Wednesday, November 20, 2013

How To Become A Better Ball Handler - 20 Day Challenge

The 20 Day Challenge For Better Ball Handling


To be a great basketball player in today's game, you have to be an exceptional ball handler.  Whether it's 6'11 Kevin Durant, 6'8 LeBron James, 6'4 Russell Westbrook, or 5'9 Nate Robinson, you need a good handle to be able to get wherever you want/need to get on the court.   If you want to be a better basketball player, start by improving your control of the basketball.  



To do that, there is a 20 Day Challenge that is very simple - dribble the ball for just 20 minutes straight each day for 20 days.  So, start your 20 Day Challenge right now.  Today, dribble the basketball without stopping for 20 minutes straight.  Don't stop.  If you mess up or lose your dribble, immediately pick the ball back up and start dribbling again.



If you do that for 20 days, you will see a drastic improvement in your ball handling.  You have to build muscle memory in you finger pads (tips), your hands, and your wrist, and you do that through repetition.  



When doing the 20 day ball handling challenge, what you do is not as important as doing it.  We have posted ball handling drills that would be great to use.  Do those over and over again.  Watch videos of your favorite players and practice their moves.  You can also do it while you are watching TV; you can do the drills stationary and don't have to be moving.  The key is to DO IT!

Some possible drills to do during the 20 Day Challenge-  Right hand dribble (dribbling high and low)
-  Left hand dribble (dribbling high and low)
-  Crossovers
-  Between the legs
-  Behind the back
-  Figure 8's

Important keys to becoming a better ballhandler
-  Dribble with your finger tips
-  Keep your hand on top of the ball (don't build a bad habit of carrying the ball)
-  Bend your knees, keep the ball low, and keep your eyes up so you can see what is going on around you
-  Pound to the Ground - Push the ball to the ground with your fingertips; don't slap it or hit it.

Do the 20 day challenge and I promise you will see improvement.  Let me know how it goes!