9 Post Moves All Players Must Master (Even Guards)
Players who are able to score from post moves are rare in today’s game.
In the past, the majority of points came from the low post…
Guards would bring the basketball up the court, throw the ball inside to the team’s post players, and then these ‘bigs’ would then use their power and strength to score in the paint.
But in this age of basketball, guards have taken over as the dominant position.
Scoring in today’s game comes mostly from long-range shots and dribble penetration.
Rarely does the basketball get passed into the low post.
And when it does, very few players have the skills to score consistently from the post up.
Also...
Just as the skill of posting up has decreased, so has the skill of defending the low post.
This leaves a big opportunity to become one of the few dominant low post players for whoever is willing to put in the time to improve in this area.
These skills are especially important for youth players where outside shooting is poor and most of the game’s points come from around the rim.
Below I’ll share the 9 post moves every player should have in their bag of tricks.
Let’s get started...
1. Jump Hook
The simple jump hook is the #1 post move every player should have in their bag of tricks.
It’s simple, effective, and can be used by any player.
The best time to use this post move is when the basketball is deep in the paint.
After you’ve caught the ball inside or backed your opponent down, simply turn sideways to the basket (right or left), bring the ball up, and then flick your wrist to put the basketball in the hoop.
Detailed ‘Jump Hook’ Example:
Catch the basketball on the left block in a low, wide stance.
With your back to the basket, give a quick ball and shoulder fake to the right before taking one or two dribbles towards the middle.
In this situation, you should come to a two-foot jump stop with your chest facing the sideline and inside shoulder parallel with the hoop.
From here, start bringing the ball up vertically along your outside shoulder with two hands for control.
Once the ball is above your head level, the non-shooting hand comes off the basketball and is used to protect the shot from getting blocked.
Finally, a quick snap of the wrist should see the basketball sail over the defender and drop in the hoop.
2. Up and Under
The Kevin 'Post Moves Master' McHale special.
The up and under post move is the perfect counter move after you’ve made a few hook shots.
Your defender will anticipate a small jump hook and will be ready to jump out of the gym to block your shot when they get another chance.
But they don’t see what’s coming…
Instead of going up for the jump hook, you fake the shot, step through, and finish with a wide open layup as the defender floats in the air wondering what happened.
Detailed ‘Up and Under’ Example:
Catch the basketball on the left block in a low, wide stance.
With your back to the basket, give a quick ball and shoulder fake to the right before taking one or two dribbles towards the middle.
Same as the jump hook, come to a two-foot jump stop with your chest facing the sideline and inside shoulder parallel with the hoop.
But instead of shooting, trick your defender by giving them a shot fake to get them in the air.
Then, with your left foot as your pivot foot, step through with your right foot and finish with a wide open left hand layup at the rim.
3. Drop Step
The drop step can be a deadly weapon in your post move arsenal.
It’s not a complicated move, but it requires a player to quickly read the positioning of their defender and execute the drop step at exactly the right time.
If a player doesn’t time it correctly, they’ll end up charging straight into the defender or getting their shot pinned against the backboard.
For the drop step to work, you must get the defender to commit to one side, extend your foot backwards as you take a dribble, and then use your body to shield the basketball.
If executed correctly, the only way for the defender to recover and block the shot will be to go over your back leading to a foul.
Detailed ‘Drop Step’ Example:
Catch the basketball on the left block in a low, wide stance.
Turn towards the middle of the floor and take one or two dribbles to close the space between you and the defender.
As you take the final dribble, extend your right leg back to the baseline side of the defender to establish this as your pivot foot.
Swing your left leg and body towards the baseline to get by your defender.
Protect the basketball with your body as quickly finish at the rim.
4. Fadeaway
This was the chosen move of both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant when they received the basketball in the low post area.
It’s an advanced post move, but it can take your game to the next level if you can master it.
The goal when shooting a fadeaway is to create enough separation between yourself and the defender to take an open jump shot.
This is done by jumping away from the hoop.
The advanced difficulty of this shot is because players must have the strength to shoot while fading away, be able to judge the shot distance to perfection, and stay in control of their body.
It’s not easy...
Detailed ‘Fadeaway’ Example:
Catch the basketball on the left block in a low, wide stance.
Take one or two dribbles backing down your opponent.
With your back to the defender, use a quick ball and shoulder fake towards the middle of the lane making it look like you’re going to turn inside to shoot.
Using your right foot as the pivot foot, swing your left leg around and then jump up in the air as you fade away from the rim getting ready to shoot.
Allow your body to turn in the air as you square up to the hoop and then shoot the basketball.
