5 Basketball Handling Drills That Every Player Must Do

Every player needs to develop strong ball-handling skills to be successful on the court. Here are 5 drills that every player should do to improve their handles.

Introduction

Many players focus on their shooting and forget about the importance of having good ball handling skills. If you can’t handle the ball well, you won’t be able to take advantage of all the scoring opportunities that come your way.

These five basketball handling drills will help you develop the necessary skills to take your game to the next level.

1. The Figure 8 Drill

2. The Pistol Drill

3. The Around the World Drill

4. The candy Cane Drill

5. The Spider Drill

The importance of ball-handling

In basketball, the ability to handle the ball is critical. A good ball-handler can make spectacular plays, create scoring opportunities for teammates, and keep the ball out of the hands of the opposition.

There are a number of different ball-handling drills that players can use to improve their skills. Some of these drills focus on specific skills such as dribbling or passing, while others are designed to improve coordination and agility.

Below are five Essential Basketball handling drills that every player should do:

1. Dribble Around Cones

This drill is great for improving your dribbling skills and speed. Place four cones in a square formation, and then dribble around them in a clockwise direction. After each lap, switch directions and go counter-clockwise. Do this for 10-12 laps total.

2. Figure 8 Dribble Drill

This drill helps improve your ball-handling skills and coordination. Start by dribbling the ball around your waist in a figure eight pattern. Then, increase the speed of your dribble and continue going around your waist in a figure eight pattern. Finally, add a second ball and repeat the drill using one ball in each hand.

3. Alley-Oop Drill

This drill helps improve your passing and receiving skills, as well as your timing and coordination. Have one player start at each end of the court with a basketball. The player at one end will lob the ball up towards the other player, who will then try to catch it and dunk it in one motion. Repeat this drill 10 times total.

4.. One-on-One Drill

This is a great way to improve your offensive moves and learn how to create space against a defender. Find a partner and set up two cones or chairs approximately 10 feet apart from each other. The two players will start on opposite sides of the cones/chairs closest to each other)and will attempt to score on each other by going around or through the cones/chairs without fouling each other or travelings with the ball . The first player to score 10 points wins..

5.. Two Ball Dribbling Drill

This is an excellent drill for improving your speed, control,and coordination while handling two balls at once . Start by dribbling two balls side by side downthe length ofthe court & back using only one hand . Then , try using both hands & going down & back again . Finally , try usingone handto dribbleoneball &usingthe other handto dribblethe secondball – switchinghands aftereachdribble . Tryto keepbothballsas close toyourbodyas possible while you’re doing this

The benefits of ball-handling drills

Ball-handling drills are important for players of all levels. These drills help improve coordination, increase confidence handling the ball, and develop muscle memory. Doing these drills regularly can help you become a better player on the court.

There are many different types of ball-handling drills, but we’ve compiled a list of five that we think every player should do. All of these drills can be done with a partner or alone.

1. The Dribble Gauntlet: This drill is great for developing your dribbling skills and coordination. Set up cones or other markers in a line, about two feet apart. Start at one end of the line and dribble through the cones, using different types of dribbles (e.g., crossover, behind the back). As you get better at this drill, you can increase the number of cones or decrease the distance between them.

2. The Figure 8 Drill: This drill helps players learn how to control the ball while changing directions quickly. Start by dribbling the ball around your waist in a figure eight pattern. Once you get comfortable with that, move on to dribbling the ball between your legs in a figure eight pattern. You can also try this drill with two balls to really challenge yourself.

3. The Mirror Drill: This is a great drill for improving your ball-handling skills and coordination. Have a friend or coach stand in front of you and mirror your movements as you dribble the ball between your legs, around your waist, or between your feet (crossover dribble). As you get better at this drill, try increasing the speed at which you dribble the ball.

4. The Obstacle Course Drill: This is another great drill for developing coordination and confidence handling the ball. Set up an obstacle course with cones or other markers (you can use chairs, trash cans, etc.). Start at one end of the course and dribble through it, avoiding all of the obstacles. As you get better at this drill, you can increase the number of obstacles or make them closer together to make it more challenging.

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5 essential ball-handling drills

In order to be a great ball handler, you must be able to control the ball with both hands while making quick decisions. These 5 essential ball-handling drills will help you develop the skills you need to be a great player.

1. The Two Ball Drill
This drill is great for developing hand-eye coordination and improving your ability to control the ball with both hands. You will need two balls for this drill. Start by bouncing one ball off the ground and catching it with your dominant hand. As you catch the first ball, bounce the second one off the ground and catch it with your non-dominant hand. Continue alternating balls as quickly as possible.

