How to play 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.

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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.

10 Basketball Moves To Dance Round The Competition

Basketball moves are used by players to pass by defenders to gain access to the basket, or to get a clean pass to a teammate to score. And if you want to become a great basketball player, working on your dribbling, shooting, and passing skills is crucial.

Arguably the most important aspect of basketball, dribbling is bouncing the ball continuously with one hand at a time without holding the ball. On the offense, it's used to free yourself from congested areas and drive the ball up the court. And dribbling in defense can be an effective stalling tactic when you're being pressed. Dribbling with both hands is key to enable you to move freely in either direction and make it harder for a defensive player to guard you, so it’s a good idea to work on dribbling with your weaker hand in your practice sessions.

Shooting is naturally a very important aspect of the game as you need to outscore your opponent in order for your team to win. Though, shooting in practice is very different to shooting in games, as the opposing team will try and stop you. Improving your shooting will of course benefit your team, but it will also strengthen and ensure your position on the team above other players.

Passing is an important skill in basketball as it’s the quickest and most effective way to get the ball from player to player and move it around the court. A successful team makes strong and accurate passes, and always catches the

ball. The more passes that are made by the offense, the more you will challenge the defense.

So what are the best basketball techniques to improve your skills on the court? Discover the best moves and how you can use them in a game.

New to basketball? Find out what you need to know about getting started with the basics of basketball.

1. Crossover Dribble

The crossover involves bouncing the basketball in front of you from one hand to the other. It’s the easiest basketball move for players to perform, and it’s the first move a player will start practicing when they learn how to dribble as a beginner. It works best when the ball handler looks and acts like they are heading in one direction, before crossing over to the other direction. It’s very efficient when executing a drive - a player can cross over to get around a defender and drive to the basket.

Some of the players famous for their crossover dribble include Jamal Crawford, Allen Iverson, Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway, and Stephen Curry.

2. Through the Legs Dribble

The through-the-legs basketball move is similar to the crossover where you bounce the ball from one hand to the other, but this time, you put the ball between your legs. When you pass the ball through your legs, the front leg makes it difficult for an opponent to reach in. It also ensures the ball is further away from the defense.

The coordination and timing required for this move can make it difficult for young players. Though when you learn to stay low and explode out of it, this can be one of the most effective basketball tricks.

Markus Spiske via Unsplash

3. Behind the Back Dribble

This advanced form of the crossover dribble involves the player bouncing the ball off of the floor behind their feet and catching it with the other hand. The behind-the-back dribble allows players to cross the ball from one hand to the other while protecting it from a defender. The ball is protected by your whole body as you pass it behind you.

One of the key advantages of this basketball move is that the ball can be passed out in front of your opposite hand, allowing for a quick offensive attack. So if a defender lunges in to steal the ball while on the fast break, a quick behind-the-back dribble can help you protect the ball and evade the defender without breaking stride.

4. In-and-Out Dribble

This is a great basketball move for players new to the game. Widely used as a counter move to a crossover, the in-and-out dribble technique is designed to trick the defender into thinking you’re about to perform a regular crossover. It’s most commonly used to get a defender to switch their weight to the wrong leg, opening up a driving lane to attack.

Keeping the basketball in 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 forwards in the same direction.

5. Hesitation Dribble

The hesitation dribble is a straight-line move often used to whizz past a defender. The technique involves dribbling with speed, then slowing down for a split-second to make your opponent think you’re going to stop. This can be done by slightly raising your body, looking up to the rim like you’re about to shoot, looking up at a teammate, or a combination.

To stay in a good defensive position, the defender will slow down and, as they lose their momentum, you can push off on your back foot and explode past them. This then gives you the opportunity to attack the basket, or create a shot for a teammate.

6. Spin Move

This is one of the most difficult tricks to learn, but it’s an important skill to learn as it can be a quick and effective weapon to use against your opponents. It involves planting your inside foot and reverse-pivoting around a defender while dragging the basketball with you, and protecting it with your body.

When performing the spin move, it’s important that players keep their hand on top of the basketball. If the hand slips under, you may get stopped for a carrying violation.

7. Euro-Step

This is a move developed in European basketball in which a player, after picking up their dribble, takes a step in one direction, and then quickly takes a second step in a different direction before shooting or passing. The aim is to get the defender moving one way, then quickly stepping back the opposite way to create space. Like any move in basketball, in order to master the euro-step, you must learn each step and practice it over and over again.

Argentinian Manu Ginóbili, who arrived in the NBA from the Italian league, is one of the players credited with bringing the move to the NBA. It has since been widely used by many players, such as James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Dwyane Wade.

Markus Spiske via Unsplash

8. Bank Shot

All known as “off the glass”, this is a shot where the basketball bounces off the backboard and into the basket. It’s often used for mid-range jump shots from around a 45° angle and layups.

The purpose of using the backboard is to try and hit it at the right angle to slow the speed of the basketball, and increase the chance of it going through the hoop. NBA players who often used the bank shot are Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, Scottie Pippen, Elgin Baylor, and Dwyane Wade. Tim Duncan is the NBA leader in bank shots. He took 1,934 bank shots throughout his Hall of Fame career. And second on the list is Dwyane Wade with 754.

9. Fadeaway

When you think of famous moves in basketball league history, you probably think of the fadeaway, perfected by NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

A fadeaway shot is a variation of a set jump shot, in which the shooter leans backwards to take the shot, creating the effect of "fading away" from the defender. This makes it more difficult for the defender to block the shot. Though because of the backwards momentum, the fadeaway will usually have less range than a regular jump shot, which makes it tougher to project the ball over long distances.

10. Hook Shot

The hook shot is one of the most effective inside basketball moves. It’s quite difficult to execute, but when mastered, it can become a near-unstoppable move that gives players an important height advantage inside the paint.

To perform a hook shot, start by positioning your body as if you were going to do a normal jump shot, then pivot your lead foot so it’s parallel to the defender and the hoop. Your body should act as a barrier between the basketball and the defender. The ball is then released towards the basket with your outside hand in a “hook” motion.

The hook shot and variations such as the jump-hook and skyhook are effective because they are very difficult for the defender to block. They create space between the offensive player and the defender, although it is harder to hit the shot with precision. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the NBA's all-time leading scorer by using his almost indefensible skyhook. And no other player in the history of the game has come close to developing a shot that is more lethal and more effective in crunch-time situations.

So now you know the best basketball moves to dance round the competition, it’s time to put them into practice at your next session. But the important thing to remember is, don't try to overcomplicate it. Instead, you want to keep your basketball moves simple and effective. Afterall, mastering the basics is key.

Want to know more about the different basketball positions? A Guide to Basketball Positions covers all the different positions and their roles in the game.

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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