21 BEST Dribbling Drills to Improve ALL FACETS of Your Handles! (For Home or Gym)

Summary

In this video, the host introduces 21 top dribbling drills designed to enhance all aspects of ball handling for basketball players. With insights from training collegiate athletes and coaching experience, the video focuses on four key areas: ball height and speed variation, directional footwork, body height variation, and game-like comprehensive drills. The drills are aimed at improving dribbling skills quickly and are suitable for practice at home or in the gym. The host also offers a free 30-day workout program for further improvement.

Takeaways

• 🏀 The video presents 21 dribbling drills aimed at improving all aspects of ball handling, whether you're at home or in the gym.
• 🎯 The drills are based on the experience of coaching thousands of athletes, collegiate-level play, and collaborating with top coaches.
• 📝 The four main focus areas are ball height and speed variation, directional footwork, body height variation, and game-like comprehensive drills.
• ⬆️ Ball height variation helps players prevent turnovers and improve control in various situations, transitioning from high to low dribbles like elite players such as Kemba Walker and John Wall.
• ⚡ Players must work on changing speeds in their dribbling—alternating between quick and controlled paces to improve hand speed and control.
• 👟 Mastering directional footwork, including lateral movement, pivoting, and stopping, is key to executing dribbling moves like crossovers, spin moves, and retreat dribbles.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Body height variation is crucial for staying low during dribbling moves, especially for guards like Damian Lillard, who adjust body height based on defensive pressure.
• 🤹‍♂️ The drills emphasize combining all learned skills into game-like scenarios, making moves more effective during actual games.
• 🎥 The video provides a step-by-step breakdown of how to execute each drill, emphasizing the importance of muscle memory and repetition.
• 🎁 A free 30-day elite handles workout program is offered, including additional bonus drills to help players improve their ball-handling quickly.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to demonstrate 21 best dribbling drills to improve various aspects of ball handling for basketball players.

Who is the intended audience for these dribbling drills?

The dribbling drills are intended for basketball players who want to enhance their ball handling skills, regardless of their current skill level or position.

What are the four major focus areas for the dribbling drills?

The four major focus areas are ball height and speed variation, directional footwork, body height variation, and game-like comprehensive drills.

Why is ball height and speed variation important in dribbling?

Ball height and speed variation is crucial as it helps prevent the ball from being stolen, allows for better control, and enables players to make more effective moves.

How can players improve their directional footwork?

Players can improve their directional footwork by practicing game-like footwork movements such as lateral changing, direction pivoting, stopping, slowing momentum, and retreat dribbling.

What is the significance of body height variation in basketball?

Body height variation is significant as it allows players to adjust their stance according to the defense, which impacts their ability to make quick moves and attack effectively.

Why do some players struggle with staying low when making moves?

Players may struggle with staying low due to lack of leg strength or not being accustomed to transitioning from an upright position to a lower athletic stance.

How can the game-like comprehensive drills help players?

The game-like comprehensive drills help players by simulating real game situations and combining learned skills to improve their performance during actual games.

What additional resource is offered to help improve dribbling skills?

A free 30-day elite handles workout program is offered, which includes the drills from the video and additional bonus drills not shown.

How can viewers access the free workout program mentioned in the video?

Viewers can access the free workout program by clicking the link provided in the video description.

What should players do if they have questions about the dribbling drills?

Players should leave a comment on the video, and the video creator will do their best to help them out.

Outlines

00:00

🏀 Introduction to Dribbling Drills

The speaker introduces a set of 21 dribbling drills designed to enhance various aspects of ball handling. These drills are suitable for any location and are aimed at players at different skill levels, from college athletes to those looking to improve their game. The video is structured around four key focus areas: ball height and speed variation, directional footwork, body height variation, and game-like comprehensive drills. The speaker emphasizes the importance of these drills for quick improvement and shares a personal anecdote about a client who had to adjust their playing position, highlighting the need for mastering dribbling fundamentals.

05:15

🔁 Ball Height and Speed Variation

This section delves into the importance of dribbling at different heights to prevent ball theft and execute better moves. The speaker explains how great players like Kemba Walker and John Wall transition between high and low dribbles to protect the ball and make effective moves. The drills focus on varying the height and speed of the dribble, simulating the need to change pace from a sprint to a change of direction move. The speaker also discusses the importance of adding force to the dribble to increase ball speed and the necessity of quick hand movements to maintain control.

10:19

🏃‍♂️ Directional Footwork

The focus shifts to mastering footwork movements essential for slowing down, stopping momentum, and performing basic dribbling moves like crossovers, spins, and retreat dribbles. The speaker highlights the example of Chris Paul, who has a solid foundation in footwork, allowing him to make moves effectively. The drills in this section aim to improve lateral movement, changing direction, pivoting, and slowing or stopping momentum, which are crucial for attacking and moving in all directions on the court.

15:21

💪 Body Height Variation

The speaker addresses the challenge of staying low during moves, which is often due to a lack of leg strength or unfamiliarity with transitioning between upright and lower athletic stances. The section emphasizes the importance of body height variation, as demonstrated by players like Damian Lillard, who adjust their body height according to the defense. The drills aim to build muscle memory for adjusting body height while performing combo dribbles, including crossovers, through-the-legs, and behind-the-back moves.

