Andrew Pace
Dribbling a basketball between the legs is a flashy move that can help keep the ball away from defenders. It is a tricky move that requires a lot of practice to perfect. The key is to use a hard dribble and to get low, bending your knees and keeping your back straight. You should also focus on using the pads of your fingers to bounce the ball at knee height, rather than your entire hand. It is important to get comfortable with the ball before attempting this move, and to practice on different surfaces to get a feel for how the ball moves.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Stance | Knees bent, back straight, feet shoulder-width apart |
| Ball position | At knee height, close to the foot |
| Hand position | Dominant hand used to dribble, with fingers spread apart |
| Movement | Diagonal step forward with the opposite foot, shifting the ball between the legs to be caught by the other hand |
| Practice | Start with basic dribbling, then practice crossovers without looking down, and finally attempt the between-the-legs dribble |
| Variations | Standard form and reverse between-the-legs dribble |
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What You'll Learn
- Basic dribbling stance: Crouch down low, bend your knees, and lean forward
- Dribble with your dominant hand, keeping the ball close to your body
- Use your fingertips to push down on the ball and control its movement
- Shift the ball between your legs, bouncing it underneath you
- Catch the ball with your opposite hand as it emerges
Basic dribbling stance: Crouch down low, bend your knees, and lean forward
To get into a basic dribbling stance, you need to crouch down low, bend your knees, and lean forward. This stance is essential for dribbling a basketball between your legs and maintaining control of the ball.
First, spread your feet about shoulder-width apart. This gives you a wide base and helps with stability. Next, bend your knees and lower your hips, as if you were about to sit in a chair. This motion helps protect the ball and gives you mobility. It is important to stay low to the ground, as it is easier for defenders to steal the ball when you are standing up straight.
Lean forward slightly, preparing yourself for any quick movements. Keep your back straight and avoid bending at the waist, as this can be uncomfortable and cause you to stumble forward. Instead, stick your chest out a little, resisting the urge to look down at the ball. Keep your head up and maintain eye contact with the court ahead of you.
While in this stance, you can begin to dribble the ball with your dominant hand, keeping it close to your body and bouncing it at knee height. This basic dribbling stance will help you seamlessly shift the ball between your legs and improve your ball-handling skills.
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Dribble with your dominant hand, keeping the ball close to your body
Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball, and dribbling between the legs can be an effective way to keep the ball away from defenders. To dribble effectively with your dominant hand, keeping the ball close to your body, there are several techniques and practices you can follow.
Firstly, get into a low, defensive stance. Spread your feet shoulder-width apart, bend your knees, and keep your head and chest pointed straight ahead. This stance helps you maintain balance and control while dribbling.
Next, focus on using your fingertips to dribble rather than your palm. Indiana Pacers' player Paul George recommends against palm-to-ball contact as it slows down the dribbling process. Use your fingertips to bounce the ball off the ground, keeping it close to your body and at a height between your knee and hip. Avoid bouncing it too high, as this can make it easier for defenders to steal the ball. Each time the ball returns to your hand, make contact with your fingertips and push it back down with a controlled motion of the wrist and forearm. Your dribble should be quick, steady, and controlled.
It is also important to keep your head up while dribbling. Although it may be challenging at first, maintaining eye contact with the court will help you be aware of your teammates and opponents' positions. This will enable you to manoeuvre effectively and make better decisions with the ball.
Practising dribbling with your dominant hand is crucial, but it is also beneficial to develop your off-hand dribbling skills. Good defences will try to force you to use your weak hand, so becoming comfortable with both hands will make you a more versatile and unpredictable player.
Finally, there are several drills you can perform to improve your dribbling with your dominant hand. These include the Left Hand Speed Dribble, where you speed dribble as fast as you can to the opposite baseline, and the Left Hand Kills, where you pound the ball high and low and gradually bring it up to increase ball control. Practising these drills will help you become more comfortable dribbling with your dominant hand, keeping the ball close to your body.
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Use your fingertips to push down on the ball and control its movement
To pet a basketball between your legs, you need to be in a basic dribbling stance with your knees slightly bent and your head and chest pointed straight ahead. This stance is important because it helps you control the ball as you move it between your legs.
When dribbling a basketball, it is important to use your fingertips to push down on the ball and control its movement. This gives you more precise control over the ball's movement than using your palm. Keep your fingers spread apart to maximize the amount of control you have.
To begin, bounce the basketball in place with the pads of your fingers. Dribble the ball with your dominant hand, keeping it close to your body and near your knee. Use enough force to bounce the ball at knee height. When you're crouched down, the ball should not go higher than your thigh; otherwise, it will be difficult to control and defenders may be able to steal it.
As you dribble, use your fingertips to push down on the ball and guide its movement. This technique allows you to control the ball's speed and direction. Practice this movement until you feel comfortable with the ball.
Once you've mastered the basic dribble with your fingertips, you can start incorporating crossovers and moving the ball between your legs. Remember to keep your hands close together during a crossover to increase speed and control. With enough practice and a good understanding of fingertip control, you'll be able to impress crowds and leave defenders behind!
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Shift the ball between your legs, bouncing it underneath you
Shifting the basketball between your legs requires you to be in a basic dribbling stance. Crouch down low by bending your knees and lowering your hips. Push your back end out behind you and lean forward slightly to prepare for movement. Keep your head and chest pointed straight ahead.
Now, use the pads of your fingers on your dominant hand to bounce the ball in front of you at knee height. Try to keep the ball close to your body. You can bounce the ball in place a few times to get a sense of the court and how the ball moves on it.
Take a diagonal step forward with your opposite foot. As you do this, shift your hand to the side of the ball as it bounces, so only your thumb is on top of the ball. Then, use your hand to push the ball between your open legs, so it bounces underneath you and comes up behind you.
Move your opposite hand behind you to receive the ball as it emerges.
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Catch the ball with your opposite hand as it emerges
Catching the ball with your opposite hand as it emerges is a crucial part of dribbling a basketball between your legs. This skill can help you keep the ball out of a defender's grasp and create scoring opportunities.
To catch the ball with your opposite hand, you must first understand the steps leading up to this action. Begin by getting into a basic dribbling stance with your knees slightly bent and your head and chest pointed straight ahead. Use the pads of your fingers on your dominant hand to bounce the ball in front of you at knee height.
Then, take a diagonal step forward with your opposite foot. As you do this, shift the ball to the side so that only your thumb is on top, and push it between your open legs. The ball will bounce underneath you and emerge behind you.
Now, here comes the crucial part: catching the ball with your opposite hand. As the ball emerges from between your legs, move your opposite hand behind you to receive it. Keep your palm off the ball, allowing it to hit your fingertips. Immediately push the ball down with some force to continue dribbling at knee height.
Practicing this move will help you master the timing and coordination required to seamlessly dribble and catch the ball between your legs, allowing you to impress crowds and leave defenders behind!
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Frequently asked questions
Crouch down low by bending your knees and lowering your hips. Lean forward a little bit to prepare in case you need to move, and make sure your stance feels stable.
Use the pads of your fingers on your dominant hand to bounce the ball in front of you at knee height. Take a diagonal step forward with your opposite foot. As you do this, shift your hand to the side of the ball as it bounces, so only your thumb is on top of the ball. Then, use your hand to push the ball between your open legs, so it bounces underneath you and comes up behind you. Move your opposite hand behind you to receive the ball as it emerges.
This move is not highly effective against very aggressive on-ball pressure. If you are being guarded by a lockdown defender, they may be able to take away your driving angles.
