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Post moves are an essential part of basketball, and players who can score from them are rare. While the game has evolved to be dominated by guards, post moves are still a crucial skill for any player, regardless of their position. The best post players understand angles, timing, and positioning, and they can read the defense to exploit their defender. This article will provide an introduction to teaching post moves, covering the fundamentals, footwork, finishing skills, and some basic and advanced moves to add to your repertoire.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Footwork | Develop better footwork and finishing skills around the basket |
| Post pass | Call for the ball and use your hand to direct your teammate where to throw the ball |
| Positioning | Establish position before receiving the ball |
| Power moves | If you're bigger than your defender, use basic power moves to score |
| Fakes and misdirection | If your defender has an athletic advantage, use a series of fakes and misdirection |
| Drop step | Take advantage of a defender's poor positioning by taking your foot and drop-stepping towards the basket |
| Jump hook | Turn your shoulder into the defender and use your opposite arm to shoot a mini hook shot over them |
| Power spin | If you weigh more than your defender, take a dribble or two in the opposite direction of where you want to shoot, then quickly spin in the opposite direction |
| Posting up | Post on the first hash mark above the block so you have room to move in either direction |
| Stance | Get low and show both hands to the passer, with your arms in an L-shape |
| Blocking | Use your body to shield the basketball |
| Defence | Learn to guard without fouling |
| Reading the defender | Understand angles, timing, and positioning to read the defence and then exploit the defender |
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Footwork and finishing skills
Footwork
- Posting Up: When posting up, it's important to establish a good position. Avoid posting on the block as it limits your mobility. Instead, post on the first hash mark above the block, which gives you room to move in either direction. Get low, show both hands to the passer, and stand with a wide base and your arms in an L-shape to prevent the defender from reaching around you.
- Drop Step: This move takes advantage of a defender's poor positioning. When a defender overplays to one side, use the foot closest to the basket to drop-step towards it, creating space for a shot while shielding the defender.
- Jump Hook: Turn your shoulder into the defender and use your opposite arm to shoot a mini hook shot. Start with two hands on the ball and release one hand at the last minute for a one-handed shot.
- Power Spin: Useful when you have a weight advantage over your defender or want to draw a foul. Take a dribble or two in the opposite direction of your intended shot, then quickly spin back towards the hoop, making contact with your defender.
- Duck-In Move: Act as if you're not paying attention, then quickly duck in hard to get past the defender.
Finishing Skills
- Simple Jump Hook: When the basketball is deep in the paint, use this effective move. After catching the ball or backing your opponent down, turn sideways to the basket, bring the ball up, and flick your wrist to shoot.
- Up and Under Post Move: After making a few hook shots, fake a jump hook shot, then step through and finish with a wide-open layup as the defender jumps.
- Reading the Defender: Develop the ability to read how your defender is guarding you. This will help you use passing angles to set yourself up for a high-percentage catch and finish.
- Triple Threat Drill: In a one-on-one situation, work on scoring and guarding without fouling. Learn to read the defender and use the right moves to get a good shot off.
- Power Moves: If you have a physical advantage over your defender, use your strength to back them down towards the basket with a few power dribbles and go straight through for a rim attack. Be aware of defenders trying to take a charge.
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Post passing
Passing is a fundamental skill in basketball, and one that requires good timing and communication between the passer and receiver. The post pass is the first element of a post move, and there are three basic types: the direct post feed, the baseline bounce pass, and the lob feed.
The direct post feed is the simplest pass. If the post defender is set up low, the post player should use their left arm to help seal the defender, while presenting a big target with their right arm. This will allow them to take advantage of the middle area, which is usually hard to defend.
The baseline bounce pass is a good option when there is no angle for a direct pass. In this case, the wing player should take a couple of dribbles towards the baseline to open up a shorter, easier passing angle.
The lob pass is a high-risk, high-reward play. If the low post is fronted, a lob pass over the top can be attempted, but only if the post player has a clear advantage, as this pass is often unsuccessful. To make it easier, the post player should use their hips to seal the defender and have their opposite hand high in the air to indicate a target for the passer.
To improve passing skills, it is important to practice drills that involve passing and catching on the move, as this is more realistic than stationary drills. One simple drill is to practice passing from the point to the wing and back, using one or two defenders. Another drill is to practice the wing-to-low-post pass using two defenders.
In addition to these basic passing techniques, there are also some more advanced moves that can be used in specific situations. For example, if a player has a significant physical advantage over their defender, they can use power dribbles to back their defender down towards the basket and go straight through to the rim. However, they should be aware of defenders trying to take a charge.
Another move is the drop step, which takes advantage of a defender's poor positioning. By overplaying to one side, the offensive player can create space for a shot by taking a drop step towards the basket. This also shields the defender from blocking the shot.
