How to Get Better With the Left Hand in Basketball

Basketball dribbling drills improve quickness and coordination, which are important since dribbling and passing move the ball down the court. Most beginning players struggle with learning to dribble, and especially using their weaker hand. Bob Cousy, an NBA Hall-of-Fame player, broke his right hand when he was young. While his stronger arm was in a cast, he began dribbling and shooting entirely with his left hand. When his cast came off, Cousy discovered he was equally effective dribbling and shooting with both hands. Being able to handle the ball with both hands made Cousy a great player.

Instructions

    • 1

      Focus on proper technique. Sit in a chair and practice dribbling the ball entirely with your weak hand. Use your finger pads only while dribbling. The ball should not touch either your palm or finger tips, just the pads. Spread your fingers out when touching the ball. Use your wrists and not your arms when pushing the ball down. Snap your wrists firmly each time you press the ball down. Practice bouncing the ball about knee high while sitting, and then vary the height. Start by watching your hand and wrist technique while dribbling, but quickly move your eyes off the ball and focus straight ahead while dribbling. Learning how to dribble without looking at the ball greatly increases your speed on the court. Dribble 50 times.

    • 2

      Move from a sitting position to standing position. Continue dribbling the ball in a semi-crouched position, looking straight ahead. Dribble 50 to 100 times.

    • 3

      Walk while dribbling with the weak hand from one baseline to the other, looking straight ahead. Jog to the other baseline while dribbling with your weak hand and sprint while dribbling. Repeat this sequence three times.

    • 4

      Bounce the ball at an angle with your weak hand while standing. First bounce the ball by your leg at an angle to go in front of you, and then bounce it back behind you, making a V-shape. Do this 20 times. Make a V-shape bounce going side-to-side in front of you. Repeat this drill 20 times.

    • 5

      Spread your legs apart and begin dribbling the ball with your strong hand in front of you and around your strong leg. Transfer the ball to your weak hand underneath you and dribble around your other leg. Make a figure-eight pattern dribbling around both legs while transferring the ball between your hands. Reverse direction after making 10 complete figure eights.

    • 6

      Beginning with your weaker hand and run up and down the court in a zig-zag motion. Switch the ball to your stronger hand as you step to go the other direction. Repeat switching the ball between your hands as you move side to side down the court. Keep your eyes up and looking ahead as you dribble and run.

    • 7

      Dribble two balls with each hand while running from the baseline to the free throw line. Start staggering your dribbles at the free throw line, where the balls hit the ground at different times. Do this until you get to the half-court line. Switch back to a simultaneous dribble to the opposite free-throw line. Stagger dribble to the opposite baseline. Go back to the other baseline by simultaneously dribbling with both hands forward five steps and backing up two steps. Repeat this all the way down to the baseline.