Ayrton Oneill
Developing your non-dominant hand in basketball can give you a huge advantage over your opponent. By improving your left hand, you can dribble down both the right and left sides of the court, making it harder for defenders to guess your next move. To improve your left hand, you can start by increasing your left-hand reps during ball-handling drills. You can also try alternating between symmetric drills and side drills, focusing on your left side. Practicing passing with your left hand is another way to develop your skills. Additionally, you can try dribbling with two basketballs at the same time, forcing the balls into the ground while keeping your head up to improve your coordination and ball-handling skills.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Confidence | Develop your weak hand to gain confidence in using it |
| Drills | Increase left-hand reps when doing ball-handling drills |
| Dribbling | Work on hard, quick dribbles with your left hand |
| Passing | Stand 10 feet apart from a partner and pass and receive with only your weak hand |
| Coordination | Keep your elbows behind the ball and force it into the ground while keeping your head up |
| Practice | Practice on the basketball court with your left hand |
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What You'll Learn
Dribbling with your non-dominant hand
Developing your non-dominant hand in basketball is an important aspect of improving your overall game. It can make you less predictable to opponents and improve your coordination, reaction time, and overall athleticism. Here are some tips to help you work on dribbling with your non-dominant hand:
Start with the Basics:
Begin by practising basic dribbling exercises with your non-dominant hand. Focus on getting comfortable with the movement and technique. It's okay if your technique isn't perfect at first—you can work on improving it gradually.
Increase Difficulty:
As you get better, increase the difficulty of your dribbling drills. Try the Left Hand Speed Dribble: dribble as fast as you can to the opposite baseline, doing this full court and back three times with short rests between reps. You can also try the Left Hand Kills drill: pound the ball high and hard, then try to bring it down low, almost killing your dribble, before gradually bringing it back up. Repeat for 5 reps.
Improve Coordination:
Try dribbling with two basketballs at the same time, one in each hand. Keep your elbows behind the balls and force the balls into the ground while keeping your head up. This will improve your coordination and ball handling skills with both hands.
Passing Drills:
Grab a partner and stand ten feet apart. Put your dominant hand behind your back and pass and receive the ball with only your non-dominant hand. Start slowly and then increase the speed as you get more comfortable.
Practice, Practice, Practice:
The more you practise using your non-dominant hand in various drills and exercises, the more comfortable and confident you will become. Try to use your non-dominant hand in everyday life as well—for example, when brushing your teeth or opening doors.
Remember, developing your non-dominant hand will not only improve your dribbling skills but also your overall performance on the court, making you a more versatile and unpredictable player.
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Passing drills
The Tennis Ball Toss Drill
This drill focuses on developing hand-eye coordination and ball control. Start by dribbling a basketball with your right hand while holding a tennis ball in your left hand. Toss the tennis ball slightly above eye level and catch it while maintaining a steady dribble. You can alternate hands to further challenge your coordination. This drill can also be performed in pairs, with players throwing the tennis ball to each other underhand while bouncing the basketball.
The Push and Pull Drill
This drill helps players create space and time when facing defensive pressure. Start with a dribble and then turn your body sideways, using your left hand to shield the ball as you perform a pull-back dribble. This can be done to the half-court line and back, or the full length of the court. The drill teaches players to protect the ball while retreating and improves their ability to change direction and speed effectively.
The Cross, Between, and Behind Drill
This drill improves ball handling by combining multiple dribble techniques. Start by dribbling with your right hand and then perform a quick crossover to your left hand. Immediately follow this with a between-the-legs dribble, and then finish with a behind-the-back dribble. This drill can be done stationary and requires very little space.
The Partner Passing Drill
Grab a partner and stand about ten feet apart. Put your dominant hand behind your back and use only your left hand to pass and receive the ball. Start at a comfortable pace and gradually increase the speed as you progress. Each player should pass with their non-dominant hand twenty times, equaling one set.
The V-Cut Drill
Two players line up on opposite sides of the court at the free-throw line. One player has a ball. The player without the ball runs down and executes a V-cut. The player with the ball passes to the cutter, who catches and squares up to the basket. The passer then executes a V-cut and receives a pass back. Players should catch and square to the basket in a triple-threat position.
Remember, the key to improving your left hand is to consistently practice and put in the work. Over time, you'll develop greater confidence and skill in using your non-dominant hand.
