How to dribble a basketball? It’s a question that most people ask. Basketball is considered as the oldest sport in the world.
In fact, basketball was initially played by Native Americans. Basketball has evolved over the years and has been made easier to play.
You should have to remember that basketball requires quick reflexes and excellent hands. If you have enough caliber to dribble the ball correctly, you can easily beat your opponent.
The most complicated part of this game is dribbling a basketball. Dribbling is a skill that creates difficulty even for some professional players.
In this post, we’ll show you how to dribble a basketball with a twist and some crucial techniques that you should have to keep in mind while dribbling the ball.
Table of Contents
What is Dribbling
“Dribbling is an essential and complicated skill for beginner players, and it’s one that many people never learn to master.”
You can dribble a ball with your hand, between your legs, or with a crossover. The most essential thing while dribbling the basketball is to keep your head up and stay focused.
There are different ways to dribble a basketball, but we’ll tell you some those methods that beginner players can use without any difficulty.
How I learned to dribble a basketball
When my parents mounted the basketball hoop in backyard, I started playing basketball. And now, almost my 15 years has been passed in playing basketball. In the beginning, dribbling the basketball seemed very difficult for me, but I became an expert in dribbling with time because I never lost hope and played with my full attention and consistency.
That’s why we also ask you to keep your work going and practice again and again until you succeed in achieving your task.
Main Techniques of Dribbling the ball
In this post, we are going to talk about some important techniques of a dribbling basketball, which will help you a lot while practicing it.
These techniques also help the player gain control of the ball and control the speed and direction of the ball.
If you watch the videos of basketball regularly, then you realize that dribbling the ball is a bit hard skill, but you’ll be able to do it with proper techniques and hours of practice.
1. Stay Focused
While dribbling the basketball, you should have to stay focused on your goal. That’s one of the techniques which is very necessary while dribbling the basketball.
If you fail to keep your focus, your opponents can be able to beat you. The more attention is on your goal, the less distracted you will become.
2. Keep Your head up
It would be best if you keep your head up while dribbling the basketball. In basketball, keeping your head up can help you see the path on the basketball court you will be taking.
The first thing to do when you start dribbling the basketball is to focus your eyes in front of you. However, it may be isn’t easy for you at the start, but with time, you’ll get used to it.
3. Hardly Bounce the Ball on the Ground
Once you become an expert in dribbling the basketball, you also should have to ensure that you hardly dribble the basketball on the ground. Bouncing the ball hard on the surface of the basketball court allows you to be better at dribbling the basketball with high speed.
You need to make sure that you practice dribbling the basketball on the ground a lot because basketball is a game that should be played on the hard floor. If you practice in this manner, you will learn how to dribble well in any situation and hope you’ll not be afraid while playing with expert players.
4. Use Your Fingers
When you are dribbling the basketball, make sure that you don’t use your hand palm. Using fingertips will be best instead of palm. This will make it easier for you to control the ball.
The disadvantage of using your palm is that you will feel uncomfortable and awkward when you dribble. When you use your palm to dribble the ball, you think you’re slapping the ball instead of bouncing it.
5. Protect the Basketball From the Opponent
Players have to ensure that they protect the ball from their opponent players while dribbling. There are different ways to protect the ball from opponent players.
When you are about to make a move, you must protect the ball with your non-dribbling hand. Your non-dribbling hand must be able to protect the ball from your opponent players.
Whereas you can also use your body as a shield to protect the ball from your opponents and keep going in the game.
6. Pound the Basketball Into the Floor
This is another essential tip that makes it easier for you to dribble the ball. However, if you are a newbie, then it may be isn’t easy for you. Moreover, this technique is mainly used in expert basketball leagues; that’s why it doesn’t matter much for beginner players.
In this trick, players need to bounce the ball with force by extending their elbows. There is a simple rule that the less time the basketball is in your hand, the more you have control over the ball
7. Spread the Fingers to Keep Control of the Ball
Always keep practicing to enlarge your hand by spreading your fingers because it’ll also help you to hold the basketball in the perfect way. Furthermore, young kids have enough tendency to enlarge both hands by stretching their fingers.
It is also necessary for the player to keep relaxing his hand while dribbling the ball; otherwise, there may be a chance to lose control of the ball. Shooting basketball will also help you stretch your fingers and hands and develop your finger strength.
