How to do good basketball tricks

The 6 best moves you need to know

If you're starting to learn how to play basketball, working on your dribbling, shooting, and passing skills is crucial if you want to become a great player. Dribbling is arguably the most important aspect of the sport. Every player has to start somewhere, so read on to learn some fantastic tricks to elevate your game.

The importance of dribbling

Dribbling is important for both offensive and defensive basketball. On the offense, it's used to free yourself from congested areas and drive the ball up the court. Dribbling in defense can be an effective stalling tactic when you're being pressed. You need to be able to dribble with both hands to enable you to move freely in either direction and make it harder for a defensive player to guard you. In your practice sessions, work on dribbling with your weaker hand.

Red Bull Reign 2019 India Finals

© Ali Bharmal

Mastering these six basketball tricks will help you become a valuable team player and dominate on the court. Any trick you learn can go a long way toward smashing the opposition.

1. Crossover

One of the first dribble moves a player needs to practice when they start learning basketball tricks is the crossover dribble. It's also one of the easiest basketball moves for a player to perform, but don't be fooled by the simplicity — players at all levels use the crossover to blow past an opponent.

The crossover involves bouncing the ball from one hand to the other in front of you. You would mostly use this move when you want to change direction and you're not being closely guarded by a defender who could poke the ball away from you.

2. In-and-out

A great basketball move for players learning the game is the in-and-out dribble. It's a move that's designed to fool a defender into thinking you're going to perform a standard crossover. You can get a defender to switch their weight to the wrong leg, opening up a driving lane to attack.

While bouncing the ball with one hand, you use a fake move of the head and shoulders to make it look like you're going in the other direction. You move the ball inside and then back out by changing the position of your hand on the ball and then move forward in the same direction.

3. Through the legs

The through-the-legs dribble is similar to the crossover in that you bounce the ball from one hand to the other, but you cross it between your legs. As the ball passes through the legs, the front leg makes it difficult for an opponent to reach in. It also keeps the ball further from the defense.

Young players can find this move difficult because of the coordination and timing involved. However, when you learn to stay low and explode out of it, this can be one of the most effective basketball tricks.

4. Behind the back

Like the through-the-legs move, the behind-the-back dribble enables you to cross the basketball from one hand to the other while protecting it from a defender. As you pass the ball behind you, your whole body protects it.

One of the biggest advantages of this basketball move is that you can pass the ball out in front of your opposite hand, allowing for a quick offensive attack. While you're on a fast break and a defender lunges in to take the ball, using the behind-the-back dribble helps you protect the ball and escape from your opponent without breaking your stride.

5. Hesitation dribble

The hesitation dribble is a straight-line move that's often used to explode past a defender, giving you the opportunity to attack the basket or enable a teammate to shoot. The aim of this dribble move is to make your opponent think you're going to stop — and then you burst past them.

As you're dribbling quickly down the court, you slow down for a split second, slightly raise your body, and look at the basket or a teammate as if you're going to shoot or pass the ball. To stay in a good defensive position, the defender will slow down and, as they lose their momentum, you push off on your back foot and explode past them.

6. Spin move

One of the most difficult basketball tricks to learn is the spin move, but it's important for you to have this dribbling skill in your repertoire. When you've put in the work to practice this move, it's a quick and effective weapon to use against your opponents.

For the spin move, you plant your inside foot and reverse-swivel around the defender while taking the ball with you and protecting it with your body. You have to make sure your hand stays on top of the ball, because if your hand goes under, you may get stopped for a carrying violation.

6 Basketball Moves You Need to Beat Any Defender

Many players believe they need complex basketball moves to be a great ball-handler.

Instead of sticking to the basics, they want to learn the "advanced moves".

For example, the "double-crossover-spin-hesi-jumper” or the “triple-spin-back-cross-pullup”.

(yes, I made these up)

But the truth is…

By perfecting 6 fundamental basketball moves, you'll have everything you need to explode past any defender on the court.

They'll allow you to:

a. Get to the rim with ease (to create a shot for yourself or a teammate)

b. Fly past your opponent when you’re quickly bringing the ball up the court.

Below, I’ve broken down what the 6 basketball moves are and how you can use them in a game.

1. Crossover Dribble

The crossover involves bouncing the basketball in front of you from one hand to the other.

It’s most often used when a player wants to change directions and they’re not being tightly guarded by a defender who could poke the ball away.

This is the easiest basketball move for players to perform, and is the first move a player will start practicing when they first start learning how to dribble.

But don’t let the simplicity fool you…

The crossover is used by players at all levels to blow past an opponent.

Crossover Dribble Video:

2. Through the Legs Dribble

The through-the-legs basketball move involves crossing the basketball over from one hand to the other, but putting the ball between your legs.

A small difference from a regular crossover, but an important one.

When the ball is passed between the legs, the front leg offers protection from a defender reaching in and also ensures the ball is further away from the defense.

