The ball-handling is most vital fundamental in basketball. It allows a player to move right around the court and also protects the orange. Further, it allows a player to eliminate a defender, most probably in 1v1 situations.
Therefore, the basics in working on the ball-handling is ensuring you are in an athletic position and be balanced. In today’s article, I am glad to give my basketball lovers the best basketball ball handling drills and a ton of tips you can perform to be able to skyrocket your specific handles.
And before I take you through a guide of best drills to operate in and improve the ball handling, allow me to give you important reminders and tips every baller may need to perfect the handles naturally.
1. Keep the head up
It would help if you look forward to observing what is precisely going on right on court. Also, avoid looking direct at the ball; using the glasses which force you to keep your head there up would help.
2. Bend your knees
Another tip is to lower a player’s center of gravity as well as let someone to better protect their ball being more dynamic.
3. Bounce your ball in smooth and gentle manner
Aggressively bounce your ball because this might lead to more turnovers
Top Handling Drills for Basketball ball
1. Finger Taps
The objective of this drill is to warm your wrist and build your finger quickness and agility. It is an awesome handling drill to improve your handles. Here, you should ensure your elbows and arms are fully locked while you tap the ball forth and back between your right and left hand.
And once you begin getting perfect hold of this handling drill, consider moving your arms up and continuously performing this exercise. Remember, the goal is to get your arms fully extended right above the head while you increase the speed. Overall, this drill should be performed until someone feels a slight burn in the biceps, shoulders, and triceps.
Step 1: consider placing your ball right on either hand
Step 2: Begin by bouncing your ball from left then right by utilizing your fingertips and wrists
Step 3: Still, while in this act, raise the hand above the head and ensure you are going high, well above the head.
Step 4: Now increase speed also lower a distance between the hands.
2. Single leg Ball Wraps
Basically, this handling drill is to improve your wrist strength and hand-eye coordination. And it is performed when a player’s head and eyes are up and as quick as you can. So, put your one leg forward followed, then start moving your ball around it. Next, ensure the ball will not hit the floor, so keep revolving it around the leg as rapidly and smoothly as you can.
Step a: Place your one leg forward, then crouch a little bit
Step b: Move your ball right around the leg clock-wise
Step c: Pick up your speed also; try reaching 60 warps just in 30 seconds with the ball up
Step d: Now switch the legs and next repeat 1 to 3 steps
3. Ball Slaps
The aim of this drill is warming up and building the hand strength. Have a comfortable warm-up workout to help you easily build strength while still developing the grabbing mechanics. Essentially, it’s a great drill that will help improve your hands.
Step a: Place your two hands on the basketball.
Step b: Spread the fingers covering a widest area as possible as you can
Step c: Slap your basketball dynamically
Step d: Alternate each rep right between your right and left hand
4. Crossovers
The major purpose to this handling drill is to improve your general ball handling and hand quickness. This type of handling drill is mostly used by different players to help someone develop softer and better touch, and this can easily turn a player to fine ball handler. Besides, while performing this type of basketball drill, you should look straight ahead, keep the head up, and crossover your ball left to right and from one knee and another.
Step a: Start in a bit low athletic stance.
Step b: Dribble your ball back & forth in the crossover motion. This will ensure you pound your ball harder.
Step c: While still doing this, move your shoulders left to right as your dribble in the same motion.
Step d: Lastly, pick up speed and keep your drill going for around 30 seconds.
5. Low-Dribble drill
The objective of this drill is to work on player finger touch, strength and ball handling. First, initiate this drill while your feet spread outside of your shoulder –width. Start dribbling your ball at optimal pace to around 6” from the ground.
Have speed control start moving your ball right around and between the legs in the figure-eight pattern. Now continue with the act for around 30 seconds while you keep your ball low in-ground and avoid looking down. Essentially, this handling drill involves super-speed dribbling.
Step a: Your feet should be outside the shoulder-width apart
Step b: Dribble the ball at faster a speed as possible, 6″ off the ground
Step c: Dribble your ball between and around legs in the figure-eight motion
Step d: Now, conduct the act for around 30 seconds at a time.
6. Alternate between the legs drill
If you want to improve your hand speed and ball-handling, this is the drill to focus on. Start with the feet outside of the shoulder-width and apart with the knees bent. Also, ensure your ball will be on the right hand, followed by dribbling it right between the legs to opposing left hand.
In addition, alternate your legs position and switch your ball back through right hand. Repeat the process at super-speed around 30 seconds. And always consider staying in the low balanced position keeping your eyes up in a while time.
Step a: Your feet should be outside the shoulder width in the low balanced position
Step b: Next dribble the ball from fight and left hand through your legs
Step c: Repeat the process while switching leg stance
Step d: Its time you complete the process for around 30 seconds at a high speed
7. Figure-eight no dribble handling drill
Figure eight is perfect for improving your hand speed and ball handling. The drill initiates with player feed being spread laterally outside the shoulder-width alongside basketball in the right hand. Next, switch your ball right between the legs to left hand.
Further, bring your ball around your front, then make another switch to right hand again. At this point, you can easily tell you are in is a figure-eight pattern. So, try this for around 30-20 seconds and attempt switching paths in the reverse additional 20 and 39 seconds.
Step a: Feet out your shoulder width while knees bent with your ball in right hand
Step b: Now switch your ball between your legs to the opposing hand
Step c: Bring your ball front and switch it to opposing hand again
Step d: Lastly, repeat this process for around 30-20 seconds, reverse the path another 30-20 seconds.
8. Push crossover dribble handling drill
Push dribble movements and improve ball handling with this drill. The basketball player initiates first by starting on baseline whilst while standing laterally with the ball in your hand facing upwards to court. At this point, the coach will command a “go” signal that will prompt you to typically push the dribble up the court until your coach or partner changes the command. So, perform the crossover and also push dribble in opposing direction.
Step a: The player starts right on baseline sideways and with ball in the hand
Step b: Coach will command to force a player to eventually push dribble up court till he or she changes the command.
Step c: Once the command is changed as a player, you should perform a change direction and crossover
Step d: The commands are supposed to be changed until a player reaches the opposite side of a court.
Final word
Overall, Basketball handling drills are fundamental skills which require good timing, hand-eye coordination, and practice. Therefore, mastering the drills can significantly help a basketball player protect his or her ball right from the opponent and still advance the ball towards the hoop to score points. If you love playing basketball, the above article will significantly help you improve your skills to become a great player. Remember, practice makes perfect avoid being in your comfort zone!
