Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Ball Handling Drills and other Basketball topics.

Your next progression would be to dribble two tennis balls at the same time. This is HIGHLY advanced. Only the best ball handlers in the world can comfortably accomplish this. Hopefully you can get there after plenty of hard work.

Now go to walking while dribbling the tennis ball, again alternating hands. When you have mastered this, go to sprints, again alternating hands. At this point you should work on keeping your head up while dribbling.

Start with stationary drills. Alternate dribbling 5 times with your right, then 5 times with your left. It's ok to look down at the ball in the beginning. Try to use your fingertips to dribble the tennis balls, you have more control with the smaller tennis ball.

One of the more effective, but unkown ball handling drills is the use of Tennis Balls. If I had to choose one drill to improve ball handling, this would be it. At first it seems difficult, but after time you will begin to master the tennis ball and have much more conrol over your basketball handles.

Comments

6/9/2009 11:31:25 PM

qwerty

said

good tips they work

7/27/2009 9:32:47 PM

tommy

said

you should mention the one drill where you have both balls in the same hand and you throw one up and push the other tennis ball up farther on your hand and catch the other tennis ball. once perfected it looks like juggling. it's really hard. i learned it from ganon baker

8/1/2009 2:43:00 AM

Boss

said

Does this really work?

8/1/2009 4:35:25 PM

Brian

said

yes. I promise they work.

1/10/2010 10:34:05 PM

Dre

said

Wat's up my name is D'Andre I'm 16 years old and I got cut my sophomore year because I couldn't dribble, that's what my coach said. Will doing these tennis ball drills improve my left and right in ball handling? please help!!

1/14/2010 5:05:44 PM

Brian

said

Listen, if you're dedicated about improving your ball handling, this is the ONE drill I would recommend over any other. So yes, this will help your ball handling skills, as long as you put in the work.





1/18/2010 10:24:13 AM

dsmith

said

yes,yes,yes...last year i was a bench warming freshman,over the summer i did every dribbling drill with tennis balls.Now i am a sophmore, 5'8 point guard that starts varsty.the tennis ball will cordinate your court vision.Also it will help u dribble the basketball with quickness.

2/21/2010 1:04:08 PM

jamar

said

how will u be able to dribble the tennis ball with ur finger tips if its so small? U would automatically think top dribble with ur palm because thats the only way u could control the tennis ball. some one respond and help me out so i may properly do this drill.

2/22/2010 8:24:48 AM

Brian

said

You would dribble the tennis ball just like you would a basketball, with your fingertips. Nobody said it wouldn't be difficult, which is why it such an effective drill. You may look silly when first starting out, but that's a small price to pay for improving your ball handling abilities.

4/4/2010 12:52:45 AM

john

said

hey my name is john what if u think your handling is good will it still improve my handles

4/5/2010 8:31:11 AM

Brian

said

you can always improve. Even if your handles are nice, they can always get nicer.

4/25/2010 11:49:02 PM

KC

said

Great tip.

5/11/2010 11:17:42 AM

izaiah

said

ive already gotten better. i dribble the tennis ball anytime i have a chance, like during school and when im sitten around

5/11/2010 9:33:17 PM

Brian

said

good to hear. Keep doing that and you'll live up to your name, lol.

5/18/2010 7:31:50 PM

tevin

said

can you use a handball

5/20/2010 3:40:50 AM

Brian

said

sure, lol.

6/3/2010 6:05:05 PM

justin

said

how long will it take until i see results in my handles?

6/5/2010 12:51:50 AM

Brian

said

There's no way to quantify something like that. It depends on the person, but if you put in the work, there will be noticeable improvement. That much I can guarantee.

6/6/2010 6:54:33 AM

Daniyal

said

Hey im 14 i play 2 aka SG can you recommend me any camps or any private instructor i am trying to change my game into a pg i used to be a post and i live in texas so if you have any camps i have talked to Robert Pack but his camps are in New Orleans and i need to improve my dribbling and dribble penetration atm i am working at my foorwork so plz if you know any good camps plz tell me

6/10/2010 4:25:25 AM

Brian

said

I'm not too familiar with the Texas area, sorry. If you were in the Vegas area, I could personally train with you, but obviously that isn't possible. GL with that.