The timing and coordination needed for this move can make it difficult for young players, but it’s effective when players learn how to stay low and explode out of it.

Through the Legs Dribble Video:

3. Behind the Back Dribble

Similar to through the legs, the behind the back dribble allows players to switch the ball from one hand to the other while protecting the basketball.

With this move, the entire body protects the ball as a player wraps the ball behind them.

One of the biggest benefits of going behind the back is the ball can be passed out in front of your opposite hand which allows an offensive player to attack quickly.

So if a defender lunges in to steal the basketball while on the fast break, a quick behind the back dribble can help you protect the ball and evade the defender without breaking stride.

Behind the Back Dribble Video:

4. Hesitation Dribble

The hesitation dribble involves dribbling with speed, slowing down for a split-second, and then exploding past your defender.

It’s a straight-line basketball move often used in transition to beat a defender and attack the rim or create a shot for a teammate.

The goal with the hesitation dribble is to trick the defender into thinking you’re about to stop. This can be achieved by slightly raising your body, looking up to the rim like you’re about to shoot, looking up at a teammate, or a combination.

When a defender notices you slowing down, they’ll do the same in order to stay in good defensive position...

With the defender losing their momentum, you’ll be able to explode past them to the rim.

Hesitation Dribble Video:

5. In-and-Out Dribble

The in-and-out dribble move is designed to trick the defender into thinking you’re about to perform a regular crossover.

This is a great basketball move for players first learning the game of basketball.

Keeping the basketball in one hand, the offensive player uses a head and shoulders fake while moving the ball inside and then back out by switching the position of their hand on the ball.

It’s most commonly used in transition to get a defender to shift their weight from one direction to another which opens up a driving lane to attack.

In-and-Out Video Dribble:

6. Spin Move

The spin move is one of the most difficult basketball moves to learn, but it’s an important weapon for players to have in their dribbling repertoire.

It involves planting your inside foot and reverse-pivoting around a defender while dragging the basketball with you.

This can be a difficult move for young players to execute, but it’s quick and effective when a player has put in the work practicing it.

It’s important that players ensure their hand stays on top of the basketball. If the hand slips under, referees will whistle the dribbler for a carrying violation.

Spin Move Video:

Conclusion

A quick warning...

Don't try to overcomplicate it.

The players who try to do "too much" are the same players who will pump fake four times, dribble six times through their legs, and then dribble twice behind their back without ever making their defender move and inch.

Instead, you want to keep your basketball moves simple and effective.

Mastering the fundamentals is key.

Teaching Basketball Tricks: Types, Techniques, Tips

In teaching Basketball Tricks, practice becomes the main aspect: the longer you practice a technique, the better it gets. Feints are effective techniques that are used on the court to confuse an opponent. A good reception not only hides the intentions of further actions, but also looks spectacular for the audience. Every famous basketball player has their own set of favorite false maneuvers. Even an amateur who recently picked up a ball can learn the simplest of them. This article lists the feints that you need to master first, as well as recommendations for their implementation.

Basketball feints are most often used in the moments of throws and passes, while dribbling. The most common are changes of the supporting leg and the leading hand to the opposite one, turns 180 and 360 degrees, deceptive swings. If you started playing recently, then you will have to study them first of all. It also does not hurt to study the basic principles of the game, they are presented in the material “How to learn to play basketball?”.

How to master strokes?

All techniques improve with time and practice, in this sport it is very important to train regularly without missing classes. Feints should not be underestimated as something extra. This is not just a trick, but a serious tactical decision, in order to implement it correctly, strategic thinking, lightning speed of reaction, and excellent technique will be required.

Experience plays an important role, the more often a movement is practiced, the sooner it will be brought to automatism.

Not only his statistics depend on the agility and reaction of the player, but also the success of the team for which he plays. This even affects the impression of the audience, they like to watch spectacular meetings with unexpected twists. For high-quality performance you will need:

• operational analysis of the distribution of forces at the current moment, their position relative to the basket, members of both teams;
• the correct choice of the type of reception depends on whether you have possession of the ball and how far from the ring of the other team;
• daily improve their skills, both in the gym and at home. To practice many movements, special conditions and a large amount of space are not required. It is worth doing it yourself as often as possible in order to improve your personal technique;
• practice actions with the limbs and head with and without a projectile, on the go and in a stationary position. Mentors advise to train the throw with the ball, and the ability to catch - without it;
• deal with the projectile bouncing off the shield. This is convenient to do with an assistant who will throw it at the shield. Your task will be to catch him in a jump and make deceptive landing maneuvers, make passes and escape from under the ring.

