Ball handling is one of the most important basketball fundamentals. It allows players to move around the court while protecting the orange. It also allows them to eliminate their defender in 1v1 situations. Understanding the basics of ball handling is essential if you want to become a complete basketball player.
Today, I am going to give you a ton of tips and show you the best basketball ball handling drills you can perform to skyrocket your handles.
Ball Handling Tips
Before we jump into the specifics of the different drills you can operate to improve your ball handling, here are some tips or reminders for every baller out there. These essentials will help you perfect your handles naturally.
#1 – Bend your knees. This will lower your center of gravity and will allow you to better protect the ball while being more dynamic.
#2 – Bounce the ball in a gentle and smooth manner. The last thing we want is to aggressively bounce the ball which can cause more turnovers.
#3 – Keep your head up. Look forward, observe what’s going on on the court. Better put, do not look at the ball. A lot of players have this bad habit that is quite hard to shake off. What I usually recommend for players who tend to have this issue, is using glasses that force you to look up ahead.
Basketball Stationary Handling Drills With One Ball
Now that we went over some quick tips to get you started, it’s time to get to work and practice your handles. I have crafted this list of amazing drills that will allow you to work on your basketball handling skills with both hands, in motion or stationarily.
#1 - Ball Slaps
Here’s a great warm-up exercise that’ll help you build strength while developing your grabbing mechanics. Definitely a great drill to improve your hands.
- Step 1: Place both your hands on the basketball
- Step 2: Spread your fingers to cover the widest area possible
- Step 3: Slap the basketball dynamically
- Step 4: Alternate each rep between your left and right hand
#2 - Finger Taps
Another awesome warm-up drill for you to improve your handles. You want to make sure your arms and elbows are locked while taping the ball back and forth between your left and right hand.
Once you start getting a good hold of this drill, move your arms up while continuously performing the exercise. The goal is to have your arms fully extended above your head while increasing the speed.
This drill is to be performed until you feel a slight burn in your shoulders, biceps, and triceps.
- Step 1: Place the ball on either hand
- Step 2: Start bouncing the ball from left to right by only using your wrists and fingertips
- Step 3: While doing so, raise your hand above your head. Make sure to go as high as you can, well above your head
- Step 4: Increase speed and lower the distance between your hands
#3 - Crossovers
Alright, let’s get dribbling with this very basic, yet effective drill: the crossover.
This type of drill is used by any type of player and is super hard to defend if executed correctly. This drill will help you develop a better and softer touch and will turn you into a fine ball handler.
While performing this drill, keep your head up, look straight ahead, and crossover the ball from left to right, from one knee to another.
- Step 1: Begin in a low athletic stance.
- Step 2: Dribble the ball back and forth in a crossover motion. Make sure to pound the ball as hard as you can.
- Step 3: While doing so, move your shoulders from left to right, in the same motion as your dribble.
- Step 4: Pick up some speed and keep the drill going for 30 seconds.
#4 - Single Leg Ball Wraps
This drill is to be performed with your eyes and head up, as quickly as possible. Put one leg forward and start moving the ball around it. Make sure the ball doesn’t hit the floor and keep it revolving around your leg as smoothly and rapidly as you can.
- Step 1: Place one leg forward and crouch a little
- Step 2: Start moving the ball around your leg clock-wise
- Step 3: Pick up the speed and try to reach 60 wraps in 30 seconds without dropping the ball
- Step 4: Switch legs and repeat steps 1 to 3
#5 - Figure-Eight No Dribble Drill
The figure-eight no dribble basketball drill initiates with your feet being laterally spread outside of shoulder-width along with a basketball in your right hand. The next step is to then switch the ball between your legs to your left hand.
Then bring the ball around the front, and then make another switch again to your right hand. By now you can tell the motion is a figure-eight pattern. Try this for approximately 20-30 seconds and then attempt to switch paths in reverse for another 20-30 seconds.
- Step 1: Feet outside shoulder width and knees bent with a ball in the right hand
- Step 2: Switch ball between legs to opposing hand
- Step 3: Bring it to the front and then switch to the opposing hand again
- Step 4: Repeat the process for 20-30s and then reverse the path for another 20-30s
#6 - Low-Dribble Basketball Drill
Initiate the drill with your feet spread apart outside of shoulder width and start to dribble the ball at your most optimal pace at around 6 inches from the ground. Once you control the speed, move the ball around and between your legs in a figure-eight pattern.
Continue this maneuver for 30 seconds. Keep the ball low to the ground throughout, and do not look down when conducting the drill. This may seem similar to the figure eight exercise; however, it involves high-speed dribbling rather than moving the ball in the air.
- Step 1: Feet outside of shoulder-width apart
- Step 2: Dribble ball at your fastest speed 6” off the ground
- Step 3: Dribble the ball around and between legs in a figure-eight motion
- Step 4: Conduct this for 30s at a time
#7 - Alternate Between Legs Drill
Start with feet outside of shoulder-width apart with your knees bent. Ensure the ball is in your right hand and dribble it between your legs to your opposing left hand. Then alternate the position of your legs and switch the ball back through to your right hand. Repeat this process at high speed for 30 seconds. Always stay in a low balanced position whilst keeping your eyes up the whole time.
- Step 1: Feet outside shoulder width in a low balanced position
- Step 2: Dribble ball from right to left hand through legs
- Step 3: Repeat process and switch leg stance
- Step 4: Complete this process for 30s at high speed
#8 - Continuous Dribble Behind The Back
Start in a traditional low dribbling stance with feet outside of shoulder width with the ball in your right hand. Cross the ball behind your back to your left hand. As quickly as you can return the dribble back to your right hand and continue this process for 30 seconds and come to a stop. Ensure to keep your head high and keep practising if you go wrong.
