On Becoming A Better Basketball Dribbler

By RON DAMON

One of the most important skills in basketball is dribbling. Here we will discuss ways to help improve dribbling skills. A mistake many people make is trying to dribble with their palm. One must learn to keep their palm off the ball and use their fingers. Having strong fingers and hands of course will really improve your dribbling skill.

Learning to dribble with your off hand (or weak hand) is vital if you want to be a great dribbler. If you are right handed and your left hand just hangs around useless, opponents will pick up on this quickly and this will make their defensive play much easier on them.

It is very, very important that one learns to dribble competently with both hands. When you’re dribbling near an opponent, the dribbler should dribble with the hand farthest from the opponent, making it as difficult as possible for the defensive player to get to the ball.

Most good dribblers (ball handlers) know that they must bounce the ball low to the ground, reducing the balls travel from their hand to the floor; this makes it way more difficult for the defender to steal the ball. Keeping the ball low is vital; this is why most point guards are shorter. A person who is 6’10 usually will not make a good point guard, of course there is a few exceptions; example (Magic Johnson).

Being a great dribbler will make you unpredictable to the defense. As your dribbling skills increase you will be able to dribble behind your back, between your legs and be able to change hands and directions of the dribble frequently.

Once you become a good dribbler you should never have to be looking at the ball while you’re dribbling. You will be able to control the ball all by touch and feel and will become more focused on other things that are going on in the game. Dribbling will become second nature to you and the basketball will be like a yo-yo to you.

By not having to focus on the ball, a player can look for teammates or scoring opportunities, as well as avoid the danger of someone stealing the ball from them. If you dribble well, you have control out on the basketball court. You don't have to worry about dribbling the basketball because you have confidence. Just believing in yourself and your abilities makes you an offensive threat.

Here are a few tips that will help you become that better dribbler:

1. Always Keep Your Head Up. If you're looking at the ball, you can't see what’s going on with other thing in the game. You’ll miss opportunities to pass the ball to an open teammate that could have lead to a basket. Practice dribbling with your head up, just like every thing else, it will become easier in time.

2. Always Protect the Ball. You must get in the habit of dribbling the basketball close to your body, with your opposite hand always up, protecting the ball. This will make it very hard for the defense to steal the ball from you.

3. Bounce the Ball Hard Off The Floor. Doing so will give you the momentum to make your move to the basket (e.g. crossover, spin dribble). It will also help prevent the defense from stealing the ball because the ball is moving faster.

4. Take off When Making a Dribble Move – Your first step is so important and is usually the determining factor if you are or are not going to beat the person guarding you. When you make that decision to move, don't hesitate – take off and explode to the hoop.

5. Practice Both Hands Equally. As mentioned earlier, this is one of the most important dribbling skills you will need. You can not have the defense knowing that you can only go one way. If you are right handed you must keep practicing to dribble with your left. May feel awkward but in time you will improve. Of course the same goes with lefties, practice with that right hand.