6/16/2010 9:38:42 PM

Ej

said

So when I'm done doing this drill and I pick up a basketball I will be able to moves much easier? But how does the tennis ball help me dribble a basketball

6/17/2010 12:47:47 PM

Brian

said

yes

6/17/2010 9:37:09 PM

Michael

said

Will doing these drills with the tennis ball help me with my crossover?

7/11/2010 8:47:10 PM

JD

said

does dribbling with a tennis ball get your handles faster

7/14/2010 12:34:11 AM

Brian

said

It just allows you to control the ball better. Over time this would equate into a faster dribble, so yes.

7/18/2010 10:12:05 AM

Devin

said

I am 6'2 and I am 15 and I am going to be a sophomore this year, and the coaches have me at post because I can't dribble that good and we don't have many people taller then me, so I am trying to learn to dribble so I can make it to the next level, because I am pretty sure I won't be a 7 footer. Any other recommendations to increase your dribbling skills?

7/19/2010 4:47:26 PM

Brian

said

Dribbling is nothing but putting in the work to gain complete control over the ball. The tennis ball drills are a great place to start. Work on dribbling from triple threat, and on the break. Pracice, practice, and practice some more. GL

8/30/2010 7:34:56 PM

Jay

said

@Brian You can sprint and dribble a tennis ball at the same time while keeping your head up??? lol who are you

8/31/2010 3:48:49 AM

Brian

said

Yeah, I know. I'm pretty awesome.

9/17/2010 10:19:04 PM

DownSups

said

Hey, how high do i bounce th balls??

9/20/2010 4:03:21 PM

Wertz

said

This is the best exercise for ball handling, any pro player or very good one will tell you that. If your serious about your game and want to have great handles then do this everyday and you will see results.

10/22/2010 11:28:52 AM

adenis

said

do you have any videos of you doing different drills with the tennis ball?

11/12/2010 12:32:45 AM

Jess

said

Hi Brian when saying use your fingertips while dribbling the tennis ball wouldn't you have to have your fingers more close together almost touching when going through the motion since the tennis ball is so small contrary on what you do with a regular basketball where you have to spread your finger as far as possible comfortably? When I try to use my finger tips with a tennis ball its almost as my hand forms a pinching position that doesn't look totally right, Using your fingertips do you recommend having all in contact with the smaller ball. Or do you have your fingers well spread and dribble the tennis with you finger pads and the bottom of your fingers? I'm just confused on the subject, hope you can help, thanks for reading

11/16/2010 11:56:40 AM

Brian

said

Yes, I recommend putting your fingers closer together while dribbling the tennis ball. You're basically forcing yourself to control a much more difficult ball to dribble, the tennis ball, making control over the basketball that much easier. As I said to other posters, it's not easy. You're not gonna start off looking like Steve Nash dribbling a tennis ball. It's gonna be clumsy, it's gonna be awkward, which is why when you finally CAN dribble the tennis ball, it is so effective in dribbling a basketball. It's all about practice though. If you're not willing to put in the work, it will not be effective. GL

11/30/2010 4:30:42 AM

Jess

said

Thank you for replying back, I wish I lived near your area I would love to be trained by you! but do you have any videos of you doing these tennis ball drills or any basketball training videos at all? lol I would love to see you in action sprinting while dribbling a tennis ball! that would be amazing

12/9/2010 2:08:19 AM

Brian

said

There might actually be a video coming out soon. Keep your eyes on the site, glad to help in any way.

12/9/2010 2:13:13 AM

Carla

said

I am a sophmore and I help coach rec ball and I was wondering if this drill would be worth trying with the kids. They are in grades 3&4.

