Crouching helps you protect the ball. When you’re standing up, the ball bounces higher, making it harder to control while giving your opponent plenty of time to swipe it away.
Have someone stand in front of you so you can stare at them while practicing. If you’re on your own, stand in front of a hoop or find something interesting ahead of you to focus on.
Balance is one of the most important parts of ball control. You can’t move effectively when you’re off-balance, so get the stance right before trying to dribble. If your feet start cramping, you most likely are putting too much weight on your toes. Lean forward very slightly, just enough to shift your weight.
To bounce the ball, snap your wrist down to push the ball with force. Keep your fingers spread apart to maximize the amount of control you have.
Get familiar with the surface you’re playing on. Every surface is unique, but some surfaces are springier. Softer surfaces require you to push the ball down with more force in order to get it to bounce back up to your hand. Think of the ball as an extension of your body. Practice bouncing it a few times to get a sense of the court and how the ball moves on it. Once you get a feel for where the ball is in relation to your body, you won’t need to look at it while dribbling.
Stability is key when starting the move. If you’re off-balance, you’re going to end up losing the ball. Dribble it in place, leaning onto your toes when you’re ready to take off.
Move your hand in a single motion, but don’t look down! If you look down, you key in the defender to what you’re about to do no matter how good your ball-handling skills are. The shift has to be done quickly, right as the ball gets close to the top of its bounce. You won’t be able to get a good handle on it if it’s close to the ground. Bounce it until it reaches the proper height.
The ball moves in a V-shape during a crossover. When you push the ball diagonally, it bounces up diagonally in the opposite direction. Keep the ball close to you so you don’t have to lean forward to retrieve it. To do this, push the ball laterally across your body. Don’t bounce it forward or backward.
If you plan on doing another crossover right away, position your hand on the side of the ball instead of on top of it. Practice crossing the ball over while standing in place. When you’re comfortable with the motion, transition to trying to put the ball between your legs. It’s easier after you master the basic crossover.
Get ready to move! Lean forward slightly on the balls of your feet so you’re able to spread your legs apart during the dribble.
For example, if you’re dribbling with your right hand, step forward with your left foot. Do the opposite while dribbling with your left hand. To cross the ball over effectively, take a quick step as the ball reaches the top of its bounce. This will give you a brief window to push the ball between your legs.
If you’re having a hard time getting the motion right, practice at a slow pace. Bounce the ball up a little higher than normal, take a step, and then try to shift your hand to the side.
Make sure you push the ball at an angle. Try to get a clean V-shaped bounce so the ball rises toward your other hand. If you’re having trouble getting the ball through without hitting your body, stand in place with your legs spread apart. Pass the ball back and forth several times. This will also give you an idea of how much force you need to apply so the ball bounces high enough.
While the ball is moving, you can lean forward on your back foot to prepare to move. Lifting your heel is okay at this point.
For instance, if you cross the ball over to your left hand, step forward with your right foot. Do the opposite when catching the ball with your right hand. If you’re practicing in a stationary position, try doing a hop step. Quickly jump up and shift your leg positioning.
Try out the move until you feel comfortable doing it at a quick pace. The timing can be a little tricky when you’re first learning how to do it. Take it one part at a time to improve your control and agility. Once you get the hang of the move, practice doing it over and over so it will feel natural on the court. [17] X Expert Source Ryan TremblayBasketball Coach Expert Interview. 13 November 2020.