8. Practice
Practice always makes the game perfect. To become a great basketball player, you need to practice basketball as much as possible. Try to make yourself stronger and faster by shooting baskets.
If your kid’s dream is to become a LeBron James in the future, then you have to practice basketball day and night. As well as consistency is also the key to success.
Additionally, dribbling the basketball ball isn’t an easy task, but you can do it without difficulty if you practice regularly. It would be best if you had to bear in mind that the more you practice, the better your shooting skills will be.
If you want to be a great basketball player, you have to work hard. There are many ways to achieve success. You should practice your skills regularly to become a pro basketball player.
9. Wear Basketball Shoes Properly
Make sure you wear basketball shoes correctly while you are shooting the ball. If you want to hit the ball accurately, you need to wear athletic shoes that fit well. In this term, tying the basketball shoe matters a lot; if you don’t know the best way to tie basketball shoes while playing, click here.
Also, your shoes must have good support so that they won’t affect your shooting. Additionally, if you don’t know how to choose the best basketball shoes for your child or for you, then click on the hyperlink.
10. Change Your Moving Speed
When you are dribbling the ball, you should change your moving speed. It’ll be a good practice to become a good player. By changing your running speed, you’ll be able to confuse your defenders.
Make them enough to dodge that; they can’t be able to predict the next move that you’ll perform on a basketball court.
4 Amazing Types of Dribbling the Basketball
Now, we’re going to look at 4 types of dribbling the basketball. Before, We talked about dribbling, a basketball technique, which will help you a lot while practicing. Here, we’ll also look at some of the pros and cons of each type of dribbling basketball.
1. Stationary Dribble the Basketball
The stationary dribble drill is the best way for beginners to improve their dribbling skills. It’s used in basketball games throughout the world, including in the NBA.
It is used in basketball practice to help the player get used to the ball’s feel and get some good touches and shoot in a controlled environment. It also provides practice time that can be used for shooting free throws or shooting lay-ups.
The stationary dribble drill works by using only one hand to move the ball around. It’s an essential skill that can be used in any basketball drill. This drill is also known as “pounding” the ball. It’s a very basic drill that can be easy for kids or beginners.
In a stationary dribble drill, players have to bend down their knees and start bouncing the ball hard. The harder you bounce the ball, it’ll be easy for you to control the basketball.
You have to keep this thing in mind, keep the basketball between your waist and knees. You can also watch the video given below for further information:
2. Balloon Dribbling the Basketball
This drill is a great way to improve your ball skills. The most crucial thing in this dribbling type is to practice it. In the beginning, you’ll find this type a bit difficult to do, but if you practice, it will eventually get easier.
If you want to play this game, you will need a basketball and a balloon. In this drill, you’ve to keep the balloon in the air while continuously dribbling the basketball. A player will disqualify if the balloon hits the floor.
Another method to keep the basketball in control while keeping the balloon in the air is that the more the basketball is close to the ground, the more it’ll be easy for you to control the ball and keep your eyes on the balloon while bouncing basketball.
The primary purpose of this type of dribble is that it’ll improve the reflexes of the basketball players. Secondly, it will help you improve your control and grip on the basketball ball. And thirdly, it also adds some fun and entertainment while playing basketball.
3. Cross Over Dribbling
This dribbling type is beneficial for beginners and for intermediate players. Beginners have to learn this drill to improve their balance and become pro-players in the future.
They can also learn about how to position the body during the crossover. Intermediate and newbies can use it to improve their coordination and develop their footwork.
If you are really serious about learning crossover dribbling, then watch the video that is given below. This video will help you a lot to acquire knowledge about dribbling
4. Up-and-Back Dribbling the Basketball
By practicing dribbling in a variety of ways, you can gain some skills and increase your dribbling ability. The best way to improve your dribbling ability is to do lots of practice in some free time.
The up-and-back dribbling way may be difficult for newbies, but they can understand it very well with practice. In up and back dribbling, players dribble the basketball up and back, as shown in the video below.
You can play all these dribbling ways in your backyard or the driveway, whereas you can also do it in a basketball arena gym, whose area may be half or full court.
