If you watch a lot of basketball, it becomes quite apparent that there are very few good ball handlers who can consistently break through the defense with the dribble. When you see a player who actually has this ability, it’s so devastating to the opposing team that it can literally be a game changer. Imagine being able to create from the dribble whenever you want. Well, there is good news for you. This is not something players are born with, but something players can improve through hard work and dedication. The five tips below will help any player improve these special abilities.
#one. Do exercises around the body to improve ball control and speed on the ball. Move the ball in a circle around your head, around your waist, around both legs, around your right leg, around your left leg, and in a figure 8 motion around and through both legs. Be sure to do these exercises in both directions. Start out slow, and once you can do at least ten in a row, work on doing the exercise as quickly as possible. One way to see if you are getting faster is to time these exercises. See how many times you can move the ball around your waist in 30 seconds. When I started doing this exercise in second grade, I couldn’t do very many. But through dedication and use of the timer on my mom’s microwave, I eventually got to the point where I could do at least 70 around my waist in 30 seconds. With some serious dedication, you can do the same!
#2. When working on dribbling, make sure you hit the basketball as hard as possible. You have to challenge your hands and fingers to be stronger and faster with the ball. Now, this doesn’t mean you hit the basketball like a fly swatter. Be sure to absorb the basketball with the pads of your hands and fingers, but don’t hit it with the palm of your hand. If you’re wrong, don’t worry. In fact, if you never mess up, you definitely aren’t trying hard enough. Weak ball handlers are wimpy and weak on the dribble, while good ball handlers are strong on the dribble. Hit the ball!
#3. When working on change-of-direction drills, such as stationary crosses and between-the-leg dribbles, make sure you have rhythm with your movements. A rigid player with robotic movements will never be consistently effective at dribbling. The best dribblers have rhythm and can lean their bodies in one direction or another smoothly. It is important that while working on both stationary and moving drills that you sway your body to the rhythm of the dribble. Be smooth and athletic while still hitting the ball.
#4. Incorporate two-ball dribbling drills into your basketball training regimen. Work on dribbling the balls at the same time and alternately. Make sure you hit the balls as hard as possible! Challenge yourself by crossing the balls in front of you, between your legs, and behind your back. Make sure you can do at least ten repetitions in a row of a specific exercise before working on speed. Also work on these exercises while moving. If you can dribble two balls well, at full speed, in game-like situations, then dribbling just one ball will be easy. It will feel like it is part of your body!
#5. It is important that your ball handling skills carry over to game situations. One drill that can help with this transition and improve your ability to dribble under pressure is called the Side-Rider Drill. In this drill, start on the baseline with a defensive player by your side. The goal of the defender is to literally push you to the sideline. This means that the defender will foul you while dribbling. On offense, your goal is to dribble in a straight line at full speed to the opposite end of the court and score. The defender will be at your side, pushing you and fouling you, so it’s important to stay low and strong with your dribble while protecting the ball. Be sure to perform this exercise with both hands. Once you can handle this pressure, have the defender try to steal the ball as well. If the defender steals the ball, return it to where it was hit or stolen and continue the drill.
Implementing these five tips will put you on the path to maximizing your potential as a ball handler.