The ability to dribble a basketball is a valuable skill to have as a basketball player, especially if you plan on being a point guard. However, the dribble is only of value in certain situations. Do not dribble the ball, if you can do anything else to advance the offense.
The dribble is a valuable individual maneuver when used properly. When used incorrectly it works against the purpose of the offensive.
When to dribble the ball:
1) It should be used to get the ball in the clear in the back court;
2) To bring the ball from back court to front court if the defense is already in position;
3) On short drives to the basket; and,
4) To get away from a pressing defense, or to pull defensive men away from the basket.
In general, observe these principles when dribbling the ball:
1) Use the dribble to get the ball out of congested areas.
2) Use the dribble to score from close range.
3) Use the dribble to carry the attack from the back court to the defense in the front court.
4) Use the dribble when it is the only sensible maneuver possible. Don’t forsake the pass.
How to Dribble a basketball.
It takes a certain amount of skill to dribble a basketball correctly. Skill, of course, it based on proper technique:
1) When bouncing a basketball, you should keep your fingers loosely spread.
2) The ball should be under control of your fingertips. A downward motion of the wrist and arm and pressure from your fingers drives the ball toward the floor.
3) As the ball comes back to your hand, your fingers and wrist should “give” slightly before being pressed down again.
When dribbling the ball, you should run with your feet wider apart than normal. Your knees should be bent, the trunk of your body inclined forward at the waist; your head should be up and eyes looking forward. The forearm of your dribbling hand should be parallel with the floor.
When advancing the ball, you should bounce it away from you at an angle. In effect, you want to catch up to the ball as it comes off the floor.
The bounces should be short and low.
When you change direction while dribbling the basketball, alternate your hands (right hand for a sharp left drive; left hand for a sharp right drive).
When you are being guarded closely, you should use the hand that is farthest from your opponent to dribble the ball.
Remember that once you have stopped your dribble, you are stuck. You cannot move again until you have taken a shot at the basket or passed to a teammate. Save the dribble until you need it.
The Fake and the Drive
Consider this scenario: Imagine for a moment that you have just caught a pass in the front court, and only one man stands between you and the basket. What should you?
Should you stand still and wait for help from your four other teammates? Of course not. If you wait for your teammates, they will be bringing their defensive men with them. Instead of two men in the front court, you will have 10.
Instead, you want to keep the offense going. To do so, you will have to choose one of several alternatives. If the defensive man is playing you loose (several steps away), you might draw him out by dribbling directly toward him and, at the proper moment, take a jump shot. At medium range, you might take a deliberate set shot and then run hard towards the offensive basket and “fight” for a possible rebound.
On the other hand, if the defensive man is guarding you very closely, you have got to fake and drive around him.
A good defensive player will be standing directly between you and the basket. To move him, you must make him think that you are going in one direction, while you will actually be going in the opposite direction.
Here is the basic move:
Hold the ball as you would to make a chest pass. Take a sharp, diagonal step left with your left foot. Thrust the ball, your head and your shoulders over that foot, just as though you were going to start a dribble in that direction. You have now established your right foot as your pivot foot.
After your left foot hits the floor, twist your body to the right.
To start the drive and dribble to the right, momentarily pull your weight back on your pivot foot. Now, take a long step diagonally right and forward with your left foot, pushing hard off the right. As you take this stride to the right, bring the ball to the right side of your body and take the first (and successive) dribble with the right hand. In this way, you will put your body between the defensive man and the ball.
The right hand continues the dribble after the initial bounce of the basketball and the drive should be directly toward the basket. Here is the breakdown again, starting with the foot movements:
Step diagonally and sharply left with the left foot.
As your left foot strikes the floor, pivot to the right.
Momentarily pull your weight back to the right foot.
If possible, swing your left foot to the left and rear of the defensive man’s left foot.
As for the ball, the first bounce is made with the right hand. In effect, you shift the ball from one side of your body to the other, then continue forward.
Reverse all these moves when faking right and going left.
Naturally, if the defensive man does not fall for the fake, keep going in that direction. Try to make this fake and drive as soon as you catch the pass and before the defensive man has time to think about what you are going to do.
If you are not sure of whether you can shoot over the man or go around, fake a set shot as a way of getting your opponent to commit himself. If the defensive man leaves his feet to block your “shot”, you can go around him easily while he is still in the air and before he hits the floor. If he charges you, use the fake and drive.
In the event that you cannot move the player guarding you and do not feel confident about shooting over him, keep possession of the ball until you can make a pass.
Whenever you are driving to the basket or dribbling the ball down court, get to the “inside” of your man; do not help him by staying to the “outside” of him where you can be guarded easily. Visit http://www.basketball-drills-and-tips.com to find more information on this topic, and to download a FREE copy of our Basketball E-Book ($29 Value) titled, “The Fundamentals of Basketball: A beginner’s guide for coaches and players.”
By: Patrick Ocheni
About the Author:
The dribble is a valuable individual maneuver when used properly. When used incorrectly it works against the purpose of the offensive.