Now, we will give you some quick tips and tricks about up-and-back dribbling,
- In the beginning, play slowly and focus on all techniques
- Dribbling the basketball in an up-and-back way will help you to confuse or dodge your opponents
- Keep your head and eyes up while dribbling the ball
Some Best Dribblers in the History of NBA Basketball League
There are so many famous and talented players in the history of basketball who have the ability to raise problems for their opponents. They play a next-level dribble in all the games of basketball. Some of the names of exceptional dribblers are given below:
- Dwyane Wade.
- Ty Lawson.
- Derrick Rose.
- Pete Maravich
- Kyrie Irving.
- Lance Stephenson.
- Chris Paul.
- Kevin Durant.
- Jamal Crawford.
- Steph Curry
- Steve Nash
You can also watch some of the famous and most talented basketball players in the video given below.
When does a Dribble End
Once you stop dribbling the basketball, you cannot resume dribbling without passing the basketball to another player or without hooping a basketball in the basketball hoop.
The Dribble Ends When the Players Do These Actions
When the player does these actions, which are given below, he can lose control of the basketball, and his opponent’s players will succeed in grabbing the ball. So, those actions which you should have to avoid while playing are given below:
- Try to hoop a ball
- While passing the basketball
- Loses control
- Lose to maintain the body’s balance
- Dribbling the ball with the palm
- Dribbling the ball slowly
- Hold the ball from underneath
- Touch the ball with two hands at a time
- Stops Dribbling
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How can I dribble a basketball?
Answer. You can dribble a ball with your hand, between your legs, or with a crossover. All of these types we have explained above. For a successful dribble, The most necessary thing while dribbling the basketball is to keep your head up and stay focused.
Q2. How can I get better at dribbling a basketball?
Answer. Practicing is the most fantastic way to get better at dribbling a basketball. You can use a basketball hoop and try to shoot baskets.
Q3. How to Hold a basketball with one hand?
Answer. If you want to know how you can hold a basketball with one hand and allow yourself to dodge the opponent player, click here to get a detailed note about it.
Q4. How long should I dribble a basketball?
Answer. It would be best if you dribbled for as long as you could. Whereas, It doesn’t matter whether you make a goal or not.
Q5. At what age should a child be able to dribble a basketball?
Answer. At age 7 and above, children are more physically and mentally ready to learn to dribble a basketball. They have developed the basic motor skills needed, and their brains are more developed, which gives them better hand-eye coordination.
Q6. Why do you dribble a basketball?
Answer. In basketball, a player is not allowed to dribble with both hands. A player must keep one hand on the ball at all times. The purpose of dribbling is to move the ball upfield and maintain possession of it so as not to lose possession of it to your opponent. You can use your dribble for many different things like:
- Keeping defenders away from you
- Getting open for a pass
- Passing off when you don’t have any open teammates
Q7. How do you dribble the ball correctly?
Answer.
- Use the correct hand
The hand you use to dribble is the same one you use for most everyday tasks, such as writing and eating. Most people are right-handed, but there’s no reason why lefties can’t be great ball handlers too! If you’re not sure which hand is your dominant one, try dribbling a basketball to see which one feels more comfortable doing it.
- Keep the ball close to your body
One of the most common mistakes when learning how to dribble correctly is holding onto the ball with too much pressure and dropping it every time a defender tries to steal it away from them while they’re running up court toward their own basket trying gmaelyt do something useful like getting back into position defensively or grabbing an offensive rebound off missed field goal attempts (which are common among amateur teams).
- Don’t over-dribble:
This means keeping track of how many times per second someone on either team has possession of any given item before deciding whether or not that person needs more practice doing something else instead.”
Q8. How do you protect the basketball when you are dribbling?
Answer. The key to dribbling a basketball is keeping your elbows in and keeping the ball close to your body. When you keep your elbows in, it helps ensure that you don’t lose control of the ball.
If you are dribbling quickly and aggressively, it’s important to keep your head up at all times so that you can see where other players are on the court.
Q9. What are the different types of dribbles?
Answer.
- Crossover
The crossover is a classic basketball move. To execute it, you simply dribble the ball with your right hand while simultaneously crossing over to your left and continuing to dribble. This simple crossover can be used on its own or in combination with other moves to confuse defenders or open up lanes for yourself to drive down the court.
- Behind-the-back
The behind-the-back is similar in principle to a standard crossover, but instead of crossing over once you cross over twice—once when you bring the ball from one side of your body to another and again when you bring the ball back around in front of you into its original position.