20:22

🎮 Game-Like Comprehensive Drills

The final section aims to bridge the gap between training and in-game performance by simulating game-like situations. The speaker points out that many players struggle to transfer their training skills to actual games, which is often due to a lack of game-like moves during practice. This section combines the previously discussed aspects of ball handling, footwork, and body height variation into comprehensive drills. The speaker also mentions a free 30-day elite handles workout program for further improvement and encourages viewers to engage with the content by leaving comments for additional support.

Keywords

💡Dribbling drills

Dribbling drills refer to specific exercises designed to improve ball-handling skills in basketball. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of these drills to improve a player’s control, speed, and ball security, no matter their position on the court. The drills are meant to replicate game-like situations and help players increase their ability to handle the ball under pressure.

💡Ball height and speed variation

Ball height and speed variation is the concept of adjusting the height and speed of the dribble based on different game situations. In the video, the speaker highlights how mastering this skill can help prevent turnovers and improve a player's ability to maneuver around defenders. The variation allows for better ball protection and smoother transitions from a sprint to a change of direction.

💡Directional footwork

Directional footwork refers to the movement patterns that players use to change direction or stop and go while handling the basketball. The video focuses on mastering footwork to improve moves like crossovers, spin moves, and retreat dribbles. Proper footwork allows players to maintain control of the ball while moving efficiently in various directions on the court.

💡Body height variation

Body height variation is the ability to adjust body posture from an upright position to a low, athletic stance while dribbling. The speaker emphasizes the importance of this variation, especially for players like guards who need to stay low to protect the ball and make quick moves. This skill helps players transition smoothly between different movements and maintain balance.

💡Game-like comprehensive drills

Game-like comprehensive drills combine all the individual skills, such as ball handling, footwork, and body positioning, into drills that simulate real game situations. The speaker stresses the need for players to practice these comprehensive drills to effectively transfer skills learned in practice to actual games. These drills challenge players to react in real-time to defenders and court conditions.

💡Hand quickness

Hand quickness is the ability to move and control the basketball with speed and precision. In the video, this concept is emphasized in the context of transitioning between slow and fast dribbles, allowing players to quickly outmaneuver defenders. Quick hands are necessary to maintain control of the ball during high-speed dribbling and sudden directional changes.

💡Crossover

The crossover is a dribbling move where the player quickly switches the ball from one hand to the other to evade a defender. This move is frequently mentioned in the video as one of the key moves players should master to improve their ball-handling and directional footwork. It is particularly effective in creating space between the player and the defender.

💡Retreat dribble

A retreat dribble is a backward dribble used to create space between the player and the defender, allowing for a reset of the offensive play. The video highlights this as an essential skill for changing direction or slowing momentum. Mastering the retreat dribble helps players avoid turnovers while under pressure.

💡Leg strength

Leg strength is crucial for maintaining a low stance and moving quickly while dribbling. The video explains how players who struggle with staying low often lack leg strength or the ability to transition from an upright to a lower position. Developing strong legs improves balance and stability, especially during quick movements and body height variation.

💡Momentum control

Momentum control refers to the ability to manage one's speed and direction while dribbling to maintain control of the ball. The speaker emphasizes this skill in relation to footwork and body positioning, as players need to control their momentum when making moves like crossovers, stopping suddenly, or changing directions. Proper momentum control helps prevent turnovers and improves overall ball-handling efficiency.

Highlights

Introduction to 21 best dribbling drills to improve ball handling

Importance of understanding key areas and drills for quick improvement

Experience from training thousands of athletes and collaborating with top coaches

The challenge of a client transitioning from playing a bigger position to a smaller one

Need for mastering ball and body height variation, hand speed, and footwork

Introduction to four major focus areas: ball height and speed variation, directional footwork, body height variation, and game-like comprehensive drills

Flexibility in the order of training the four focus areas

Explanation of the necessity of ball height and speed variation to prevent ball theft

Example of great players like Kemba Walker and John Wall mastering ball height variation

Drills for alternating speeds to improve hand quickness and control

Importance of directional footwork for slowing and stopping momentum

Footwork foundation exemplified by players like Chris Paul

Focus on game-like footwork movements for attacking and moving in all directions

Explanation of body height variation and its impact on quick moves

Example of great guards like Damian Lillard mastering body height variation

Drills for adjusting body height while improving combo dribbling

Importance of game-like comprehensive drills for transferring skills to actual games

Offer of a free 30-day elite handles workout program for further improvement

Encouragement to use the drills and key points for quick improvement in dribbling skills

