Be a better ball handler with these basketball drills

Image source: Stack.com

Dribbling is a fundamental skill in basketball.  Without it, players won’t know how to move with the ball.  Some of the greatest players in the NBA were insane ball-handlers.  Players like Pete Maravich, Magic Johnson, Allen Iverson, Steph Curry, Chris Paul, and Kyrie Irving could mesmerize both the audience and their opponents with their ball-handling wizardry.

Let’s take a look at some dribbling drills to improve one’s ball-handling drills.

Two-balls

Dribbling two balls is great for facilitating ambidextrous skills.  Through this drill, a player can concentrate on developing dribbling with his weak hand.  This is a staple drill in training camps which can be modified just as easily.  Players can start by staying stationary, and moving forward slowly when they get the hang of it.

Image source: Stack.com

Finger pads

The use of finger pads over the past few decades has improved the dribbling of so many young players.  Dribbling with the fingers (not with the palms) is the correct way of dribbling, since it gives the player more control over the direction of the ball.  Finger pads also discourages players from using their palms.

Low and hard

The principle here is that the shorter the time the ball spends out of one’s hand, the harder it is to steal.  Learning to dribble low and hard will pay dividends in the future.  Players should do this drill, especially with their weak hand. 

Stephen Varanko III used to play and coach basketball. Read more about sports by visiting this website.