5 Two-Ball Dribbling Drills Every Basketball Player Should Try
With all of the different Instagram trainers out there, there’s no shortage of two-ball dribbling drills online.
But just because you see someone else doing it doesn’t mean it makes sense for you. A lot of the dribbling “drills” you see on social media are more flash than functional. With that, I want to simplify things and give you five two-ball dribbling drills every player should do on a regular basis.
But first, why even practice dribbling with two balls? You may think to yourself, “What is the point of two-ball drills? You are only ever going to use one ball in a game, so why practice with two?” First off, it is not an either/or type thing. Many one-ball dribbling drills are great, too. But adding a second basketball is going to do a couple of very positive things.
Firstly, it will force you to dribble with your off hand. When using one basketball, the tendency is to switch over to your strong hand whenever you start to get uncomfortable. But, if you already have a basketball in both hands, you do not have this luxury, forcing you to continue to work on your off hand.
Secondly, adding another basketball is going to increase the overall difficulty of the drill. Accounting for two basketballs is obviously going to be a lot more difficult than using just one, so if you can consistently handle two basketballs, then your hand-eye coordination and execution while handling only one basketball will be that much better.
Lastly, working on both hands at the same time is going to maximize your workout time. Rather than having to spend 30-60 seconds on each hand, you can do both simultaneously and create a more efficient dribbling workout.
The great thing about the following two-ball dribbling drills is that they are all stationary, so you can do them pretty much anywhere you have a flat, hard surface. If you are doing the drills all in a row, give yourself a break between each drill, and then go your hardest for each drill. Better to take a rest and give full effort than get worse and worse as fatigue increases.
Windshield Wipers
There are several variations to this two-ball drill. You can do the windshield wiper motion simultaneously right to left at the same time, or going in and out. This is not a very complicated drill, but it is really great for warming your hands up and working on developing great ball control.
Focus on allowing the ball up into your hand and feeling in control of the basketballs as you dribble. You can also do a side version of this drill. For each variation, spend 30-45 seconds on the drill.
Over-the-Top Crossover
Another great ball control drill, the over-the-top crossover drill is going to allow you to work on pound-dribbling the basketballs and then controlling them with an over the top crossover move. Start out going right over left, then left over right, and then alternating back and forth. A big key to this drill is not dropping the basketballs as you do the over-the-top crossover. You need to dribble it with force on each dribble. Do each portion of the drill for 30-40 seconds.
Circle Drill
[youtube video=”aL2MM_HyhII”]You are able to do this drill going through the front or reverse between your legs, both are going to help you improve your handles. Really focus on controlling the basketballs and putting them where you want them to go. Don’t drop the basketballs as you go between your legs, but dribble them with pace. This will allow you to get into the next move without having to take extra gather dribbles. Execute each move of the drill for 30-40 seconds.
Crossover Series
[youtube video=”LRH9zTU2yUA”]So technically this is four different drills, but they all play with the same idea, so I combined them together. On crossovers, whether they’re between the legs, behind the back or reverse between the legs, you are really going to be able to work on developing quick hands and your hand-eye coordination.
If you have the space and would like to challenge yourself, you can do these different drills on the move walking forward and then coming backwards. Do each move for 30-40 seconds.
Windmill and Alternating Windmill
[youtube video=”7rHLO7CMKfU”]Similar to some of the other drills on this list, the alternating windmill and regular windmill drill are excellent ways to work on hand-eye coordination, ball control and dexterity. You will be able to work on pound-dribbling the basketball and then controlling it and putting it where you want it to go.
Do your best to dribble the basketballs with pace as you go between the legs, as this will allow you to continue to execute sharp dribble movements. Do each drill for 30-40 seconds.
As mentioned, there are different variations for each of these drills that allow you to increase or decrease the difficulty of each drill. So whatever your starting point, don’t get frustrated and keep working through the drill. Also, proper technique is a big key to these drills. Stay in a low athletic stance, keep your eyes up, and dribble the basketballs hard and under control.