- Step 1: Start in a low dribble position with feet outside shoulder width
- Step 2: Dribble the ball behind your back from right to left hand
- Step 3: Immediately dribble the ball back to the left hand
- Step 4: Repeat this for 30s intervals and stop
Basketball On The Move Handling Drills With One Ball
#9 - 3 Bounce Crossover Drill
The player starts 6-8 feet from the 3 point line on the wing while the partner, or chair if no partner available, will be stationed on the 3 point line.
The player with the ball will take three stationary dribbles with their outside hand and on the 3rd dribble, they will push forward towards the partner/chair and make a crossover in the middle of the obstacle before pushing the ball past them and finishing in the basket. Repeat for desired amounts and switch sides to diversify the drill.
- Step 1: Start 6-8 feet from 3 point line and make 3 stationary dribbles
- Step 2: Crossover the obstacle placed on the 3 point line and push the ball out
- Step 3: Once the ball is pushed out make a shot at the basket (use variety)
- Step 4: Repeat as desired and switch sides
#10 - Bust Out and Retreat Drill
Player stays low and engaged, ready to be explosive and starts on the baseline with focus on the lane line ahead. Push dribble the ball outwards with the right hand to the free-throw line, then come to a stop at the free-throw line before then pushing back with a retreat dribble to baseline.
- Step 1: Player stays in an active posture on the baseline
- Step 2: Push dribble ball ahead to free throw line before coming to a stop
- Step 3: Push back with a retreat dribble to the baseline
- Step 4: Repeat this exercises for 30s and swap hands interchangeably
#11 - Behind The Back Rhythm Dribbling Drill
Line up a straightforward row of cones so that each cone is approximately 2-3 feet apart. The player will initiate the drill by standing at one end of the cones with a basketball in hand.
They will then start the drill by taking one rhythmic dribble and then quickly repeat this behind the back. It’s key to do this by keeping your eyes up, stay low and engaged, and scan the floor as you progress through the cones. Repeat this process around 2-3 times each.
- Step 1: Line up cones in a straight line approximately 2-3 feet apart
- Step 2: Player starts at one end by taking one rhythmic dribble, followed by a move behind the back
- Step 3: This should be done through each cone and repeated 2-3 times
- Step 4: Ensure eyes are up and the floor is scanned at all times during the drill
#12 - Push Crossover Dribble Drill
The player initiates by starting on the baseline whilst standing laterally with the ball in their hand that is facing upwards to the court.
The coach, or partner, will then command a “Go!” signal which will then prompt the player to push dribble laterally up the court until the coach changes command. At this point of change, the player will perform a crossover and push dribble in the opposing direction. Throughout the drill, the coach will interchange between directions until the player reaches the opposing baseline which will signal the end of the drill.
- Step 1: Player starts on baseline standing sideways with a ball in hand
- Step 2: Coach/partner will say a command which will force the player to push dribble up the court until a change of command is made
- Step 3: When a change of command is made player will perform a crossover and change direction
- Step 4: Commands are changed throughout until the player reaches the opposite side of the court
#13 - Walking Double Crossover Drill
The players will start at the baseline in an engaged position with a ball at hand. They will then conduct a stationary dribble, stop, and then explode with a double crossover combination move while pursuing forward with the movement.
At this point, the player should neglect any stationary dribbles in between then repeat the stop and explode movement again until the process is cycled to the free-throw line and then a retreat dribble is completed back to the baseline. Once this is done alter hands for difficulty.
- Step 1: Player starts on the baseline with a ball in hand
- Step 2: Player executes a stationary dribble, stops, then explodes with a double crossover and ventures forward up the court
- Step 3: Stationary dribble is no longer required in between thus only repeating the stop and explode movement
- Step 4: This should be done until the free-throw line is reached and then a retreat dribble is made back to the baseline
#14 - 1 Dribble Behind Back Change Direction Drill
The player will start at the baseline with a ball and they will pursue forward at optimal speed, take a single dribble, and then conduct a wraparound dribble to the opposing hand.
As the play continues to venture forward to the opposite baseline they will continue this process and alternate hands every time. The player will come to a stop at the opposite baseline, turn back and repeat the cycle for their desired times.
- Step 1: Player starts at baseline with the ball at hand
- Step 2: Player will venture forward at full speed, take one dribble, and conduct a wraparound dribble to the opposite hand
- Step 3: For every run, this process will be repeated while alternating hands
- Step 4: Drill comes to a stop when opposing baseline is reached and desired cycles have been completed
#15 - Full Court Any Move Diamond Drill
A chair is situated in the centre of both free throw lines and on the half-court line approximately 5-6 feet from the centre circle along with a player starting at each basket with a ball. Each player will throw the ball off the backboard, jump as high as possible to retrieve the rebound, pivot away, and engage with the first chair with their left hand.
When they get to the chair they will either crossover, between the legs, behind the back, or reverse between the legs past the chair before pushing out the ball to engage with the second chair but using a different move from the first chair.
Finally, they will engage with the third chair by performing another move before finishing in the basket. The next player will then go or if one person is conducting the drill they can break for 10 seconds and go again.
- Step 1: Chairs placed at each free throw line and on half-court line approximately 5-6 feet apart
- Step 2: Player will start by tossing a ball against the backboard, retrieving the rebound, pivot out and engage with chair 1 with a move
- Step 3: Once the move is complete, push to chairs 2 and 3 by using dribbling moves before finishing at the basket
- Step 4: Have a break, let other player go or have 10s break and repeat the drill for desired times