To be a top-flight ballhandler (which is key to being a great point guard) a player must be able to survey the floor while handling the ball. Everyone on the team relies on the ball-handler to get the ball down the floor and be the catalyst toward making something happen for the team. Here's a few drills to help you work on this aspect of your game - juniors and seniors!

 

 

 

 

 

Circle the ball around your head, than your waist, and finally put your legs together and take the ball around both legs at the knees. Then, bend at the waist, spread your legs, and circle the ball around one leg, then the other. This exercise will give you a great feel for the ball in addition to hand coordination and speed.

 

To start this exercise, place your left foot ahead of your right and bounce the ball between your legs from your right to your left hand. As the ball gets to your left hand shift your feet so that your right leg goes ahead of your left and bounce the ball back between your legs. Shift your feet with every bounce.

 

Hold the ball between your legs, with both hands on the ball, right hand in front and left hand in back. Quickly switch your hands,(now left hand in front and right hand in the back), without letting the ball touch the ground. Do as quickly as possible...this drill is one of the hardest to master... but it just takes lots of practice.

 

This drill can go from baseline to half court. Step forward with your left leg and pass the ball from your right hand to your left under your left leg. As you take your next step with your right leg, pass the ball from your left hand to your right under your right leg. Continue this pattern all the way down the floor.

 

Spread your legs, bend at the waist, put the ball through your legs, around one leg, back through your legs, and around your other leg, making a figure eight. This will help you get a feel for the basketball as you move it around. Keep your head up not looking at the ball and increase your speed.

 

Dribble the ball as quickly as possible in a figure 8 through and around the legs. Use the fingers when you dribble, and dribble very low and quickly. Switch from the right to the left and back to the right.

 

A good drill to use to better your dribbling under pressure is to try to advance the ball against two defenders. This will force you to use a variety of moves while being alert to the defense. Always protect the ball using your non-dribbling arm and keep your head up.

 

With 2 hands, make a bounce pass between your legs from front to back and catch the ball with 2 hands behind you. Then bounce the ball through your legs from the back to the front, and catch the ball in front of your body. This is a good drill for body awareness.

 

This a drill that helps increase the strength in your fingers. Hold the ball in front of you at eye level with two hands. By squeezing your fingers and thumb together with one hand at a time, you move the ball from one hand to the other as quickly as you can. More finger and arm strength will imrove your ball control.

 

This is another ball-handling drill that seems very difficult at first, but with daily practice, will improve your handles. This drill is called touch-touch-touch because that is what you do... while keeping the ball between your legs, you touch the ball once with your right hand(fingers) in front, then with your left hand(fingers) in front, then with your right behind you, and then with your left behind you. Continue in this manner as fast as possible. Before long, you will master this skill.

 

Check out Manu Ginobli's Ball Handling Tips - how to finish strong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One player starts on the free throw line. Another player starts under the basket with the ball. The player with the ball passes to the player on the free throw line, who takes a jump shot. Remember BEEF - Balance, Elbow, Eyes, FRollow-Through.

 

The player under the basket rebounds the ball. The shooter cuts to the opposite spot on the free throw line and receives the ball from the rebounder.  The shooting player must make five shots on the free throw line from left side and five from the right.

 

Points of emphasis - shooter has hand up to receive the pass - where you want it. Square up to basket, balanced feet. Thumbs make a T. Use your legs and follow through on the shot.

 

Variations - feed from high entry pass from point guard.

 

1. Left side of basket (with your back to basket) use reverse pivot (left foot is pivot foot) to square up to basket and shoot.

2. Right side of basket (with your back to basket) use reverse pivot (right foot is pivot foot) to square up and shoot.

3. Left side of basket (with your back to basket) use forward pivot (left foot is pivot foot) to square up to basket and shoot.

4. Right side of basket (with your back to basket) use reverse pivot (right foot is pivot foot) to square up and shoot.

 

5. Left side of basket (with your back to basket) use reverse pivot (left foot is pivot foot) to square up to basket, fake the shot, drive left and shoot from middle of key.

6. Right side of basket (with your back to basket) use reverse pivot (right foot is pivot foot) to square up, fake the shot, drive right and shoot from the middle of the key.

7. Left side of basket (with your back to basket) use forward pivot (left foot is pivot foot) to square up to basket, jab step fake (right foot) drive and take pull up jump shot.

8. Right side of basket (with your back to basket) use forward pivot (right foot is pivot foot) to square up to basket,  jab step fake (left foot) drive and take pull up jump shot.

 

Working on ability to pivot forward and reverse with both left and right foot as pivot foot.

 

Jab Step Fake - detailed here

 

 

 

Can use same set of moves in the low post to receive with back to basket and set up a jump shot.

 

Fadeaway Jump Shot