10 Essential Point Guard Drills From Skylar Diggins
To rebound from a disappointing rookie season, Skylar Diggins hit the court hard in the off-season to work on her ball handling, shooting and layup skills. The skill work paid off in her phenomenal sophomore year, in which she made the All-WNBA first team and won the league’s Most Improved Player Award.
Improve your game by using the drills that propelled Diggins to stardom and check out her workout.
Basketball Dribbling Drills
Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
Get into an athletic stance with a slight bend in your knees. Dribble two basketballs, one with each hand, in rhythm. Keep your head up and your eyes looking forward as you maintain your dribble for 30 second.
Alternating Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
Same as the Two-Ball Dribbling Drill, except you alternate dribbling with each hand. Dribble once with your right hand, then your left, then right again, and continue for 30 seconds.
Side-to-Side Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
Dribble two basketballs, one with each hand, sweeping your hands out to the right, then out to the left. Keep your head up and eyes looking forward, and maintain your dribble for 30 seconds.
Front-to-Back Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
Same as the Side-to-Side Dribbling Drill, except you take one dribble in front, then one dribble behind, continuously for 30 seconds.
One High One Low Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
Dribble two basketballs, one with each hand, in rhythm, dribbling the ball with your right hand higher than the one with your left. Maintain your dribble for 15 seconds, then switch high and low for another 15 seconds.
Basketball Finishing Drills
Begin each drill at the elbow on the left side of the court. Take a few dribbles as you move toward the basket, then perform the finishing move described. Repeat 10 times, then switch to the right elbow of the court and perform the drills again.
Left Hand Finish Jumping Off Right Foot
Jump off your right foot and perform a layup high off the glass, as if a defender were attempting to block your shot.
Left Hand Scoop Lay-Up Jumping Off Left Foot
Jump off your left (or “wrong”) foot and perform an underhand “scoop” lay-up off the glass.
Left Hand Scoop Lay-Up Jumping Off Right Foot
Jump off your right foot and perform an underhand “scoop” lay-up off the glass.
Inside Hand Finish Jumping Off Left Foot
Jump off your left foot and perform a lay-up with your inside hand on the left side of the glass.
Inside Hand Reverse Lay-Up
Dribble under the hoop, turn your head back toward the basket and perform a reverse lay-up with your left hand on the right side of the glass.
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10 Essential Point Guard Drills From Skylar Diggins
To rebound from a disappointing rookie season, Skylar Diggins hit the court hard in the off-season to work on her ball handling, shooting and layup skills. The skill work paid off in her phenomenal sophomore year, in which she made the All-WNBA first team and won the league’s Most Improved Player Award.
Improve your game by using the drills that propelled Diggins to stardom and check out her workout.
Basketball Dribbling Drills
Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
Get into an athletic stance with a slight bend in your knees. Dribble two basketballs, one with each hand, in rhythm. Keep your head up and your eyes looking forward as you maintain your dribble for 30 second.
Alternating Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
Same as the Two-Ball Dribbling Drill, except you alternate dribbling with each hand. Dribble once with your right hand, then your left, then right again, and continue for 30 seconds.
Side-to-Side Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
Dribble two basketballs, one with each hand, sweeping your hands out to the right, then out to the left. Keep your head up and eyes looking forward, and maintain your dribble for 30 seconds.
Front-to-Back Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
Same as the Side-to-Side Dribbling Drill, except you take one dribble in front, then one dribble behind, continuously for 30 seconds.
One High One Low Two-Ball Dribbling Drill
Dribble two basketballs, one with each hand, in rhythm, dribbling the ball with your right hand higher than the one with your left. Maintain your dribble for 15 seconds, then switch high and low for another 15 seconds.
Basketball Finishing Drills
Begin each drill at the elbow on the left side of the court. Take a few dribbles as you move toward the basket, then perform the finishing move described. Repeat 10 times, then switch to the right elbow of the court and perform the drills again.
Left Hand Finish Jumping Off Right Foot
Jump off your right foot and perform a layup high off the glass, as if a defender were attempting to block your shot.
Left Hand Scoop Lay-Up Jumping Off Left Foot
Jump off your left (or “wrong”) foot and perform an underhand “scoop” lay-up off the glass.
Left Hand Scoop Lay-Up Jumping Off Right Foot
Jump off your right foot and perform an underhand “scoop” lay-up off the glass.
Inside Hand Finish Jumping Off Left Foot
Jump off your left foot and perform a lay-up with your inside hand on the left side of the glass.
Inside Hand Reverse Lay-Up
Dribble under the hoop, turn your head back toward the basket and perform a reverse lay-up with your left hand on the right side of the glass.