The ability to handle a basketball is a major part of playing the game, and this remains true, regardless of the position you play. While you may not find yourself playing as much as a point guard, at some point or other you’re going to find the ball in your possession and because of this, you need to know how to handle it and control it, with confidence. That’s where basketball dribbling drills come in.
If you’re a wing player or primary ball-handler then you’ll need to spend more time practicing basketball dribbling drills than other players. This can involve overall handling or specific moves. You must make it a priority to work on your ball handling skills daily since the better you are at dribbling the more you’ll be able to focus on other aspects of a game. As an example, if most of your focus in on your ability to control the ball, then you aren’t going to pay too much attention to offense or which teammates are open for the ball. However, if you’re confident in your dribbling skills, then you’ll be able to easily anticipate what the defense is doing and you can read pretty much any situation.
Controlling the Ball: The Best Basketball Dribbling Workout
The best thing about learning how to dribble like a pro is the fact that you don’t have to dedicate several hours a day to mastering it. All you really need is a solid twenty or thirty minutes a day and you’ll notice some major changes in how you handle the ball and your dribbling and control development. You can practice ball control right before or after your regular practice, or you can even do it in your driveway when you have the time.
As a basketball player, you need to learn how to first dribble the ball using your dominant hand, then move to learning with both hands. If you develop a quick and agile dribbling technique, you’ll find that this is the best and easiest way to keep the offense on their toes. Power dribbling basically involves dribbling the ball at a faster rate than usual, using plenty of force. You’ll be using your muscles to force the ball down into the court and watch as it quickly snaps back up into your hand. This is the first and most basic drill to practice, and one you should be familiar with, so we’ll start off with crossovers instead and focus on how to do it and how it can improve how you handle the ball and move down the court.
Crossovers
Using the power dribbling technique, for basketball crossover moves, begin with your right hand and power dribble. As you’re power dribbling you’ll want to bounce the ball to your left hand quickly and begin power dribbling with that hand. Do this for a few seconds before you bounce the ball back to your right hand.
Try Dribbling with a Blindfold
Sound dangerous? It’s really not and it’s a great way to focus all of your attention on your dribbling technique. So, give it a try. Grab a cloth and tie it around your head, covering your eyes completely. Try power dribbling for one minute, focusing on your hand movements and your breathing. This type of drill will really improve your tactile sense of the basketball. Try doing this drill in the middle of an empty court, as you walk a straight line.
Ten and Five Repeats
This drill is pretty basic and only requires you to power dribble using one hand at a time. Decide on which hand to begin with and try power dribbling for ten seconds, then switch to regular dribbling for just five seconds. This technique should be repeated several times in a row. The whole point of this drill is to improve muscle memory, teaching the muscles how to alternate between both styles of dribbling.
How to Dribble Between Your Legs
Every player has tried dribbling between their legs and it’s not as hard to master as you might think. But what is hard is learning how to do so while you’re walking. You’ll need plenty of court space to master this move. Warm up by power dribbling up and down the court. Next, dribble between your legs one time and go back to regular power dribbling. The next time, dribble between the legs twice in a row before moving back to basic dribbling or power dribbling. Continue to increase the number of times you dribble between your legs before you return to power dribbling. With enough practice you should be able to easily master this move, however, the next goal will be working on the speed in which you execute this move. You’ll find that in the beginning, you’ll be a little slow and probably pretty clumsy.
Two-Ball Power Dribble
This is as difficult as it sounds. Take a couple of balls and dribble one in each hand. This exercise will help to increase arm strength and improve ball control. You’ll also learn how to power dribble without staring at your hands, which will be a huge plus when you’re in the middle of a game.
Dribble and Sprint
For this exercise, you’ll need to power dribble for a longer period of time as you run up and down the court. Begin at one end of the court, dribbling to the closest foul line, then return to the baseline. Next, you’ll be dribbling to mid-court before you return to the baseline that you started at. Last of all, power dribble up the entire court before you return once again to the baseline. This exercise should be repeated several times and will focus on improving your speed, your ability to quickly change directions, and your agility out on the court.
The Dirt Dribble
Just like it sounds, you’ll work on your dribbling technique out in the dirt. Try dribbling in a patch of dirt for two or three minutes. You’ll need to dribble much harder in the dirt than you do on a nice polished indoor court. This is a great drill that can give your arms a serious workout and help you focus on the amount of force you need to use to achieve the same type of bounce-back that you’d normally get from an indoor court.
Related Questions
What Type of Basketball Shoes Can Prevent Another Ankle Roll Injury?
If you’re looking for the best basketball shoes for ankle support then you’ll want to go with a pair of high tops. I recommend the Adidas Originals Men’s Pro Bounce Basketball Shoe. The design of the shoe covers the ankle and allows you to tighten up the laces for added ankle support and protection. Inside, the shoes come equipped with a comfortable, supportive interior, while the soles of the shoes provide the type of traction you’ll need for an indoor or outdoor court.
Why Do I Have to Practice Dribbling so Often?
As you grow and develop as a player, you’ll find that your dribbling skills matter just as much as your shooting technique. Focusing on improving your dribbling skills will give you more confidence on the court and more control over the ball and how you handle it. You don’t have to dedicate several hours a week to learning how to dribble, but learning different dribbling techniques will make you a more versatile, valuable player. To learn more, read my article on how to get better at dribbling for some great tips and tricks.
Is Basketball Good for Weight Loss?
Of course! Any type of sport will keep you active and help you burn calories and fat. Basketball is a game that’s very physically demanding. If you plan on being on a team this season, aside from perfecting your shooting and dribbling skills, you’ll really need to bump up the amount of cardio you do. When you’re on the court, it takes a lot more than just standing still and waiting for the ball to come to you. You’ll be running up and down the court for hours. Not only can basketball help you lose weight, but it can also improve your coordination, mental focus, and agility. It’s a great way to get in shape and stay in shape, especially if you practice daily.
Final Thoughts
Dribbling can be just as important as your shooting, especially if you find yourself with the ball often. But getting better at dribbling won’t happen overnight. Use just one or two of these basketball dribbling drills for your first couple of practice sessions, then increase your workout and add in more drills for a more challenging practice session. You can also feel free to change up the drills and make them easier or more challenging. If you feel like you’ve mastered the drills make sure you add more reps and focus on switching up the routine to keep these drills more challenging. Remember, if your body feels challenged you’re more likely to see serious results.
