Ayrton Oneill
Speed dribbling is a fast-moving dribble that is ideal for a fast break in basketball. To speed dribble, you must push the ball forward ahead of you and bounce it at least waist-high. It is important to keep your head up and maintain control of the ball while moving as fast as you can. This skill can be practised through various drills, such as the figure-eight dribble, and by pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone. Players who master the fundamentals and experiment with faster and harder techniques will excel in speed dribbling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Movement | Push the ball forward, ahead of you |
| Ball height | Bounce the ball at least waist high |
| Body position | Keep your head up |
| Control | Move as fast as you can, but never faster than you can control the ball |
| Footwork | Put your inside foot forward and "rock" backward onto your outside foot |
| Drills | Widen your stance and dribble the ball in a figure eight around both of your legs |
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What You'll Learn
Keep your head up and visualise the whole court
Keeping your head up and visualizing the whole court is crucial when performing a speed dribble in basketball. This technique allows you to maintain control of the ball while also being aware of your teammates, opponents, and the basket's location.
To perfect this skill, it's essential to practice looking up while dribbling. Although it might feel unnatural at first, with practice, you'll eventually be able to trust the ball without constantly looking at it. This way, you can focus on scanning the court, spotting open teammates, and making strategic decisions.
One effective drill to improve your speed dribbling while keeping your head up is the balloon drill. In this drill, players work on their dribbling skills while also trying to keep a balloon in the air by tapping it up with the hand that is not dribbling. This drill helps improve hand-eye coordination, weak hand development, and floor vision, making it easier to visualize the entire court during a game.
Additionally, when performing a speed dribble, it's important to maintain control and avoid hurrying. As Coach Wooden famously said, "You must be quick, but never hurry." This means that while you should move as fast as possible, you should never move faster than you can control the ball. Therefore, always ensure that you're in a low, defensive stance with your knees bent, hips dropped, and shoulders square. This stance not only helps protect the ball but also gives you the mobility needed for quick adjustments.
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Use the control dribble when guarded closely by a defender
When a defender is guarding you closely, you should use the "control dribble". Keep your body in a somewhat crouched, bent-over position, with the ball low to the floor, behind you and close to your body. Keep your head up and maintain visual contact with the whole court, so you can find an open teammate. Keep the other arm straight out in front of you, acting as a guard against the defender. You can use your "arm-bar" to keep the defender from reaching around you.
Do not stop your dribble until you can either pass or shoot. You can also use the "in and out" dribble, which is a good fake move to help you get around a defender. With this move, you make one bounce in front of you as if you were going to crossover, but instead of picking the ball up with your other hand, you roll your dribbling hand over the top of the ball. This is another way to keep control of the ball when closely guarded by a defender.
Speed dribbling is a fast-moving dribble ideal for a fast break. It involves pushing the ball forward, ahead of you by several feet. You should bounce the ball at least waist-high and move as fast as you can, but never faster than you can control the ball. You can combine this with a crossover dribble to change direction and get around a defender.
Remember, as Coach Wooden said, "You must be quick, but never hurry." It is important to always be in control of the ball and your movements.
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Practice dribbling with your fingertips, not your palm
To speed dribble in basketball, it is important to practice dribbling with your fingertips instead of your palm. This may seem counterintuitive as using your palm gives you more surface area to control the ball. However, dribbling with your fingertips allows for quicker and shorter bounces, making it harder for your opponent to steal the ball.
To practice this, start by getting into a low, defensive stance. Spread your feet about shoulder-width apart and bend your knees, dropping your hips back slightly as if you were sitting in a chair. Keep your head up and shoulders square, maintaining a low centre of gravity.
Now, with the ball in your hand, touch it with your fingertips, not your palm. Bounce the ball off the ground in a controlled yet firm manner and use your fingertips to catch it as it bounces up. Push the ball back down with a controlled motion of the wrist and forearm, aiming for a spot slightly to the side and ahead of the foot on the same side as your dribbling hand. Keep the ball close to the ground as you dribble, as this will increase the speed of your dribble.
Practising dribbling with just your fingertips will help you develop the coordination and feel needed to become a great ball handler. It will also enable you to switch hands and change directions quickly, a skill that is especially important for point guards. So, focus on using those fingertips to speed dribble like a pro!
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Combine the speed dribble with a crossover dribble
Combining the speed dribble with a crossover dribble is an effective way to get past defenders. The speed dribble is a fast-moving dribble, ideal for a fast break. To execute it, push the ball forward ahead of you, bounce the ball at waist height or higher, and move as quickly as you can while maintaining control of the ball.
Now, to combine this with a crossover dribble, you can use the following technique:
- As you speed dribble towards a defender, come to a sudden stop by putting your inside foot forward and rocking backward onto your outside foot.
- As the defender approaches, push off your outside foot and speed dribble around their side.
- At this point, you can combine it with a crossover dribble by switching the ball from one hand to the other, either in front of you or by doing a behind-the-back or through-the-legs dribble.
- This will allow you to change directions quickly and get past the defender.
Remember to always keep control of the ball and be aware of your surroundings. Practice these moves often to improve your dribbling skills and get comfortable with the techniques.
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Use the speed dribble in a fast break
The speed dribble is a fast-moving dribble that is ideal for a fast break. It is a useful skill to have when a defender is close by and you need to move the ball quickly up the floor.
To perform a speed dribble, push the ball forward ahead of you by several feet. Bounce the ball at waist or chest height and keep your head up to visualise the whole court. Move as fast as you can, but never faster than you can control the ball. You can also combine this with a crossover dribble to change direction and get around a defender.
In a drill, players can practice the speed dribble by forming five lines along the baseline, with each player holding a ball. On the coach's whistle, the first player in each line pushes the ball out ahead of them with their right hand and speed dribbles to the half-court line. They then touch the line and dribble back with their left hand. Players should push the ball out in front and catch up to it, taking multiple strides with each dribble. It is important to keep the hand on top of the ball to avoid a carrying violation.
The speed dribble can be used in a fast break to quickly move the ball up the court and create scoring opportunities. When on a fast break, the player with the ball can use the speed dribble to cover a lot of ground quickly and get past defenders. They can also use moves like the crossover dribble or dribbling through the legs to change directions and get around defenders. The key is to always be in control of the ball and make quick decisions to take advantage of the fast break.
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Frequently asked questions
Speed dribbling is a fast-moving dribble ideal for a fast break.
Spread out and form five lines along the baseline, with each player holding a ball. On the coach's whistle, the first player in each line will push the ball out ahead and speed dribble.
Players who master the fundamentals will benefit their team the most. Dribbling is a skill that can be practiced anywhere and is key to improving ball control. It is important to practice outside of your comfort zone, pushing yourself to go faster or harder.
The "in and out" dribble is a good fake move to get around a defender. With this move, you make one bounce in front of you as if to crossover, but instead of switching hands, you roll your dribbling hand over the top of the ball and bring it back to the same side.
Use the "control dribble". Stay in a crouched position and keep your body between the ball and the defender. Keep the ball low to the floor and use your other arm as a guard. Do not stop dribbling until you can pass or shoot.