The behind-the-back takes longer than a regular crossover and doesn’t provide as much space between defenders, so it’s not ideal for getting past multiple defenders at once (although it will definitely help if there are only two players guarding you). However, this move does look pretty cool!
Q10. What is the best way to practice dribbling a basketball?
Answer. Practice dribbling a basketball, but don’t overdo it. Like any other skill, dribbling can be tiring—and if you’re already tired or fatigued, your coordination will suffer. You’ll also want to be careful about practicing for too long.
Stretching and warming up before practice can help avoid muscle fatigue that sets in when you’re practicing for extended periods of time. Dribble until your hands feel warm and then rest for five minutes before starting again.
Practice with both hands because this will give you more control on the court and make it easier to react quickly during games by using whichever hand is available at the time (for example, if someone blocks off one side of the ball).
Practice dribbling in different directions so that when defenders try to force you into tight spaces on the court, there is no way they will succeed unless they manage to get behind you first!
Q11. What is dribbling in basketball?
Answer. Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously while moving. Dribbling is used to keep the ball in play, to maintain possession and to advance it around the court. The ball can be dribbled with one or both hands.
Q12. How do you dribble with both hands?
Answer. You can learn to dribble with both hands. It’s not as difficult as it sounds and is a great way to confuse your defender on the court.
To dribble with both hands, start by switching arms when you are doing a crossover or going from left to right (or vice versa). This will be tough at first because your brain won’t be used to switching between arms so quickly. The best way to do this is practice dribbling for a few minutes each day until it becomes second nature for you.
If you’re having trouble keeping track of which hand goes where, try following these tips:
- Use one side more often than another during practice — pick the side that feels more comfortable or natural and stick with it during training sessions until it clicks; this may take several weeks or months depending on how dedicated you are!
- Once they’re both at 100%, switch between them while playing games online against friends who don’t know your secret weapon yet…and then reveal yourself once they’ve stopped guarding against either hand so well anymore!
Q13. What is the most common mistake in dribbling?
Answer. The most common mistake made by basketball dribblers is losing control of the ball. If you’re not keeping your head up and following through, you may end up turning your back on your teammates or an opponent who’s ready to steal the ball from you.
It’s also important to keep your arms near your body as you dribble so that if someone tries to grab at the ball, they won’t be able to get it away from you without making contact with one of those limbs first—and that’s probably going to hurt!
Another common mistake is using only one hand for dribbling (which causes a loss of control), or using both hands at once (which makes it harder for other players on both teams). We’ve all seen this happen: someone tries out some fancy moves in an attempt to impress their friends but ends up losing track of where they are because they didn’t pay attention while doing so.
You should only use either one hand or two hands when dribbling; anything else will cause problems down the line later on down in practice or game time.”
Q14. What is a good height to be able to dunk?
Answer. It’s true that height is one of the main factors in determining whether or not you can dunk. But it’s not the only factor. You also need to have good jumping skills, so that you can jump high off one leg and two legs; as well as a good vertical leap.
These are the things that allow you to put yourself in position to dunk, but they aren’t enough on their own.
You also have to be able to shoot with some range, so that if your jump shot isn’t falling then at least you’re getting something else out of your athleticism—like standing around looking cool when no one else on the court can touch your fadeaway jumper (or whatever).
This is why having good ballhandling skills becomes especially important for tall players who aren’t quite ready for prime time yet: because being able to dribble and pass accurately allows them more freedom when it comes time for their teammates’ turn at bat (or dunking).
Q15. How do you get better at dribbling?
Answer. You can get better at dribbling by practicing. Anytime you have the opportunity to practice dribbling, do it! Practice in front of a mirror and watch yourself as you work on your form. Try dribbling with both hands and bouncing the ball off of your heel and between your feet.
Practice doing this with one hand as well, but be sure that you’re using both eyes while doing so—it will help improve your control while dribbling around people.
If possible, try to catch someone’s eye when they look down at their phone or something else that makes them look away from their immediate surroundings for too long; then use this window of opportunity to quickly move past them without losing control over the ball itself!
Conclusion
In conclusion, dribbling is the art of using a basketball to control the ball with one hand. If beginner players want to become elite players, they need to have this skill.
Dribbling is an essential skill for a player to develop because it is a key part of the game. Young basketball players can quickly improve their dribbling skills. It is a great way to start your game because it allows you to get into the flow of the game.
If you still have any queries about dribbling basketball, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comment section.