5. Quick Spin
The quick spin post move should be made immediately after catching the basketball.
It involves reading the defender before receiving the ball and noticing they’re bodying up and playing very close. And possibly even favoring one side.
When you make the catch, immediately spin the direction you feel has more space.
Depending on how far away you are from the hoop, you may have to take a dribble.
As you roll off the opponent’s shoulder, they’ll be locked behind (similar to the drop step) and the only way for them to recover will be to foul you from behind.
‘Quick Spin’ Example:
Before you receive the ball, you can feel the defender is playing close to you and favoring the high side attempting to deny the ball.
While using your left arm for protection, you show the player with the basketball your right hand as a target to throw the ball to your right side.
As you receive the ball, immediately spin towards the baseline using your right foot as the pivot foot.
From here, you can finish with either hand depending on how far up the lane you were when you caught the basketball.
6. Back Down
This is one of the basketball post moves to use when you have a significant strength advantage over your opponent.
It involves backing down the smaller or weaker defender until they’re close to the rim.
From here, the offensive player can finish with a jump hook or simply turn around and put the ball in the basket depending on their height advantage.
This can be a great option when an opposition guard gets switched onto a post player.
But, a warning…
Savvy guards will attempt to take a charge in this situation.
Make sure you’re using your rear end to back down instead of drilling your shoulder into the opposition player.
Detailed ‘Bully Back Down’ Example:
Catch the basketball on the left block in a low, wide stance.
Keeping your rear to the opponent, start backing down closer and closer towards the rim.
Once you’re close enough to the rim, shoot a short jump hook or simply turn around and put the ball in the rim.
7. The Skyhook
Made famous by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the skyhook is the most advanced post move in all of basketball.
So advanced that no one has been able to make the skyhook shot consistently since Kareem retired from the league in 1989.
There are a few subtle differences from the jump hook:
The skyhook is shot off one leg.
The skyhook is usually shot from further out.
“Why has no one developed a consistent skyhook since then?”
Good question…
A few possible reasons:
The game is now more three-point focused.
Players don’t want to spend the time practicing the skyhook.
It’s not a ‘cool’ shot to learn and take.
If you’re one of the rare players who is willing to put in the work on this move, I’m confident it could result in a lot of points added to your game.
Detailed ‘Skyhook’ Example:
Catch the basketball on the left block in a low, wide stance.
Take one or two dribbles backing down your opponent.
With your back to the defender, use a quick ball and shoulder fake towards the baseline making it look like you’re going to fade away or attack the basket.
Using your left foot as the pivot foot, swing your right leg around and drive it up into the air as you jump off your left foot.
With your inside shoulder parallel to the hoop, raise the ball up and then shoot a long hook shot towards the rim.
8. Face Up, Jump Shot
Let’s step out from the low block a little bit…
Facing up to your defender can be a great move if you can consistently make a mid-range jump shot or you’re faster than your opponent.
To do this, receive the basketball one or two steps out from the low block.
If you can make the jump shot, your defender will be forced to take a step closer to prevent giving you an open look.
If they don’t, immediately raise up into your shot and kiss the basketball off the glass.
Detailed ‘Face Up, Jump Shot’ Example:
Catch the basketball a step or two out from the low block in a low, wide stance.
From here, you can use your left foot to forward pivot or your right foot to reverse pivot so that you’re facing your opponent.
If they give your room to shoot and you can make the shot, raise up and shoot the basketball.
9. Face Up, Attack
Continuing on from the previous post move…
Once you face up to your opponent, the other option you have is to attack the hoop past your defender using one dribble.
You’ll get an opportunity to attack if the defender closes down the space between you and them or if they bite on a shot fake or jav step.
One of the major benefits of attacking from such a close distance is that it will be very difficult for the defender not to foul when they challenge the shot.
With good footwork and smart decisions, you can quickly get your opponent in foul trouble by facing up and attacking the rim.
Detailed ‘Face Up, Attack’ Example:
Catch the basketball a step or two out from the low block in a low, wide stance.
From here, you can use your left foot to forward pivot or your right foot to reverse pivot so that you’re facing your opponent.
If the defender chooses to get close to prevent a shot, give them a quick shot fake to bring them out of their low defensive stance.
This will allow you to quickly drive past them and finish with an open layup.
Conclusion
Every player has their favorite post moves…
But you need to be effective with several because you never know who’s going to be defending you during games and everyone can be exploited differently.
While you might prefer going to the drop step, if you’re being guarded by a tall player who chooses to step off, the drop step might not be effective.
