If you love watching basketball, it is apparent that some great ball-handlers consistently break the defense by dribbling. Whenever you see such players with the ability, the opposing team knows how it can be devastating them. This is because such a player can change the game to his or her team’s advantage. Now, imagine you are such a player that can create chances and dribble as you like. This is not something most players are born with. Instead, they learn from experts plus dedication and hard work.
The following are some tips to help you improve such special skills:
You should do drills that involve your ball. They can help you become quicker with the ball and improve ball control. Just move the ball around a circle starting from the head, around both legs, and waist. You can start slow and advance gradually. One way to see if you can get faster is to put the drills on a test. You can do this by timing yourself. You will realize that at the start you cannot do a lot. However, with dedication and hard work you can improve the skill.
The other trick is to pound the ball as hard as possible when dribbling. Therefore, you will need to challenge your fingers and hands to get quicker and stronger with the ball. However, this does not mean to fit the ball like a fly swatter. Ensure you absorb the ball with pads of your fingers and hand. You should avoid hitting the ball with your palm.
It is necessary to learn how to change direction. Therefore, you need to work on stationary crossovers and improve dribbling between the legs. Ensure you have got a rhythm with the movements. When you are working on moving and stationary drills, you can rock the body to the rhythm of dribbling. You need to be athletic and smooth as you pound on the ball.
You can also learn to dribble two balls at the same time and in alternating fashion. Moreover, work on drills as you move. Ensure to transfer ball-handling skills into the game situations. Make sure you can handle the pressure of defenders and at the same time do not lose ball possession. In case, the defender snatches the ball fro you, get the ball back to you and continue to dribble. By implementing the above tips, you are on your way to maximizing your potential as a great ball-handler.