Ball Handling Workout

Ball handling is such a huge part of the game of basketball.  With a good ability to handle the ball a basketball player can get almost anywhere on the floor and create his own shots.  Without it a player can be a liability on the offensive end of the floor.

What can you do to improve your ball handling?  I will describe a basic workout that you can use to slowly improve your dribbling skills.  I will also show how you can build on it.


Stationary ball handling (10 times each side when applicable)
  • Air dribble overhead-1
  • Air dribble chest level-1
  • Air dribble waist level-1
  • Around the head-1
  • Around the waist-1
  • Around one leg-1
  • Around both legs-2
  • Figure Eights-3

Stationary dribbling (20 times each hand)
  • Low dribbles-1
  • Pound the ball-1
  • Crossover-1
  • One handed crossover-2
  • One handed in outs-2
  • Behind the back-3
  • Between the legs (both ways)-3
  • One handed between the legs (both ways)-4
  • Figure eights (both ways)-4 
  • Spider-5
  • Combo moves

2 Balls at a time (20 times)
  • Same time low dribble-2
  • Same time pounds-2
  • Staggered low dribble-3
  • Staggered pounds-3
  • Crossovers-3
  • Single handed crossovers same direction-4
  • Single handed crossovers opposite direction-4
  • Single handed in outs same direction-4
  • Single handed in outs opposite direction-4
  • Behind the back-5
  • Two handed between the legs (both ways)-5
  • One handed between the leg (both ways)-6
  • Combo moves

Moving with the ball (first level is with one ball and second is with 2 balls)
  • Walk and dribble-1-5
  • Jog and dribble-1-5
  • Run and dribble-1-5
  • Walk and crossover dribble-2-6
  • Jog and crossover dribble-2-6
  • Run and crossover dribble-2-6
  • Walk and crossover between the legs-3-7
  • Jog and crossover between the legs-3-7
  • Run and crossover between the legs-3-7
  • Walk and go behind the back-3-7
  • Jog and go behind the back-3-7
  • Run and go behind the back-3-7
  • Walk and spin-4-8
  • Jog and spin-4-8
  • Run and spin-4-8
  • Combo moves

The above lists are made in a way where a person can start slow depending on his skill level and work his way up.  For example a beginner might do drills using dribbles only labeled with ones, while a more advanced person might do drills at levels higher than 4 only.  It is recommended that you do these drills on a daily basis for about 10 minutes and you can see results.

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