Instead, you must be able to step out and face up to continue scoring in the post.
Having a wide variety of posts moves to use during games is important.
Let’s bring dominant post play back to basketball.
3 Post Moves To DOMINATE The Paint (For Guards Too!)
Home > Coaching > Drills > Footwork > Middle Attack
In the video clip below, NBA skills trainer Don Kelbick shows you three post moves that you can teach to your team.
These moves enable your players to create more scoring opportunities around the basket. And since lay ups are the most efficient shot in basketball... the more you can make this shot and the more opportunities you can get, the better.
Also, below the video we explain why you should also use these exact same drills and moves with your guards.
Post Move #1: Drop Step Dribble - Drop Step
You drop step to the middle of the lane while taking one or two dribbles.
Then you plant your inside leg and execute a drop step with your outside leg.
As Coach Kelbick said, make sure to pick up your pivot foot and drive that knee up to the basket.
Also, a reminder, once you pick up your pivot foot to shoot, you cannot return it back to the floor prior to shooting (or passing). That would be a traveling violation.
Post Move #2: Drop Step Dribble - Front Pivot
Like the first move, you start with a drop step towards the middle of the lane with one or two dribbles.
Except, this time you do a front pivot on your outside leg, then shoot.
Post Move #3: Drop Step Dribble - Front Pivot - Step Through
This is continuous of post move #2. Now when you front pivot to shoot, the defender takes away your shot. So you execute a step through move straight to the basket.
Post Moves Tips:
Drive Knee To Hoop - This Carries You Through Contact
On post moves #1 and #3, make sure to drive your knee to the basket. As Don Kelbick explains in the video, this creates momentum and power towards the basket. So if there is some incidental contact, you can finish through it.
And if there is excessive contact, the amount of force will knock you off your path. And due to your sudden, abrupt movement, it's easy for officials to call the foul.
Don't Worry About Mistakes
At first, your players are going to travel and make mistakes. The key is to get more repetitions. If you see a mistake three or four times in a row, then instruct with coaching cues as they continue through the drill.
Most of the time with players, it's not a matter of knowing what to do. It's a matter of getting enough repetitions to get the body trained to do it.
Why You Should Teach Your Guards These Moves Too!
When I teach my teams, I teach all of my players these moves. Why should you?
1 - The footwork is the same as moves used to finish around the basket when attacking from the perimeter.
Look at moves #2 and #3 again. Aren't those the Rajon Rondo finishing moves?
Look at move #1 again. Isn't that similar to what some people call a spin move?
The only difference is you start closer to the basket. And that leads to point #2.
2 - You get more reps closer to the basket. One of the keys to developing great scoring moves is to get a bunch of reps.
So which one do you get more reps with.... Starting closer to the basket or starting beyond 3-point line every time?
Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't ever practice the moves from the perimeter. You need to do that too! So you could simply do 5 reps in the post and 5 reps from the perimeter.
But you should definitely do some reps close to the basket. And this leads to #3.
3 - Most guards are bad post defenders and you can take advantage of them.
So if you have practiced your moves in the post area, you can identify weak defenders and post them up.
As a coach, you can do this. If all of your players know how to play in the post, you can simply just yell out the player's name during the game. Then your team knows to look for that player in the post.
I've done this before and it works great.
Footwork Is The Basis For All Great Post Moves, Guard Moves, Finishing Moves, Dribble Moves, and Even Shooting!
As you can see, great footwork is the basis for all great post & perimeter scoring moves.
As a coach, you probably already know that a player can have mediocre dribbling skills, yet still be a great ball handler. That's because their great footwork enables them to get by the defenders.
With great footwork moving off the ball, you can quickly catch the ball, face the basket, and get balanced. This will get your players more open shots and will lead to a higher shooting percentage.
And that's what so many people love about Don Kelbick's Attack & Counter Skill Development System.
He shows you how to connect all of these moves and situations with just 3 pivots and 3 counters.
And as you could probably see in the video above, this accelerates learning of the moves. It's a main reason that these kids could pick up the moves so quickly in the video, even though Don was teaching them the moves for the first time.
"Don Kelbick is one of the greatest teachers of footwork fundamentals in the game of basketball today."
- Brian Sass from Wheeling, Illinois
"I don't buy many DVD's. This one is outstanding. Don Kelbick is a master teacher/coach that simplifies things greatly. Footwork is so key to the game. breaking offensive moves to 3 moves and 3 counter moves -
whether you are a post or guard, dribbling or not -- simplistic. I'm integrating these footwork concepts into my daily practice. It is very well organized, DVD and PDF. A great buy!!"
