What Are Your Best Ballhandling Drills?

"Good players need two dribbles. Excellent players need one. Elite players don't have to dribble." - Anonymous

As a high school player, I was a mediocre ballhandler but limited turnovers with decision-making. We learned more with "dribble tag" and playing one-on-one than most drills. And I used precisely two behind-the-back dribbles my senior year (leading to two hoops...Coach hated the Fancy Dan stuff). 

Skepticism about my ballhandling teaching is advised. Here are a few thoughts: 

1. Economize the dribble. Never take one or two where none will suffice. 
2. Make the dribble take you somewhere. 
3. Avoid putting the ball on the deck immediately after the catch. Save your options. Don Kelbick reminds us, "think shot first." 
4. Where the dominant hand is available, use it. 
5. Teach change of direction (crossover), change of pace (hesitation), and combinations first. 
6. Teach young players to score on two dribbles from the three-point line and more experienced players to score with one dribble. 
7. Attack the front hand/foot off the catch. 
8. Side step and negative step dribbles can launch your attack. Coach Hanlen calls it "load step." Track guys might think 'sprint start' from the blocks. 
9. "It's a shoulders game; low man wins." 
10. The best drills employ offense, defense, and competition...which is why one great reason to play one-on-one. 

Dribbling drills to consider: 

• Dribble tag (inside the three-point line, add constraints like using the non-dominant hand)...six at each end of the court
• Dribbling a ball inside a plastic bag (the Kyrie Irving drill)
• Drew Hanlen's FIVE (an NBA elite trainer recommendation)
• Dribble pickups. Individual and combination moves into a pickup into your shot pocket. Getting the ball rapidly from the floor to your shot pocket is an edge. 
• Warmup drill for younger players (multipurpose)...back dribbles help escape pressure.
• 
• Dribble Flip attack 

  

I never say anything is the best or only way, just some other ways.

Lagniappe. Curry wall-ball drills. Gimmicky? It works for him. I don't know.

 

Lagniappe 2. This "Bulls action" sets up multiple actions out of a high ball screen depending on the defensive response. 

Lagniappe 3. I thought this video explained principles and possibilities of switching defenses with high effort, high IQ defenders.