How to Improve Basketball Handling With Fingertip Elevator

Ball Handling is an essential skill for every basketball player. This article focuses on a drill that can improve your ball handling: the "Elevator." This drill provides great training for fingertip control.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Basketball

1. With the ball at your chest, place your fingertips on each side of the ball.

2. Extend your arms in front of you. You should extend about half the length of your arm.

3. Pass the ball back and forth with your fingertips. You are tipping it from one hand to the other.

4. While tipping the ball, begin to extend your arms upward until you reach over your head.

5. Continue tipping the ball, and begin to lower your arms and body until the ball is above your shoe tops.

6. Continue tipping the ball and raise your arms and body until the ball is above your head again.

7. Continue moving it up and down your body like an elevator for 30 seconds.

Tips & Warnings

• For beginners, it is OK to watch the ball. As you advance, keep your eyes up to maximize your fingertip control level and feel for the ball.
• Get comfortable with tipping it from hand to hand before starting the elevator movements.
• The ball should only be in contact with the top third of your fingers and should not touch your thumbs.
• As you advance, increase your tipping and elevator speed.