Andrew Pace
Passing is an essential skill in basketball, a team sport, and one that is often overlooked. It can be the difference between a good player and a great player, and it is the key to seamless teamwork. There are several types of passes, from basic to advanced, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The most common passes are chest passes and overhead passes, but there are many more to learn, including the baseball pass, the dribble pass, the behind-the-back pass, and the bounce pass. Each pass has its own nuances, but the fundamentals are the same: grip the ball with your fingertips pointing towards your chin, step towards your target, and follow through with your pass.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Passing technique | Incorporate the correct footwork, focusing on stepping towards your target and following through with your pass. |
| Grip | Use your fingertips, thumbs, and elbows to grip the ball correctly. |
| Types of passes | Chest pass, bounce pass, overhead pass, wrap-around pass, baseball pass, dribble pass, behind-the-back pass, pick and roll pass, one-hand push pass, touch pass, lob pass, air pass. |
| Passing decisions | Constantly scan the floor, anticipate your teammates' movements, and identify potential passing lanes. |
| Accuracy | Use your wrists for more accuracy. |
| Distance | The bigger your step, the more power you put into your pass. |
| Practice | Use a wall, fence, or any object that can capture and return the ball to practice passing. |
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What You'll Learn
- The chest pass: step out with one foot, press arms out, rotate fingers so palms face outwards
- The overhead pass: bring the ball above your head, step forward, extend arms and release
- The bounce pass: throw the ball towards the floor, aiming for it to bounce waist-high to the receiver
- The baseball pass: bring the ball behind your head, step with your non-dominant foot, throw with your dominant hand
- The dribble pass: transition from dribbling to passing without setting up
The chest pass: step out with one foot, press arms out, rotate fingers so palms face outwards
Passing is an essential skill in basketball, and one of the most fundamental yet under-taught aspects of the game. The chest pass is one of the most common types of pass, along with the overhead pass.
To execute a chest pass, begin by holding the basketball at your chest, with your thumbs between the ball and your torso, and your elbows tucked in. Step out with one foot towards your target, and simultaneously press your arms out, rotating your fingers so that your palms face outwards and your thumbs point down. As you release the ball, take a step towards your target, aiming for their chest. This is the shortest possible path for the ball, making it a quick and efficient pass.
It is important to practice passing with a purpose, focusing on accuracy and decision-making. Developing your court vision by constantly scanning the floor and anticipating your teammates' movements will help you to become a more effective playmaker.
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The overhead pass: bring the ball above your head, step forward, extend arms and release
Passing is a fundamental skill in basketball, and one of the most important yet under-taught aspects of the game. There are many different types of passes, but one of the most common is the overhead pass.
To execute an overhead pass, first, bring the ball above your head with both hands on the sides of the ball. Your elbows should be bent and pointed forward, with your fingers pointing towards the ceiling. Your dominant foot should be slightly behind the other, with your hips squared up and legs slightly bent.
Next, step forward with your dominant foot. As you do this, extend your arms and release the ball towards your target. Aim for your teammate's chest, keeping your elbows in. The majority of the movement should come from your elbows, not your shoulders.
The overhead pass is often used as an outlet pass, and it is effective for passing over defenders or making long-distance passes. It is important to note that you should not bring the ball behind your head, as this can make it easier for the opposing team to steal the ball.
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The bounce pass: throw the ball towards the floor, aiming for it to bounce waist-high to the receiver
The bounce pass is a fundamental basketball skill. It is best used in tight spaces when you are feeding a player that is being guarded by an opponent. It is also a good option when you need to get the ball past an opponent that might deflect a direct chest pass. However, it is slower than a chest pass, so you should use a chest pass when possible and save the bounce pass for when it is truly needed.
To perform a bounce pass, start with the ball held with both hands at chest height. Take a step forward with either foot, although some sources recommend stepping with your dominant foot. As you step forward, push off with your back foot and release the ball with both hands, aiming for the floor. The ball should bounce so that it reaches your teammate at waist height. You can experiment with how far to throw it so that it bounces to the receiver properly. A good reference point to start with is throwing it 3/4 of the way to your teammate.
To get maximum power, keep your back straight and tilt your upper body forward as you release the ball. Finish with your arms in front, thigh-high. You can also put a proper and consistent backspin on the pass, which will make the distance easier to judge.
It is important to practice the bounce pass, as well as other types of passes, so that you can use them effectively in a game.
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The baseball pass: bring the ball behind your head, step with your non-dominant foot, throw with your dominant hand
Passing is a fundamental part of basketball, and a good pass can lead to an easy basket and victory. There are two main types of passes: air passes and bounce passes. Each of these has several variations, such as the chest pass, overhead pass, wraparound pass, and baseball pass.
The baseball pass is an advanced pass that can be used to move the ball quickly and powerfully down the court. It is a one-handed pass, similar to the throwing motion used in baseball, and is best used when you need to pass the ball to a teammate further down the court.
To perform a baseball pass, start with the basketball in one hand, bringing it slightly behind your head, above your shoulder, and near your back ear. This motion is similar to a windup for a baseball pitcher. It is important to note that the ball should not be brought too far behind your head, as this can make it easier for defenders to steal the ball.
Next, step forward with your non-dominant foot, similar to how you would step with your back foot when making a right-handed pass. This stepping motion adds power to your pass. Finally, throw the ball with your dominant hand, snapping your wrist to create backspin.
The baseball pass can be a useful skill to add to your repertoire, but it is important to practice it to ensure accuracy and control. It is a flashy pass that can be difficult to execute well, but it can be very effective in certain game situations, such as when you need to quickly move the ball down the court or when facing a pressing defense.
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The dribble pass: transition from dribbling to passing without setting up
Passing is an important skill in basketball, a team sport, and players should not fall into the "shoot first" mentality. Passing is an under-taught and under-emphasised skill, but it is a fundamental part of the game that players must master.
Dribble passes are a type of pass that transitions from dribbling to passing without setting up for a chest or overhead pass. As the ball comes up from your dribble, instead of holding it, push the ball towards your teammate. You will not have much control with this pass, so make sure to practice it before trying it in a game.
To perform a dribble pass, step forward with the same-side foot as the hand you are throwing with and follow through as you would with any other pass. The dribble pass is a more advanced technique, and you should be comfortable with the basics before attempting it.
Passing and dribbling are means to get into the best possible shooting position and attempt to score goals. Dribbling attracts defenders and can be used to break open their position, creating space for a fast pass or shot. However, dribbling always carries a risk, and you must calculate if it is worth taking. The pass is often the wiser option, as the ball is faster than you, and the risk of your team losing possession is smaller.
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Frequently asked questions
To perform a chest pass, grip the ball on each side with your thumbs between the ball and your chest. As you throw the ball, turn your fingers out and point your thumbs down in a follow-through motion. As you release the ball, take a step forward toward your targeted receiver and aim for their chest area.
To perform an overhead pass, grip the ball with both hands on the sides, and bring it directly above your forehead. Your elbows should be bent and pointed forward. Step forward with your dominant foot and throw the ball with a snapping motion of your wrist.
To perform a baseball pass, take the basketball in one hand and bring it slightly behind your head, above your shoulder. Step with your non-dominant foot and throw with your dominant hand, using a snapping motion of your wrist. Baseball passes can be easily knocked out of your hand, so only use them if you need to cover a large distance.