When to dribble the ball:
1) It should be used to get the ball in the clear in the back court;
2) To bring the ball from back court to front court if the defense is already in position;
3) On short drives to the basket; and,
4) To get away from a pressing defense, or to pull defensive men away from the basket.
In general, observe these principles when dribbling the ball:
1) Use the dribble to get the ball out of congested areas.
2) Use the dribble to score from close range.
3) Use the dribble to carry the attack from the back court to the defense in the front court.
4) Use the dribble when it is the only sensible maneuver possible. Don’t forsake the pass.
How to Dribble a basketball.
It takes a certain amount of skill to dribble a basketball correctly. Skill, of course, it based on proper technique:
1) When bouncing a basketball, you should keep your fingers loosely spread.
2) The ball should be under control of your fingertips. A downward motion of the wrist and arm and pressure from your fingers drives the ball toward the floor.
3) As the ball comes back to your hand, your fingers and wrist should “give” slightly before being pressed down again.
When dribbling the ball, you should run with your feet wider apart than normal. Your knees should be bent, the trunk of your body inclined forward at the waist; your head should be up and eyes looking forward. The forearm of your dribbling hand should be parallel with the floor.
When advancing the ball, you should bounce it away from you at an angle. In effect, you want to catch up to the ball as it comes off the floor.
The bounces should be short and low.
When you change direction while dribbling the basketball, alternate your hands (right hand for a sharp left drive; left hand for a sharp right drive).
When you are being guarded closely, you should use the hand that is farthest from your opponent to dribble the ball.
Remember that once you have stopped your dribble, you are stuck. You cannot move again until you have taken a shot at the basket or passed to a teammate. Save the dribble until you need it.
The Fake and the Drive
Consider this scenario: Imagine for a moment that you have just caught a pass in the front court, and only one man stands between you and the basket. What should you?
Should you stand still and wait for help from your four other teammates? Of course not. If you wait for your teammates, they will be bringing their defensive men with them. Instead of two men in the front court, you will have 10.
Instead, you want to keep the offense going. To do so, you will have to choose one of several alternatives. If the defensive man is playing you loose (several steps away), you might draw him out by dribbling directly toward him and, at the proper moment, take a jump shot. At medium range, you might take a deliberate set shot and then run hard towards the offensive basket and “fight” for a possible rebound.
On the other hand, if the defensive man is guarding you very closely, you have got to fake and drive around him.
A good defensive player will be standing directly between you and the basket. To move him, you must make him think that you are going in one direction, while you will actually be going in the opposite direction.
Here is the basic move:
Hold the ball as you would to make a chest pass. Take a sharp, diagonal step left with your left foot. Thrust the ball, your head and your shoulders over that foot, just as though you were going to start a dribble in that direction. You have now established your right foot as your pivot foot.
After your left foot hits the floor, twist your body to the right.
To start the drive and dribble to the right, momentarily pull your weight back on your pivot foot. Now, take a long step diagonally right and forward with your left foot, pushing hard off the right. As you take this stride to the right, bring the ball to the right side of your body and take the first (and successive) dribble with the right hand. In this way, you will put your body between the defensive man and the ball.
The right hand continues the dribble after the initial bounce of the basketball and the drive should be directly toward the basket. Here is the breakdown again, starting with the foot movements:
Step diagonally and sharply left with the left foot.
As your left foot strikes the floor, pivot to the right.
Momentarily pull your weight back to the right foot.
If possible, swing your left foot to the left and rear of the defensive man’s left foot.
As for the ball, the first bounce is made with the right hand. In effect, you shift the ball from one side of your body to the other, then continue forward.
Reverse all these moves when faking right and going left.
Naturally, if the defensive man does not fall for the fake, keep going in that direction. Try to make this fake and drive as soon as you catch the pass and before the defensive man has time to think about what you are going to do.
If you are not sure of whether you can shoot over the man or go around, fake a set shot as a way of getting your opponent to commit himself. If the defensive man leaves his feet to block your “shot”, you can go around him easily while he is still in the air and before he hits the floor. If he charges you, use the fake and drive.
In the event that you cannot move the player guarding you and do not feel confident about shooting over him, keep possession of the ball until you can make a pass.
Whenever you are driving to the basket or dribbling the ball down court, get to the “inside” of your man; do not help him by staying to the “outside” of him where you can be guarded easily. Visit http://www.basketball-drills-and-tips.com to find more information on this topic, and to download a FREE copy of our Basketball E-Book ($29 Value) titled, “The Fundamentals of Basketball: A beginner’s guide for coaches and players.”
By: Patrick Ocheni
About the Author:
Patrick Ocheni is a sport enthusiast.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree
in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2002. As an infopreneur, he shares his passion for sports(such as basketball, soccer, wrestling, and resistance training)by creating educational, sports-related websites.
Click here
to visit his recently created basketball website that provides
FREE information on the fundamentals of basketball and to
download his FREE Basketball E-Book ($29 Value) titled,
“The Fundamentals of Basketball: A beginner’s guide for coaches and players.”