2. The Slalom Drill
This drill is designed to improve your dribbling skills and help you develop better body control. You will need two cones or other markers for this drill. Place the cones about 10 feet apart and start by dribbling around one of them in a clockwise direction. At the second cone, change directions and dribble around it in a counterclockwise direction. Continue alternate between cones, changing directions each time.

3. The Snake Drill
This drill is great for working on your handles as well as your ability to change directions quickly You will need four cones or other markers for this drill, placed in a square formation about 10 feet apart from each other. Start at one cone and dribble around it in a clockwise direction before crossover dribbling to the next cone and going around it in a counterclockwise direction. Repeat this pattern until you have gone around all four cones. Then repeat going in the opposite direction.

4\. TheFigure 8 Drill
The figure 8 drill is another great way to work on your handles and improve your ability to change directions quickly with the ball. For this drill, you will need two cones or other markers, placed about 10 feet apart from each other in a straight line.. Start at one cone and make a figure 8 pattern around both cones, crossing over at the center point each time.. reverse direction and continue going around the cones until you have made 20 figure 8’s.. Time yourself to see how fast you can go!
5\. The Star Drill This last drill is excellent for helping players learn how to keep their head up while dribbling.. You will need five cones or other markers for this drill, placed in a star formation about 10 feet apart from each other.. Start at one cone and dribble around it toward the next cone, zigzagging backand forth between each cone until you have made it back tothe starting point . Then dribble back out again, this time goingaround all of the cones in a clockwise direction before returningsquarely through the middle.. Finally, go out again but this timefootball zag zig between each cone.. See how fast you can completeall three patterns!

Drill #1 – The Figure 8 Drill

The Figure 8 Drill is one of the most basic, yet essential, ball handling drills that every basketball player must do. The goal of the drill is to develop your ability to control the ball with your fingertips while making quick and precise movements.

To do the Figure 8 Drill, start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees bent. Hold the ball in front of you with both hands and then start making figure 8 patterns around your legs. As you get more comfortable with the drill, try to make the figure 8 pattern as small as possible.

Make sure to keep your head up and your eyes on the ball at all times. The Figure 8 Drill is a great way to warm up before a game or practice, but it can also be done as part of a more focused training session.

Drill #2 – The Two-Ball Drill

The Two-Ball Drill is not only great for dribbling with your weak hand, but it also allows you to learn how to control two balls at the same time. This is a great drill for any player that wants to improve their ball-handling skills.

Here’s how the drill works:

1. Start by dribbling two basketballs at the same time in your strong hand.
2. As you become more comfortable, try to dribble the balls alternately between your strong and weak hands.
3. Once you can comfortably alternate between your hands, try to dribble the balls in a figure-eight pattern around your legs.
4. After you’ve mastered the figure-eight pattern, try moving faster and adding in some other moves, such as crossover steps, between dribbles.

Drill #3 – The One-Hand Drill

The one-hand drill is simple. All you need is a basketball and something to dribble off of (a wall, a backboard, etc.). Start by dribbling the ball with one hand as hard as you can. Then, switch to the other hand and repeat.

Do this for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then take a break. Once you’ve gotten used to doing the one-hand drill, you can up the ante by adding in some moves. For example, you can add in a crossover or a behind-the-back move.

This drill is great for improving your ball-handling skills and getting used to using both hands equally.

Drill #4 – The Crossover Drill

One of the most important skills for a basketball player to master is ball handling. Being able to effectively handle the ball not only allows you to keep possession of the ball, but also opens up opportunities to score.

The crossover is one of the most effective moves you can use to get past your defender. It’s also a great move to use when you’re change direction quickly.

To do the crossover drill, start by standing in one spot with your feet shoulder-width apart. From here, take your right hand and bring the ball across your body and pass it to your left hand. As you’re passing the ball, step forward with your right foot and then quickly switch directions and step forward with your left foot. As you do this, take your left hand and bring the ball back across your body to your right hand. Continue doing this for 30 seconds and then switch directions.

Drill #5 – The Reverse Drill

The Reverse Drill is great for warming up your hands and getting a feel for the ball before a game. It is also great for developing your finger strength and ball control.

To do the Reverse Drill, start by dribbling the ball in your right hand for 30 seconds. Then, switch to your left hand and dribble for 30 seconds. Next, reverse the direction of the dribble and go back to your right hand. Finally, switch back to your left hand and finish with a brief cool-down period.

Conclusion

There are an infinite number of basketball handling drills that players can do to improve their ball-handling skills. However, not all drills are created equal. The 5 basketball handling drills listed above are some of the most effective drills for improving ball-handling skills and should be a part of every player’s training regimen.

By consistently doing these drills, players will see a significant improvement in their ability to handle the ball and will be better equipped to take on defenders in game situations. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start working on your handles!