The jump hook is another useful move. To execute this, the offensive player turns their shoulder into the defender and uses their opposite arm to shoot a mini hook shot over them.
Finally, the power spin is effective if the offensive player is heavier than the defender or wants to draw a foul. They should take a dribble or two in the opposite direction to where they want to shoot, then quickly spin towards the hoop, making contact with the defender as they go through.
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Drop steps
The drop step is a fundamental move in basketball that all players should master. It is a simple yet highly effective way to score around the basket. The goal of the drop step is to get the defender stuck on your back so they cannot disrupt your shot as you move towards the basket.
To execute the drop step, start by establishing your position on the block. Fight for position and work to receive the pass in the spot where you want it, rather than letting your defender dictate where you catch the ball. Once you receive the pass, drop step towards the goal with your outside leg if you're moving towards the baseline, or with your inside leg if you're moving towards the middle. The drop step usually takes you towards the baseline, so it will be more effective if that space is open. However, you can also use a fake move towards the middle to convince your defender that you are going in that direction, creating more space for your drop step.
The drop step requires strength and starts and ends on two feet. When squared up to the hoop, jump off both feet with the aim of exploding up at the rim. The higher you jump, the more effective the move will be. Even if you are unable to get your shoulders completely square to the backboard, you should still be able to use the backboard to finish the shot.
The drop step is an excellent move for players who want to score on the block. It is a basic move that can be taught to young players and refined by more advanced players. It is a powerful tool that can create open scoring opportunities when performed correctly.
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Jump hooks
The jump hook is a finishing move that can be used by players of all sizes. It is a variation of the classic hook shot, merging the techniques of the old hook shot with the jump shot.
To shoot a jump hook, start by turning your shoulders so that you are perpendicular to the basket, with your inside shoulder closer to the rim. You should be in a balanced, athletic position. Move the ball to your outside shoulder, shielding it from the defender. Grip the ball across the seams, just like you would for a jump shot. Jump in the air, rising to a high release point away from the defender, and use your off-hand to further shield the ball. Shoot the ball with a motion similar to a jump shot, up off the fingertips, ending with the index finger.
The jump hook is a great move to use if you are bigger than your defender. If your defender has an athletic advantage, you may want to employ a series of fakes and misdirection instead.
The sky hook is a famous variation of the hook shot, involving jumping off one foot while perpendicular to the basketball hoop. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, at seven-foot-two, was usually the tallest man on his team and made the sky hook his signature move.
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Power spins
The power spin is a great move for players who weigh more than their defender and/or want to draw a foul. It is a straight power move that requires good peripheral vision and the ability to read your defender's stance.
To execute the power spin, take a dribble or two in the opposite direction of where you want to shoot, and quickly spin in the other direction. You should seek to make contact and go up through your defender as you spin towards the hoop. It is important to maintain control while spinning, as excessive force or poor balance can lead to turnovers.
Players should start practising at a slow pace, gradually increasing speed as they become more comfortable with the motion. The non-pivot foot should establish firm contact with the ground before initiating any turn, offering stability and power during the rotation phase. The off-arm becomes a shield that protects the basketball.
When performed correctly, the power spin enables a player to change direction quickly while protecting the ball from defenders. It is a powerful offensive tool that can lead to easy scoring opportunities.
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Frequently asked questions
Some basic post moves that can be taught to beginners include the drop step, jump hook, and power spin. The drop step is effective when the defender overplays to one side, allowing the offensive player to step towards the basket and create space for a shot. The jump hook involves turning the shoulder into the defender and shooting with the opposite arm. If the offensive player has a weight advantage, the power spin can be used to draw a foul.
To improve footwork, players should focus on developing their lower body strength and agility. They should practice drills that involve pivoting, jumping, and changing directions quickly. For finishing skills, players should work on developing a soft touch around the basket and learning how to use different angles to score.
Teach players to understand angles, timing, and positioning. They should learn to recognise how their defender is guarding them and use passing angles to create high-percentage scoring opportunities. Additionally, players should work on their ball fakes and misdirection to keep defenders off-balance.
Yes, one drill is the "Duck In" move, where players learn to set up their defender by acting uninterested and then quickly ducking in to get the ball. Another drill is the "1-on-1 Spot Triple Threat" drill, where players work on scoring and guarding without any help defence. This helps players improve their ability to read and react to their defender.
One common mistake is posting up too deep in the lane, which limits mobility. Players should post on the first hash mark above the block to have room to move. Additionally, players should avoid allowing the defender to dictate where they catch the ball. They should establish their position and use their hands to direct their teammate on where to pass.
