the arms.
Bounce Pass
This pass is similar to the chest pass, except the ball is aimed towards the ground. The ball must be thrown far out enough so that it is received at waist height, and it is typically recommended that the ball hits the ground 3/4 of the way between the passer and their teammate. This pass is best used in tight spaces when passing to a guarded player.
Overhead Pass
The overhead pass begins with the ball held in both hands behind the head, elbows bent and next to the ears. As the passer steps forward, they extend their elbows and snap their wrists to create backspin, with the majority of the movement coming from the elbows. This pass is used when throwing the ball to a teammate further down the court.
Baseball Pass
This is a one-handed pass, used when throwing the ball far down the court. The ball is held slightly behind the head, above the shoulder, and the passer steps with their non-dominant foot and throws with their dominant hand, similar to a baseball pitch. This pass can be easily knocked out of the passer's hand, so it should only be used when necessary.
Dribble Pass
The dribble pass is a quick transition from dribbling to passing without setting up for a chest or overhead pass. This can be useful for surprising defenders and creating scoring opportunities.
Behind-the-Back Pass
This pass involves bringing the ball with the left hand towards the right side of the torso and wrapping it around the body. As the ball crosses the body, the right hand grasps it and pushes it towards the target from behind the back. This pass can be useful for avoiding a defender standing in front of the passer. Court awareness is crucial for this pass, as it is often most effective when the passer does not look in the direction they are passing.
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Passing drills
Passing is an essential skill in basketball, and there are a variety of drills that can help players improve their passing accuracy, technique, and decision-making abilities. Here are some passing drills that can be incorporated into basketball training sessions:
Star Passing Drill
This drill requires five players to position themselves in a star formation, with one player at each point of the star and one in the center. The player in the center starts with the ball and passes to a player at one of the points. The player who received the pass then passes it back to the center, who quickly passes to another player at a different point. The drill continues in this pattern, with the center player making quick decisions and passes to keep the ball moving smoothly around the star formation. This drill helps improve passing skills, accuracy, and the ability to make passes in various game-like situations.
No Dribble 3v2 Continuous
This is a game-based drill that is effective in developing passing skills and decision-making abilities. It involves three players on one team trying to pass the ball without dribbling, while two defenders on the other team try to intercept the passes. The offensive players must judge distances, pass away from defenders, decide on pass types, pass under pressure, create angles, and use fakes. This drill helps improve the entire passing skill set and enhances decision-making capabilities.
Overhead Pass While Shuffling
This drill focuses on improving passing accuracy and footwork simultaneously. Players pair up and stand side-by-side, about 10 feet apart. They then shuffle sideways while making overhead passes to each other. When they reach the end of the court, they switch directions and continue the drill. This drill helps players develop their passing accuracy while also working on their footwork.
One-Handed Passes
This drill aims to develop ambidexterity and improve passing accuracy and quick release. Players stand about 5 feet from a wall and use their dominant hand to practice making one-handed passes against the wall. They then switch to their non-dominant hand to develop their passing skills with both hands.
Slip Screen Drill
This drill sharpens players' skills in effectively slipping screens and delivering precise pocket passes. It also enhances hand-eye coordination and defensive abilities. By improving peripheral vision, players can become more aware of their surroundings and the movement of other players on the court. This drill works on the exchange and communication between players during passing and helps them learn to properly execute bounce passes.
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Passing mentality
Passing is an important aspect of basketball, as it is a team sport, and passing to your teammates will lead to easy baskets and victories. It is important to develop a passing mentality, rather than thinking of passing as something you do when you cannot shoot. Passing effectively involves being aware of your teammates and the defence, and being able to spot passing lanes.
To improve your passing, you should work on your ball handling skills, so that you do not need to look at the ball while dribbling, and can instead focus on the court and your teammates. Peripheral vision is also important, as you need to be aware of the position of your teammates and the defence. You should also be aware of your own position relative to the net and your teammates.
Passing drills can help you to improve your passing skills. Drills can be done alone, with a wall or fence to bounce the ball off, or with teammates. Drills can be stationary or involve moving up and down, or backwards and forwards. Drills can also involve competition and other objects, such as a big bouncy ball.
To improve your passing accuracy, you can stick a piece of tape on a wall and practice throwing the ball at the tape as fast as possible. You can also work on your strength by working out, which will help you to throw the ball further.
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Frequently asked questions
Passing is a primary skill in basketball, which is a team game. There are two types of passes: Air Pass and Bounce Pass. The Air Pass travels between players without touching the floor, while the Bounce Pass is thrown to the floor so that it bounces to the intended receiver. Basic variations of these passes include the chest pass, overhead pass, and wrap-around pass. Advanced variations include the baseball pass, dribble pass, and behind-the-back pass.
Here are some tips to improve your passing:
- Develop good ball handling skills so that you can look at your teammates and the defence while dribbling.
- Work on your peripheral vision in your daily life so that it becomes second nature on the court.
- Practice passing drills against a wall, fence, or any surface that can bounce the ball back to you.
- To increase passing strength, mark a piece of tape on a wall and practice passing to it as fast as possible, gradually increasing the distance.
Some common mistakes to avoid when passing include:
- Not having court awareness and looking in the direction you are passing.
- Rushing a pass, which can lead to an easy turnover.
- Holding the ball in front of you for too long, making it vulnerable to being stolen.