Universal recommendation

Tricks can be extremely simple or very complex. To fulfill each of them, the observance of these principles is obligatory:

• promptness and accuracy;
• analysis of their actions. After each maneuver, you need to make sure that it was a success. If the opponent was able to resist him, then understand how he did it, what could give you away;
• with the help of tricks, you can recognize the weaknesses of opponents, this is worth using;
• you can't use the same tricks all the time, in which case the behavior will become predictable. It is necessary to combine different actions, choosing the most effective sets depending on the situation;
• do not use too many tricks, the game consists of more than just them;
• do not resort to those movements that you do not know how to do perfectly. Before resorting to some kind of manipulation on the site, you need to make sure that you own the technique in training.

Best Tricks

Consider the most popular basketball tricks. They are also used in street basketball, which is a separate game discipline. You can learn more about the direction from the material “How does street basketball differ from ordinary basketball?”.

Ball tricks

Dexterous manipulations are used by players when they are in an advantageous position relative to their own defender or are covered by representatives of the other team. To implement it, you need to make a lightning-fast movement of the ball along one trajectory, and then throw it in a completely different direction, for example, into the ring or make a pass to a teammate. The calculation is that the opponent will tune in to rush for the ball in the other direction. The trick to a successful implementation is that the planned true move should be a really abrupt change in trajectory, not worth doing it after returning to the starting position after the deception.

Foot movements

Foot feints are very common in basketball, so that they are successful, you need to try to keep the fake step as short as possible. The shorter the step length, the more opportunities to perform a swift movement in order to break away from the pursuit of an opponent. After performing, you must immediately transfer the weight to the supporting leg and immediately step to the other side.

Performed in several variations:

• a short and fast false step in a direction where no movement is planned;
• a rapid back and forth step followed by a throw from the same place or a feint imitating such a throw or passing to the opponents' shield;
• Bend the legs abruptly and perform an action simulating a throw jump, followed by a real throw jump or pass.

When making a false step, you should not transfer the weight of the body to the leading leg, it should not become a supporting one. The faster the step is completed and the shorter it is, the better. The supporting leg does not rise, it remains fixed until the ball is passed.

Head moves

The essence is that before moving along one trajectory, a sharp movement of the head and shoulders is made in the opposite direction. Applicable before the throw and to get closer to the opponent's basket from a position with your back to the opponent's basket. The action will be effective if the athlete can do everything sharply enough and does not lose balance, you need to be very dexterous. To do this, you need to make movements very short, as well as develop the skill of controlling your body and coordinating movements with special exercises in training.

Eye movements

A powerful distraction maneuver can be performed without expending energy or any movement. This is done by changing the direction of the gaze. Basketball players of all levels actively use this opportunity. Professionals have time to follow not only the hands and feet of opponents, but also facial expressions, in particular, eyes. It is important to learn to notice changes in the gaze of opponents, but at the same time remember that the eyes can deceive, and also use this technique to your advantage.

Hands and arms

The best time to perform a hand or arm feint is when passing the ball. For example, an athlete simply keeps his arms outstretched on the sides of the body, while seeing the ball with peripheral vision and at the last second sharply directs his hands towards the projectile and catches it when it has already passed over the defender's head.

Combined

The combination of different techniques is aerobatics, this is how the most powerful and effective deception maneuvers are performed. In one chain of actions, feints with arms, legs, ball, head, shoulders can be combined. To learn how to connect complex actions and create strong combinations, you need a perfectly developed technique for each of them individually and in combinations. This is how leading players confuse opponents, make the position of a defender or another representative of the other team unprofitable. This skill also comes with experience and practice.

Special feints

Despite the name, there is nothing complicated in them, they are practiced like any other actions. Such feints are performed from a position next to the opponents' shield, everyone needs to learn how to perform both standing facing the basket and with their backs to it. Do not neglect these techniques, even if you play basketball for your own pleasure and do not pretend to be a professional. They are also relevant in amateur basketball, if you are interested in getting acquainted with the features of a non-professional direction, then they are presented in the material “Amateur basketball - how and where to play?”.

Up and down

After receiving the pass, the player quickly lifts the ball up, taking such a stance as if he intends to immediately send it into the ring. The defender must react to this and rush to the attacker, his task is to intercept the throw. At this time, the basketball player with the ball takes a big step towards the shield, pushes off with force with the supporting leg, throwing the ball before the supporting foot comes off the surface. The distracting step may be directed in any direction from the defender, but it is better if it is made from the side of his arm or leg that was raised when moving forward. Thus, a member of the other team is at a disadvantage and is forced to spend precious seconds regrouping.

Stepping

After receiving the ball, take a big step towards the other team's ring, indicating that you want to move in that direction. The defender may not retreat, then you need to throw, if he retreats, then you can quickly pull back the leg exposed in front of you and straighten up to take the position for throwing in your current position. Another scenario is also possible, if the opponent is still moving towards you, you can not only throw the ball, but make a pass, ending it with a throw.

When learning basketball tricks, beginners should do more than simply practice moves mechanically. It is necessary to consciously improve your body control skills and feel your progress, understand what benefits this will bring in the game.

The best trick in basketball

Nikita Yamshchikov, founder of Ball In