When training in basketball, and more specifically working on your ball handling, there are a few things that you absolutely must do.
I watch players train all the time. And it's no wonder that very few players are great ball handlers. It all comes down to the way they train. They practice the wrong things. And to make matters worse they practice at half speed. So put the two together and it's a disaster.
Well have no fear. I'm here to make sure this doesn't happen to you. But before I get to the meat and the potatoes here I want to make one more point. While I do believe that you play how you practice, I don't believe that practice makes perfect. I don't really view perfection as a worthy goal.
I think players should strive to get a little bit better everyday and work on smaller goals so that they see light at the end of the tunnel. So many times players grow up wanting to be like a professional that they see on television. I'm all for that. But sometimes this can lead to frustration and discouragement.
So for starters, work on practicing hard. Give it 110% and set small goals for yourself. And gradually you'll notice improvement, which is the natural order of things.
Now for some things that pertain to the actual training. Here are three areas that players need to focus on when working on their ball handling:
Weak hand
Your goal is to catch up your weak and if possible make it your strong hand. So many players go through their whole career masking their weak hand and playing one-handed. It becomes a battle of wills. They figure if they can just force it to their strong hand they'll be able to beat the defense. The only problem with this is that the higher levels up that they go, the defenders are better and better. So instead of running into a brick wall and that weak hand catching up to you, get to work on it immediately.
Speed Dribble
If you can speed dribble, you'd be surprised at how much more you can make happen on the court just from mastering this. So I really recommend you get better at this when training. I see so many players looking like a train wreck when they start trying to push the ball up the court.
Change of Direction
Changing direction on the court is like turning a car. Imagine what would happen if you weren't good at making turns when you drove a car. So I recommend you set up cones on the court and work on changing directions when you're training.
Working on your dribble doesn't have to be too complicated. And you don't have to expect to be a master right out of the box. But as I said before, do it in baby steps. Your efforts will compound over the course of a few months and you'll be lethal will these skills before long.
I watch players train all the time. And it's no wonder that very few players are great ball handlers. It all comes down to the way they train. They practice the wrong things. And to make matters worse they practice at half speed. So put the two together and it's a disaster.
Well have no fear. I'm here to make sure this doesn't happen to you. But before I get to the meat and the potatoes here I want to make one more point. While I do believe that you play how you practice, I don't believe that practice makes perfect. I don't really view perfection as a worthy goal.
I think players should strive to get a little bit better everyday and work on smaller goals so that they see light at the end of the tunnel. So many times players grow up wanting to be like a professional that they see on television. I'm all for that. But sometimes this can lead to frustration and discouragement.
So for starters, work on practicing hard. Give it 110% and set small goals for yourself. And gradually you'll notice improvement, which is the natural order of things.
Now for some things that pertain to the actual training. Here are three areas that players need to focus on when working on their ball handling:
Weak hand
Your goal is to catch up your weak and if possible make it your strong hand. So many players go through their whole career masking their weak hand and playing one-handed. It becomes a battle of wills. They figure if they can just force it to their strong hand they'll be able to beat the defense. The only problem with this is that the higher levels up that they go, the defenders are better and better. So instead of running into a brick wall and that weak hand catching up to you, get to work on it immediately.
Speed Dribble
If you can speed dribble, you'd be surprised at how much more you can make happen on the court just from mastering this. So I really recommend you get better at this when training. I see so many players looking like a train wreck when they start trying to push the ball up the court.
Change of Direction
Changing direction on the court is like turning a car. Imagine what would happen if you weren't good at making turns when you drove a car. So I recommend you set up cones on the court and work on changing directions when you're training.
Working on your dribble doesn't have to be too complicated. And you don't have to expect to be a master right out of the box. But as I said before, do it in baby steps. Your efforts will compound over the course of a few months and you'll be lethal will these skills before long.
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