- Coach K from Fort Collins, Colorado
"This is by far one of the best skill development DVDs on the market. Regardless if you are high school college or Pro and you are looking for a system and method of developing player look no further the Kelbick's Attack & Counter.
This will be standard of player development dvd's for years to come."
- Wes Brooks from Corinth, Texas
Unorthodox mentality tips that make your players more aggressive and assertive!
And another bonus with the Attack & Counter System is that Don has some very unorthodox, yet effective mentality tips that you might really like. They make your players more aggressive, more confident, and better decision-makers on the floor.
Even if you don't like his mentality stuff, at the very least, you have a great system to teach to your players and accelerate their skill development.
And like always, we have our 100% money-back guarantee. That way, if you don't like it, you get to keep your money. No hassle. No questions asked!
If the roles were reversed, that's how we'd want to be treated.
Go the page below to learn more and get the videos.
Don Kelbick's Attack & Counter Skill Development System
What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions. ..
what is it, technique, breakout defense
The post players on the basketball court are the key players, they play the most important role in the team. Any of the basketball players is important for the implementation of tactical decisions, but only they can significantly change the course of the game. The post in basketball is the space from the ring to the penalty area, it is highlighted in a different color. Based on this, it is clear that post moves in basketball are the actions of players in a given zone. It is limited by the ring, this is the low post, and the foul line, this is the high post. In this article, we will analyze the features of the game in the post zone or the paint zone, how to ensure a successful pass, what rules work in this zone.
It was the wrestling under the basket that became the reason for the introduction of many rules that form the basis of modern basketball. For example, the paint area was doubled from six feet mainly due to the decisive superiority of George Mikan in the 50s. And the ban on passing the ball back to yourself appeared due to maneuvers that Wilt Chamberlain was carried away with. The last rule in our country has been cancelled.
How to behave in the paint sector?
The three second rule works in this zone, so there is no time to think. Three-second sector players act intuitively. They are required to be able to play with their backs to the backboard, a skill that takes hundreds of hours of practice to develop. An inexperienced basketball player will not be able to adequately fight for rebounding. Therefore, the coach appoints not the tallest and strongest player to the post, but the one who is ready for this.
A good paint zone player not only skillfully plays with his back to the ring, but also boldly tries to make contact. He is not afraid of collisions, blows and pain, he moves to the ring, and even if he fails to take a rebound, he will always make sure that the opponent does not realize it either. Often he has to run from basket to basket without the ball, as he protects against attacks from opponents and insures his comrades in case of a mistake.
For a beginner basketball player, such a role may seem very difficult, even unattainable, but it is a matter of practice and experience. As self-confidence increases, skills become better. You can learn more about self-training from the article "Self-training in Basketball Tricks".
What should be the post player?
You can call him a basketball goalkeeper, the last obstacle between his opponent and his own hoop. He must be brave and determined, as he will have to take risks and sacrifice his health in every match. That is why they are valued more than other numbers.
It is very important to master footwork perfectly. In basketball, it comes down to a few controlled moves. The number of reversals is limited, but they allow you to create an unlimited number of combinations. A turn on the axial leg is called a pivot, it has the following basic variations:
front pivot - external, performed when moving forward;
inside pivot - internal, when moving backward;
drop step, allows you to beat an opponent in a low post with one movement;
step through - stepping, turning, after which there is stepping under the ring.
The last trick is the basic one, but it looks so complicated to beginners that they consider it to be tricks. It's not really a trick, they're much more difficult. You can get acquainted with a trick that not every eminent athlete owns from the article “How to do a hook throw in basketball?”.
Balance of power
To become a good three-second zone player, you need to be able to fully operate with both feet. The necessary turns were listed above, by analogy with them there is a basic set of throws. Not only do these throws need to be mastered and combined with pivots to create powerful offensive combinations. It is necessary to perfectly master the throw from under the ring, it is called lay up, and the jump shot. The aforementioned hook throw will not hurt either, it is also done in a jump.
You need to be equally good at both your right and left hands, you won't succeed without it.
The next important question is where is the best position to take. The optimal solution would be the foul line, on which the first defender is located when the free kicks are taken. In this case, it is possible to implement a run in two directions without hitting the shield. It is easier for a passing basketball player to enter the post with a good pass, since he has room to maneuver.
Also, the post player must be able to sit on the defender's tail until the ball passes. You need to feel the opponent, then you can let him play from one side. If it is on the inside of the shield, then it must be left there. If from the outside - the same. The perimeter basketball player must give passes in the direction from the defender, who will have to turn around and, if successful, attack the empty basket.