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Practising layups
Drills
One way to practice left-hand layups is to start on the left block. Take one step with your right foot and jump off it, laying the ball in with your left hand. Once you can reliably make that shot, take one step back from the left block. Take a step with your left foot, then your right, jumping off your right foot, and lay the ball in with your left hand.
You can also try this drill starting around the left elbow. With one dribble, take a step with your right foot, then your left, then jump off your right foot, laying the ball in with your left hand. These drills will feel awkward at first, but with enough repetition, you'll start to feel more comfortable and may even begin to do them without thinking.
Footwork
When learning a new skill like left-hand layups, it's helpful to break it down into parts. Focus on the footwork and the finish. When coming into the left-hand power layup, your feet should be parallel to the baseline, and you should land with your body parallel to the baseline as well. Keep your shoulders between your defender and the ball.
Practice
Practice your left-hand layups from various angles on the floor. Start by practising out of a game, slowly transitioning into faster paces, and eventually into the game. You can also try symmetric alternating drills, doing the same moves with your right hand, then your left, and then concentrate on your left side.
Video Tutorials
There are also many video tutorials available online that can teach you the different ways to score with your left hand near the basket. These videos can break down the footwork and finish of the left-hand layup and show you how to come off your dribble and aggressively grab the ball with your left hand before performing the layup.
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Increasing reps for your left hand
To improve your left hand in basketball, you must put in the work to develop your weak hand. The more you practice, the more confident you will become in your left-hand skills.
A good way to start is to increase the number of reps for your left hand when doing ball-handling drills. If a drill calls for 10 reps with each hand, try doing 15 with your left. Make this a part of your regular workout routine. You can also try doing drills twice a day. This extra practice will help you see improvements in your left-hand skills.
You can also try alternating between your right and left hands during drills. Start with your right hand, then switch to your left, and repeat. This will help you focus on improving your left hand while still using your dominant hand.
Another way to improve your left hand is to work on your dribbling skills. Try doing some dribbling drills specifically for your left hand, such as the pound dribble. You can also try dribbling with two balls at once, one in each hand. This will improve your coordination and ball-handling skills.
In addition to drills, you can also work on using your left hand in scrimmages, pick-up games, and summer league games. The more you use your left hand in game-like situations, the more comfortable and confident you will become.
Finally, try to use your left hand more in your daily life. For example, when brushing your teeth or opening doors, use your left hand instead of your right. This will help you become more comfortable and proficient with your left hand, which will translate to your basketball skills.
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Practising off the court
Improving your left hand in basketball requires dedication and consistent practice. Here are some ways to practise off the court:
Increase left-hand repetitions: If you are doing a ball-handling drill, increase the number of repetitions with your left hand. For example, if a drill calls for 10 reps with each hand, try doing 15 reps with your left hand. Make this a regular part of your workout routine, and you will begin to see improvements.
Dribble with two balls: Once you have developed some comfort with your left hand, try dribbling with two balls simultaneously. Keep your elbows behind the balls and force them into the ground while keeping your head up. This will improve your coordination and ball-handling skills with both hands. Being able to dribble with both hands will give you an advantage over your opponent, as you can dribble down the court on either side, making it harder for defenders to guess your next move.
Passing drills: Grab a partner and stand ten feet apart. Put your dominant hand behind your back and pass and receive the ball with only your left hand. As you improve, you can increase the speed and challenge your partner. Each player should pass with their non-dominant hand twenty times, equalling one set.
Daily drills: Set aside time each day to work on your left-hand skills. This could include doing dribbling drills or simply walking around your neighbourhood dribbling a tennis ball, as recommended by basketball player Steve Nash.
Use your left hand in daily life: Try to use your left hand as much as possible in everyday tasks such as brushing your teeth or opening doors. This will help you develop familiarity and comfort with your left hand, translating into improved basketball skills.
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Frequently asked questions
The best way to improve your left-hand dribbling is to practice. Start by increasing your left-hand reps when doing ball-handling drills. You can also try dribbling with two basketballs at the same time, which will improve your coordination and ball-handling skills.
One drill you can try is to start by standing on your right leg and putting the ball against the backboard until you feel comfortable. Then, add in a jump and try to score. You can also try walking around dribbling a tennis ball, like Steve Nash.
The only way to become confident with your left hand is to put in the work. Try to use your left hand as much as possible in your daily life, and make one day a week at the gym a "left hand day" where you do everything with your left hand.
You can do ball-handling drills at home to improve your left hand. You can also try videotaping your 5v5 games and then using those tapes in your 1v0 training to see when defenders put you in uncomfortable situations.
