How do I become a better ball handler?

Common question, easy answer. Practice. Practice more. Your handle will improve in direct proportion to how much you work at it. Stationary drills cannot get old. The crossover is taught simply to 4th graders, and yet pros still work at it. Here are a few simple areas to focus in on, while allowing variation in your ball handling workout (keep the focus on these main components):

1- Pound Dribbles: Dribbling the ball hard off your fingertips, using your shoulder for power. Develops a better feel for the ball. ***Must pound hard
2- Moves and Combo Moves: practicing crossovers, in and out dribbles, between the legs and behind the back. AND practicing them in succession with each other. Really increases your coordination and feel for the ball. Use imagination-don’t be a robot.
3- Ball Control Dribbles: Increasing your control on the ball and where it bounces. Easy to practice over a line or cone and translates to control in live action.
4- Change of Pace with Dribble: Using your moves/combos in space practicing change of speed. Incorporate slow to fast, fast to slow, deception, and retreat with change of pace.

Those with the best handles are said to have the ball “on a string”. They have practiced the above to the point where they are completely comfortable controlling the ball in traffic and leaving defenders guessing where they are going. Practice. Practice!

**This is purposely meant to only address the dribble. Ball handling technically includes passing, another crucial element for any great ball handler.