Basketball Dribble Moves

If you wanna be a great basketball player, then you got to be able to dribble a basketball.

Dribbling doesn't mean awesome ankle-breaking moves, it simply means being able to move effortlessly with or without the ball. So, what are the secrets to handling a basketball?

There are 3 secrets, and once you understand these, you really can become better at ball-handling, practically overnight.

1) You must dribble to protect the ball - This means avoiding turning the ball over (getting stripped, stolen, etc.)

2) You must dribble to create space - This means creating room between you and your defender, so you can get off a shot or pass.

3) You must dribble to get past your defender - This means getting one-step ahead of your defender so you can be in front of him.

Most players think that the purpose of dribbling is to "show off" and "shake the defender". This is wrong! Once you know the REASON you are dribbling the ball, once you know WHY you're dribbling, only then can you become a good ball-handler. And that’s why the above secrets are important; because they help you mentally identify the goals of ball-handling.

Ball Control Skills

Think about the 3 points carefully, and you'll begin to realize that handling the ball isn't complicated it’s simply about meeting a goal. So, now that you know the goals, how do you achieve them?

You can dribble like the best id you just give it practice and time. How do you improve your ball control? Well, here are some tips to work on your handles: Dribble with your fingers first.

Keeping the ball on the fingers helps maintain better overall control. To develop better finger control, work on strengthening your grip, strengthening your forearms and stitching out your fingers one by one by pulling them back towards your body.

Crossing the Ball

During some strong basketball dribble moves, slightly palm the ball. For example, when you're crossing the ball over from one side another, you have to slightly palm the ball so you don't lose if off your fingers. Be careful, because over-palming can result in carrying the ball. Same with the behind-the-back dribble, you have to slightly palm the ball.

Keep the ball Very Low

Always keep the ball low. The ball is fastest when it’s low to the ground, and it’s easier to control as well. Bend at the knees to get low, as if you're crouching a little bit. Trick your defender. This means dribbling in a way that your defender doesn't know what you're gonna do next. Using head, shoulder, and leg fakes can help you trick your defender.

Also, constantly switching the ball between your left and right hands also keeps the defender guessing. Of course, learn to dribble with both hands. To follow the above tip, you need to be good with your left and right hands.

Once you start improving your handles, you're ready to put down some strong basketball dribble moves. All one-on-one moves, such as "the drive", require decent ball-handling skills. This is why it’s important that before you try fancy one-on-one offensive moves, you work on improving basic ball-handing fundamentals

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