How to Use Tennis Balls for Basketball Dribbling Drills

Basketball dribbling is all about precision, speed and control. Using tennis balls to practice your ball-handling skills is extremely effective because it trains you to use your fingers and to find the ball without looking at a big orange basketball. One of the benefits of practicing with a tennis ball is that you can do it from anywhere, whether it be inside your garage or at a public park. All ages and sizes of basketball players can benefit from improved ball-handling skills, which helps all aspects of your game, including your shooting. Try out these simple exercises using tennis balls and you will be dribbling like a true point guard.

Things You'll Need

  • Basketball
  • Two tennis balls
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Instructions

    • 1

      Start with stationary drills. Stationary drills are the easiest tennis ball drills when you are starting. Dribble one tennis ball with your right hand a few times and then switch to your left hand for a few dribbles. Use your fingertips to dribble instead of the palms of your hand. Your fingers give you more control over the ball, whether it is a tennis ball or a basketball. Do not start moving your legs until you are comfortable with this stationary dribbling.

    • 2

      Walk and dribble your tennis ball with alternating hands. Take a few dribbles with one hand and then switch to the other as you walk. Get faster at switching hands by taking only one dribble per hand, switching every dribble.

    • 3

      Dribble a basketball with one hand while holding a tennis ball in the other hand. Then throw the tennis ball in the air and catch it with the opposite hand, simultaneously switching the basketball-dribbling hand. This exercise forces you to keep your head up in the air to catch the tennis ball, which is an important skill to learn for basketball ball handling.

      Add a crossover with the basketball when you throw the tennis ball in the air to improve your speed and the coordination between your two hands. A crossover is very difficult to do when you are trying to catch a tennis ball, so be prepared--this drill takes a lot of energy and concentration.

    • 4

      Throw the tennis ball against a wall while dribbling a basketball with one hand. This is a stationary drill that allows you to focus on dribbling without having to worry about moving your feet around the court.