Photo Credit: Montes-Bradley/iStock
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5 Two-Ball Dribbling Drills Every Basketball Player Should Try
With all of the different Instagram trainers out there, there’s no shortage of two-ball dribbling drills online.
But just because you see someone else doing it doesn’t mean it makes sense for you. A lot of the dribbling “drills” you see on social media are more flash than functional. With that, I want to simplify things and give you five two-ball dribbling drills every player should do on a regular basis.
But first, why even practice dribbling with two balls? You may think to yourself, “What is the point of two-ball drills? You are only ever going to use one ball in a game, so why practice with two?” First off, it is not an either/or type thing. Many one-ball dribbling drills are great, too. But adding a second basketball is going to do a couple of very positive things.
Firstly, it will force you to dribble with your off hand. When using one basketball, the tendency is to switch over to your strong hand whenever you start to get uncomfortable. But, if you already have a basketball in both hands, you do not have this luxury, forcing you to continue to work on your off hand.
Secondly, adding another basketball is going to increase the overall difficulty of the drill. Accounting for two basketballs is obviously going to be a lot more difficult than using just one, so if you can consistently handle two basketballs, then your hand-eye coordination and execution while handling only one basketball will be that much better.
Lastly, working on both hands at the same time is going to maximize your workout time. Rather than having to spend 30-60 seconds on each hand, you can do both simultaneously and create a more efficient dribbling workout.
The great thing about the following two-ball dribbling drills is that they are all stationary, so you can do them pretty much anywhere you have a flat, hard surface. If you are doing the drills all in a row, give yourself a break between each drill, and then go your hardest for each drill. Better to take a rest and give full effort than get worse and worse as fatigue increases.
Windshield Wipers
There are several variations to this two-ball drill. You can do the windshield wiper motion simultaneously right to left at the same time, or going in and out. This is not a very complicated drill, but it is really great for warming your hands up and working on developing great ball control.
Focus on allowing the ball up into your hand and feeling in control of the basketballs as you dribble. You can also do a side version of this drill. For each variation, spend 30-45 seconds on the drill.
Over-the-Top Crossover
Another great ball control drill, the over-the-top crossover drill is going to allow you to work on pound-dribbling the basketballs and then controlling them with an over the top crossover move. Start out going right over left, then left over right, and then alternating back and forth. A big key to this drill is not dropping the basketballs as you do the over-the-top crossover. You need to dribble it with force on each dribble. Do each portion of the drill for 30-40 seconds.
Circle Drill
[youtube video=”aL2MM_HyhII”]You are able to do this drill going through the front or reverse between your legs, both are going to help you improve your handles. Really focus on controlling the basketballs and putting them where you want them to go. Don’t drop the basketballs as you go between your legs, but dribble them with pace. This will allow you to get into the next move without having to take extra gather dribbles. Execute each move of the drill for 30-40 seconds.
Crossover Series
[youtube video=”LRH9zTU2yUA”]So technically this is four different drills, but they all play with the same idea, so I combined them together. On crossovers, whether they’re between the legs, behind the back or reverse between the legs, you are really going to be able to work on developing quick hands and your hand-eye coordination.
If you have the space and would like to challenge yourself, you can do these different drills on the move walking forward and then coming backwards. Do each move for 30-40 seconds.
Windmill and Alternating Windmill
[youtube video=”7rHLO7CMKfU”]Similar to some of the other drills on this list, the alternating windmill and regular windmill drill are excellent ways to work on hand-eye coordination, ball control and dexterity. You will be able to work on pound-dribbling the basketball and then controlling it and putting it where you want it to go.
Do your best to dribble the basketballs with pace as you go between the legs, as this will allow you to continue to execute sharp dribble movements. Do each drill for 30-40 seconds.
As mentioned, there are different variations for each of these drills that allow you to increase or decrease the difficulty of each drill. So whatever your starting point, don’t get frustrated and keep working through the drill. Also, proper technique is a big key to these drills. Stay in a low athletic stance, keep your eyes up, and dribble the basketballs hard and under control.
Photo Credit: Montes-Bradley/iStock
READ MORE: