1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

How can I improve my dribbling skills?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by emoreland, Jan 27, 2004.

  1. emoreland

    emoreland Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 1999
    Messages:
    1,394
    Likes Received:
    224
    I am in a competitive league and all the guys know that im a good shooter from the outside. My team depends on my offense for us to win games. I feel that if i could dribble better, I could drive to the lane and help my team when they are literally double-teaming me on the 3pt line. Im decent but I would have suchan edge if I were more confident in my dribbling skills...can anyone recommend something that would dramatially improve my dribbling skills? thanks in advance.
     
  2. yaopao

    yaopao Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2003
    Messages:
    855
    Likes Received:
    68
    Dribble a tennis ball. It'll be hard as hell at first, but once you get decent with a tennis ball, a basketball will be child's play.
     
  3. Franchise2001

    Franchise2001 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2001
    Messages:
    2,284
    Likes Received:
    20
    White Chocolate trained himself by dribbling with heavy work gloves on... Just practice a lot.. I used to set up cones and weave in and out between them.. alternating between left and right hand, behind the back, through the legs, spinning and switching hands.
     
  4. giddyup

    giddyup Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2002
    Messages:
    20,466
    Likes Received:
    488
    Do the Figure 8 through and around the legs a lot. That would be simple. Keep your head up. The tennis ball and glove treatment sound effective, too.
     
  5. SmeggySmeg

    SmeggySmeg Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 1999
    Messages:
    14,887
    Likes Received:
    123
    pratice..... there are plenty of video training tapes available
     
  6. super_mario

    super_mario Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2002
    Messages:
    479
    Likes Received:
    1
    Maybe you should work on your passing skills. :D
     
  7. bamaslammer

    bamaslammer Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2003
    Messages:
    3,853
    Likes Received:
    4
    I would do the tennis ball thing. It turned me at 6 ft. 5 in. from a very poor ballhandler to running my high school team's offense in only a couple of years.
     
  8. A-Train

    A-Train Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2000
    Messages:
    15,997
    Likes Received:
    39
    [​IMG]

    Learn from the master...
     
  9. PhiSlammaJamma

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 1999
    Messages:
    29,957
    Likes Received:
    8,038
    All of that sounds good, but ultimately, it's the competition. Play against kids who can steal it from you. Play one against two kids that can steal it from you. That will turn you into a good ball handler and a great scorer. No doubt about it.
     
  10. fba34

    fba34 Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2001
    Messages:
    2,361
    Likes Received:
    405
    lol that is great
     
  11. Harrisment

    Harrisment Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2001
    Messages:
    15,392
    Likes Received:
    2,158
    Shake it at least twice before zipping back up.
     
  12. MacBeth

    MacBeth Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2002
    Messages:
    7,761
    Likes Received:
    2
    As someone mentioned, no matter what system you use, the most important step is keeping your head up. Looking down when dribbling is one of the worst and hardest to break of basketball habits.


    The tennis ball is good, dribbling up and down stairs works, the glove thing, etc. Whatever it is, repetition ad nauseum is necessary.
     
  13. giddyup

    giddyup Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2002
    Messages:
    20,466
    Likes Received:
    488
    For inspiration, watch "Pistol Pete: Birth of a Legend (something like that)." He used to dribble around town while riding his bicycle.
     
  14. Palmray

    Palmray Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2001
    Messages:
    999
    Likes Received:
    2
    Thats great stuff. I love stories like these.
     
  15. giddyup

    giddyup Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2002
    Messages:
    20,466
    Likes Received:
    488
    I think at the end of the movie they have a short commercial from which you can order Pistol Pete's ball-handling training video. I almost ordered it for my son about 10 years ago but didn't because he didn't show a dedication to basketball. He preferred soccer.
     
  16. eyeagainst

    eyeagainst Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2003
    Messages:
    252
    Likes Received:
    0
    The best thing ive heard is the tennis ball idea. I have the same problem, i dont have enough confidence to drive in for layups because my dribbling is bad. I think the first step is confidence, thats what Steve Francis told me. Then just keep your head up when you dribble. The tennis ball idea helps alot too from what i hear.
     
  17. A-Train

    A-Train Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2000
    Messages:
    15,997
    Likes Received:
    39
    try dribbling while blindfolded, also...
     
  18. DFW_Rockets_Fan

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2002
    Messages:
    512
    Likes Received:
    26
    How about learning by example? Meet me on the court and I will take you to school.:D

    Actually I have the same problem, excellent shooter, but fair dribbling. It is tough to beat a double team with the dribble. Only the best of best do that. Passing is a much better option.

    Also, try setting a back pick for a person postioned out by the 3 point line. Normally your defenders will sag off to protect against the guy cutting to the basket. When they do step out and drain the three.
     
  19. Behad

    Behad Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 1999
    Messages:
    12,358
    Likes Received:
    193
    Buy some basketball dribble goggles...they're half goggles with the bottom covered, so you cannot look down at the ball while dribbling. They force you to learn to dribble with your head up.
     
  20. Woofer

    Woofer Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2000
    Messages:
    3,995
    Likes Received:
    1
    Who was the guy who's father would drive the car and have his son practice dribbling out the passenger window?
     

Share This Page