Invitation for viewers to ask questions and engage in the comments

Transcripts

what's up everybody today i'm going to

show you the 21 best dribbling drills to

improve all facets of your ball handling

no matter if you're at home or you're in

the gym no matter where you are now

after training thousands of athletes

playing the game at the collegiate level

and collaborating with top coaches in

the country i have compiled the top

dribbling drills for players like you to

help improve the handles with so many

videos to scroll through on youtube it's

important that players understand the

key areas and drills that are important

for quickly taking their dribbling to

the next level i still remember one of

my dedicated clients he was used to

playing the bigger position the four to

three when younger but as he got older

specifically college his positions on

the floor quickly changed and now he was

playing the two in the three now the

teacher player that has never mastered

the art of ball and body height

variation in addition to hand speed and

footwork so that he can become more

acclimated to his position was a

challenge that was tough it required me

to structure his workouts to be more

understandable with the simplest

dribbling elements so that he can

understand and experience the best

results and be better this same

dribbling layout is what i'm going to

show you today and i'm confident that if

you work on these dribbling drills you

will increase your ball handling ability

quickly now before we get started keep

in mind there are four major focus areas

that we will work on today number one

ball height and speed variation number

two directional footwork number three

body height variation and number four

game like comprehensive drills so let me

just break down the structure of these

four major focus areas before we get

right into it all right so you can start

with number one first you can start with

number two first or you can start with

number three first it doesn't matter the

one thing to keep in mind is for number

four the game like comprehensive you

need to make sure that you pull drills

from each one of these top three

to make up your number four all right so

it doesn't matter you can work on any

one of these in whatever order you want

but keep in mind for number four you

will pull drills from each one of these

stages or these focus areas to help work

on your game simulation your game-like

performance alright let's get right into

it now

now before we get started make sure you

subscribe to this channel and if you're

on youtube click the alert notification

right now

let's spend time talking about ball

height and speed variation why must

players know how to dribble the ball at

various heights simply put it will

prevent losing the ball getting the ball

stolen and help you make better moves

one of the best ways to help players go

from a high to a low position with the

ball is to work on dribbling at various

heights great players like kemba walker

and john wall know how to go from a high

dribble with no defender on them to a

low dribble with a defender on them

steal while protecting the ball for

example this skill is needed to

transition from a dribble sprint to a

change of direction move not only is

dribbling at various heights good but

also knowing how to randomly change

between heights going from high to low

and lo and low to high will take your

game to the next level so this

first one here we're gonna work on ball

height and speed variation for the first

one

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two

one two three

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have you ever seen great players like

kyrie irving dribbling the ball at a

steady pace because he's either running

a play or just simply getting ready for

his next move and then boom all of a

sudden he quickly transitioned into his

next dribble

beating the defender to the basket or

even up the court

now to do this it requires quick and

controlled hands to make this type of

transition you have to have quick hands

and control hands so for the next set of

drills we're going to work on

alternating our speeds five seconds

going quick and hard then another five

seconds we're gonna go slow and

controlled

we're gonna challenge your ball handling

skills and hand quickness by changing

speeds to increase the speed of the ball

you have to add more force right so this

is why number one is important and when

you add force to your dribble by

pounding it

this in turn will require you to move

your hands quicker to keep control of

the ball alright let's get right into it

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so

one two

three

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oh

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oh

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up

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now for the next focus area that we're

going to talk about

we're going to get right into talking

about directional footwork

a key problem that most players struggle

with is mastering the key footwork

movements that are needed to slow and

stop their momentum in addition to

making simple dribbling moves such as a

crossover through the legs spin moves

and retreat dribbles these are basic

right great players like chris paul have

a solid foundation of footwork skill

that allows him to make any move at any

given time it's important that athletes

like you understand and master their

footwork skill to be able to attack and

move in all directions on the floor

that's key in this phase we're going to

focus on all game like footwork

movements like working on lateral

changing direction pivoting stopping and

slowing your momentum when going forward

and retreat dribbling when moving

backwards let's get right into it

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all right next we're going to talk about

body height variation number three do

you ever wonder why players struggle

with staying low when making moves it's

either because they lack the leg

strength on their body or they're just

not used to transitioning from an

upright position to a lower athletic

stance which impacts their ability to

make quick moves great guards like

damien lillard have mastered the art of

adjusting his body height according to

the defense and utilize it when

attacking or making moves in this phase

we're going to focus on going from an

upright position that's that body height

variation to a low position while

improving our combo dribbling with three

simple moves and those moves are at

crossover through the legs and behind

the back this drill will build muscle

memory and prepare your legs for

adjusting your body height let's get

right into it

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ugh

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uh

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um

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wow

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next let's get into the the good stuff

game like comprehensive right

have you seen players train well but

they struggle with transferring those

skills over to the game i see this

happen a lot because players are not

making game like moves this requires you

to go hard

and they're not combining the learned

skills into the game this section will

help athletes put all the concepts the

ball height speed variation directional

footwork body height variation into one

piece it's important to simulate

game-like situations while also

incorporating a mix of drills that you

are trying to master and that's what

we're going to work on in this section

let's get right into it

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to help improve your dribbling skills as

fast as possible i put together a free

30-day elite handles workout program

showing you exactly when and how to use

the drills included in this video plus i

added a few extra bonus drills not shown

in this video that will catapult your

handles to another level click the link

in the video description to instantly

get the workout program for free

again if you use the drills and the key

points taught in this video your

dribbling skills will improve quickly if

you have any questions at all as always

please leave me a comment and i'll do my

best to help you out i'll see you soon