How to Improve Left Hand Ball Handling

Without a strong left hand, you will dribble right into the teeth of the defense. A good coach will have the defense shift when you touch the ball. That shift will force you left and expose you to pickpockets and passing-lane vultures. You will be an offensive liability, and your playing time may diminish. Work hard on your left-hand ball handling to stay on the court and to develop into a dynamic offensive threat.

Instructions

  1. Two Minute Drill

    • 1

      Stand in an athletic position. Keep you feet about shoulder width apart with a slight bend in your knees.

    • 2

      Dribble the ball at your side with your left-hand. Bounce the ball waist height before pushing it back to the floor. Keep you eyes focused on the ball.

    • 3

      Dribble for two minutes. Rest for one minute then repeat until you do 10 sets of the drill.

    • 4

      See your ability to dribble left-handed increase. The ball will speed up, you will make no mistakes and the ball will bounce lower to the floor.

    • 5

      Take your eyes off the ball when you are comfortable. Fix your eyes on a point out in front of you. Continue to perform the two-minute drill daily.

    • 6

      Show the defense you have court vision when you are comfortable. Shift your head and visual focus back and forth over an imaginary court in front of you. Dribblers with court vision are a threat to defenders.

    Stationary Crossover

    • 7

      Stand with your knees slightly bent and feet a couple inches beyond shoulder-width apart.

    • 8

      Dribble the ball out in front of you passing the ball between your two hands. Start with a dribble pass to your left hand, then redirect the ball with your left hand back to your right. Each hand will touch the ball once before passing it to the other hand.

    • 9

      Keep your eyes focused on the crossover and dribble for two minutes. Take a minute of rest before repeating.

    • 10

      Take your focus off the ball and to a point out in front of you when you are comfortable. Then, when you are comfortable, move your head around to show court awareness.

    Zig-Zag Crossover

    • 11

      Start on the baseline of a basketball court.

    • 12

      Dribble with your right hand while moving in 45-degree angle up the court and to the right sideline. Once you've dribbled the ball three times, dribble-pass the ball to your left hand and change angles toward the left sideline. Then repeat keeping a zig-zag motion up the court.

    • 13

      Dribble in an athletic position while guarding the ball. Bend your knees slightly and stick your non-dribble hand straight out in front of you to create a ball-defending arm-bar. Get lower at the knees for the crossover dribble and pass the ball below your knees.

    • 14

      Pick up the speed when you are comfortable. You will master the zig-zag drill when you can mimic court awareness with your eyes at full speed.

    Pass and Catch

    • 15

      Run parallel to a wall while dribbling left-handed. Your right shoulder will be pointing toward the wall.

    • 16

      Every two dribbles pass the ball to yourself off the wall. Catch the ball left-handed and continue your dribble.

    • 17

      Turn around and repeat the drill coming the other way. You will develop a feel for passing and catching with your left hand, crucial components of ball handling.

    Offensive Threat

    • 18

      Put your right arm behind your back.

    • 19

      Dribble casually with your left hand at the three-point line on the left wing.

    • 20

      Get athletic and drive to the hoop. Shoot a layup with your right hand behind your back.

    • 21

      Speed your drive up until you can make a layup left-handed automatically at full speed. You are now a left-handed offensive threat. You will increase your points per game and see the free-throw line more often.