"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:
- Economize the dribble. Never take one or two where none will suffice.
- Make the dribble take you somewhere.
- Avoid putting the ball on the deck immediately after the catch. Save your options. Don Kelbick reminds us, "think shot first."
- Where the dominant hand is available, use it.
- Teach change of direction (crossover), change of pace (hesitation), and combinations first.
- Teach young players to score on two dribbles from the three-point line and more experienced players to score with one dribble.
- Attack the front hand/foot off the catch.
- 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.
- "It's a shoulders game; low man wins."
- 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.