12/9/2010 2:15:40 AM

Brian

said

I would say that the tennis balls are probably a little advanced for the third and fourth graders. I wouldn't start doing something like that until middle school age kids.

12/23/2010 12:43:07 PM

kcthaman

said

If I dribble with a ball the size of a big softball will that work also

1/7/2011 12:33:17 PM

Brian

said

Yes.

1/9/2011 7:48:05 PM

GrowingPg

said

Hey i was wondering should you dribble the tennis ball low as if you were dribbling a real ball? Or just standing straight up dribbling? Which is better?

1/11/2011 12:37:29 AM

Brian

said

Start off dribbling higher than normal, get the feel, then work your way to dribbling it more like you would a regular basketball. It feels awkward at first, just continue working, and it will feel more comfortable after a little bit. GL

2/3/2011 6:48:28 PM

kevin

said

wil this really improve my left hand when i dribble ? and will my handles improve alot if i do it everyday ?

2/6/2011 2:05:37 PM

david

said

is this a really good drill to improve alot my ball handling skills?

2/13/2011 7:22:44 PM

Brian

said

yes and yes

3/5/2011 11:43:06 PM

greg

said

will this help me with my crossover behind back in and out dribble moves



Tennis ball drills can help improve all of your dribble moves

-CoachLok

4/1/2011 11:40:31 AM

jake

said

will this really help me improve when i dribble with my left. will i have alot more control of my left so that i can dribble at high speed



Extra dribbling drills can help ball control with eother hand

~Coach Lok

4/16/2011 7:03:42 PM

zhivko

said

is this the only drill that i should do? because the other drills take too much time and space, i can do this anywhere, is this more effective?



it will help - but there's no 1 drill fits all solution.You've gotta practice everything if you want to improve

5/7/2011 1:44:33 PM

zach

said

i was thinking about doing this but i feel if i use a tennis ball a basketball will have a feeling of being large and i feel more comfortable with the basketball feeling small so i got a "bigball" from jumpusa what should i do?



Using both will be effective. Anything that gives you better fingertip control will help



Coach Lok

5/26/2011 12:19:45 PM

chris

said

im chris and im 14.. i started pg at the jv level and nexy year i will be a sophmore starting at pg.. but i need to get my handles better and faster.. so would these drills help me overcome tht.. so i can take over better in games??



Yes, Diligent practice always helps

5/26/2011 8:50:16 PM

harry

said

im 15 and im a 5'11 sg on jv, but i gotta play pg cuz we dont have other ppl that can handle the ball. if ppl come to press me or i have to dribble in tighter areas, i get nervous and start lookin at the ball, would this help me with that?



~ this would definitely help. You also need to get more practice against live defense - so find some players and just work on protecting your dribble

5/30/2011 10:35:54 AM

diamond

said

i am a kid and i think this will work for me at the basketball court and listen to the coach.

6/27/2011 10:57:03 AM

devin

said

hey what if you have no handles at all, would this be the correct drill for me to work on?

7/26/2011 6:11:20 PM

Kevin Durant

said

I do these drills. They really improve my ball handling. I highly recommend them.

9/7/2011 11:21:40 AM

chris

said

how can i improve my shot and my doubble crossover

10/26/2011 10:10:57 AM

gary

said

i am left handed and its hard to go right will the tennis ball help me with that

11/3/2011 5:56:43 PM

Lebron Michael James

said

Hey people sure these drills work just be confident in youtrself doin the drills and eep practicing u will get better trust me how u think imade it in the NBA. its called repetition and

12/19/2011 6:02:41 PM

raven

said

i play basketball as the pg and im only 5'3 and i was wondering would this help my confidence in being trapped or pressed

1/10/2012 8:17:25 PM

Benchwarmer

said

Do you have a demonstration of this drill on youtube?

2/8/2012 3:47:41 PM

ThePointGuardCharde

said

Hey im 13 in the 8th and im a point guard and i really love crossing over and will this drill really help me on fast break and euro stepping?