Q&A for How to Dribble a Basketball

Make sure that you're putting in plenty of practice time. Dribbling isn't something you do once in a while—it's something you have to practice all the time.

Just like with anything else, you've got to practice a lot. Try doing it 50 times from left to right, then 50 times from right to left, and just keep coming up with different combinations and doing it over and over again. I think the best way to do it is to have sets—maybe do 5 sets of 10 or 5 sets of 20 over and over, and try to do that for 30 minutes to an hour, just focused on going through the legs. That's the type of work that it takes.

The biggest thing is just to do it over and over—practice makes perfect. Dribbling is all about the rhythm that's involved. Also, dribbling two balls while you're standing in one spot is a great way to build up both hands at the same time.

Make sure you're dribbling low to the ground. It's easier to dribble a basketball below your knee than if it's bouncing all the way up to your shoulder, because you have more control of the ball.

Put the palm of your hand on the very top of the ball, allowing it to curve to fit the ball's surface. Then, push the ball in the direction you want to send it.

You really just need to practice the moves you're trying to learn. You will probably mess up several times at first, but the more you practice, the better you'll get.

Yes and no. Too much pushing may result in a foul.

Being smaller is also a good thing. Smaller players have more control of the ball and can stay lower than taller players, this means dribbling techniques are good. Know when to move around and when you practice more, you'll know how good it is also to be shorter.

A good way to get rid of this habit is practicing holding the ball with only your fingertips. While you are dribbling hard, keep your hand in a curved shape.

Learn how to use your body/strength to get between the defender and don't use too many dribble moves. If you clearly tower over other players, you'll play closer to the basket anyway. Use smarter plays in order to get the ball as close to you to allow you to score the points needed. Practice simple spin moves driving to the hoop from the baseline and also pump fake dribbles.

Stand on your toes and jump and then land on your toes. A good arc will make your percentage higher. Practicing regularly will also help.

You just have to control yourself and your movements. Watch where you're putting your hands anytime you try to steal the ball.

To back down your opponent you need to be stronger than them, and if you're not then you should get lower than them so you have more power. The lower you are the more power you have to push them back. The lay-up/post-move takes a lot of practice but you can master it.

Practice makes perfect. Use a good ball. Get some good shoes. Practice every day. You can find some beginner drills for basketball players on YouTube.

That will take a while to learn. You need footwork, and you need to aim it towards your other hand. It will take a lot of practice.

You need to practice to become great at something, so if you can't practice regularly, you'll have to practice for longer to become great.

Just keep practicing, and be patient.

This is common. Practice looking straight up at the hoop and complete simple dribble moves; even the best players had to master this.

When you're a tall person running and dribbling the ball, you don't want to get low by bending your back, but by bending your knees.

You should always keep your hand on top of the ball, otherwise you may be called for a carry.

Beside you. The ball is more likely to get stolen if you dribble it in front of you and your defender.

Nothing happens. Height has nothing to do with your shooting except when an opponent is trying to steal the ball (it makes it harder for him/her to steal it due to your height).

Yes, the ball comes back to you more easily. If you don't move your wrist, it will be harder to dribble.

You can do jumping drills. They will strengthen your legs and help you jump higher.

If you are playing on a school or league team, your coach will tell you what to do. If it's just you and some friends playing, you could fake them, pass, shoot, or even purposely throw out of bounds if the time is low and you want to win.

Practice sprinting up and down the court dribbling it. This will help with speed. If it is a challenge, take it slowly and speed up as you go. Practice until you meet your desires.

Always stand in triple threat (butt down and chest out) and keep your hand out in front of you rather than beside you when dribbling.

Make sure you're releasing the ball over your head so they have to reach higher to get the ball. You want to have a good amount of arch on your shot, this will make it harder to get blocked and more likely to go in. Also, practice having a faster release, which is the amount of time it takes for you to shoot the ball once in the shooting motion. The pump fake is also a really good move when going against taller defenders.

When you jump vertical, it helps your shot go in more straightly. When you jump to the right or the left, the ball tends to the right or left side.

It depends on the defender, but the easiest one is to do a very dramatic crossover. If you're coming up to the defender slowly, this will work well. If you're coming in hot, dribble between the legs. As they say in the article, behind the back can 'juke' the defender well.