How to become a good post player?
Not only physical preparation is important, but also emotional. The psychological pressure on the player in the paint zone will be much higher than on any other. It is not easy to withstand this: not having the ball in your hands, but at the same time putting all your strength into the fight for every rally. They can get the ball, but this happens very rarely, much more often it goes into the hands of perimeter players.
Thus, it becomes clear that post moves in basketball is a role for a real challenge. This is the most difficult work, which is carried out mainly without touching the ball. The player must be highly motivated to win and remain tough and determined in any situation.
what it is, technique, video lesson
In basketball, a hook throw or post-hook is a technique performed from a position sideways to the basket. A basketball player makes a throw by first rotating his arm, then releasing the ball over his head. Its peculiarity is that it is done with the far hand from the basket, and therefore the defender's chance of blocking is negligible. This is a very effective subtype of the shot, but in modern basketball they have begun to forget it, the technique has practically gone out of use. From this material you will learn about the hook throw, its advantages over other methods, as well as about the athlete who became famous for performing this technique.
A technically correct hook throw is hard to see nowadays even in professional teams. Apparently, lately coaches have undeservedly forgotten this useful and beautiful technique. In Soviet basketball, everything was different, many athletes knew how to throw with a hook, for center players it was a favorite and indispensable technical means.
If you play basketball, then it is in your power to prevent the impoverishment of the arsenal of techniques and return the action to everyday life. It will be especially useful if you play in the center positions. Mastering the hook is not easy, it will take a lot of effort, but as a reward you will get the ability to master one of the most beautiful and effective techniques, and still rare these days.
Technique
Most often, the player catches the ball with his back to the ring. Then the right-handed basketball player turns to the left, and the left-hander turns to the right, aims at the basket and shoots, spinning the projectile in his hand and lifting it over his head. A shield is used to hit the ring. A more common variation is a half-hook throw, when the athlete is positioned sideways to the ring. Both variations are powerful technical means, since it is almost impossible to block them.
The half hook is more common because it is easier to execute technically. It is implemented faster, does not imply a strong removal of the ball from the player's body. Due to the speed of execution, it can be more profitable, for example, if there is a safety net from teammates and a rather dense and active defense of opponents.
Use of such techniques is useful in many situations. For example, when the post player received the ball in a position with his back to the shield, and he has a defender behind him. The hook will be the most effective way to attack the ring. The ball must be held at arm's length. If the throw is made with the right hand, then before it you should make a movement to the right as a distraction, and then quickly step in the opposite direction. The center player turns on his left foot, turns to face the basket, sharply pushes off with the same foot and, with the help of his right hand, throws the projectile into the ring with a quick hook-like movement.
After the throw, you must immediately be ready to continue to shoot for the ball, as it may not hit the target, bouncing off the backboard. The blow will not work if you do not follow important aspects: turn with your whole body, make smooth movements, throwing your hand as if reaching for the ball.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is to press the ball with the base of the palm, it must be held freely in the palm of your hand. Then, by means of an arcuate movement with a brush, it will be possible to lean it on outstretched fingers. Just as often in the process of learning to receive, athletes release the ball very early or too late, this must be corrected by constant practice, as well as sudden movements when throwing.
Release the ball only at the moment when you reach the highest point of the jump, while fully extending the working arm. Turn not on a straight leg, bend it slightly, otherwise you will not be able to jump as you need. Set aside 15-20 minutes of each session to practice these skills, and very soon you will notice that you can throw a hook and do it right. It will be especially useful for center basketball players to acquire this skill, with it their performance will become much higher, the ball will begin to hit the basket more often.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Sky Hook
Whenever you mention famous basketball players' signature moves, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and his Sky-Hook are immediately mentioned. In his performance, the hook became the most unstoppable action in the history of the discipline. He did it often, uniquely and very beautifully. Behind this beauty there are years of working off, in his youth the athlete practiced the technique for a long time, doing it alternately with both hands and gradually moving away from the ring.
As a student, he won 88 out of 90 matches with his skyhook. He was simply unbeatable, given that just at that time the NCAA leadership temporarily prohibited overhead strikes. The main advantage is that his own body constantly separates the ball from the defender, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar took full advantage of it.
The athlete's height also played a role, as much as 218 cm, it was very problematic to block him and only a few could do it.
Jabbar led an active attack tactics, went to the right, but at the same time unexpectedly struck a blow with his left hand. It's unpredictable and very powerful. The post-hook technique in basketball made him the highest scoring player in the NBA.