How to Improve Basketball Handling With Spider Dribbling

Ball Handling is an essential skill for every basketball player. This article focuses on a drill that can improve your ball handling: "Spider Dribble." This drill provides great training for ball control and hand speed. It is called "Spider Dribble" because your arms simulate the movement of a spider.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Basketball
• Hard surface for dribbling

1. Spread your legs so your feet are positioned just beyond shoulder width.
2. Bend at the knees while keeping your back straight.
3. Start by dribbling once with your left hand. The ball should always be kept lower than your knees.
4. Transfer the ball to your right hand and take one dribble.
5. Take your left arm and wrap it around your left knee and position the ball in between your knees.
6. Transfer the ball to that left hand for one dribble.
7. Take your right arm and wrap it around your right knee and position the ball in between your knees.
8. Transfer the ball to that right hand for one dribble. This completes one spider rotation.
9. Transfer the ball to your left hand in front of your body to begin the process over again.
10. Continue from left front to right front to left back to right back for 30 seconds.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you are comfortable with the drill, increase your speed and lower your dribble height to maximize ball-handling skill growth.
• Keep your head up while doing the exercise—trust your feel for the ball and don't depend on looking at it.
• Strive to keep the ball centered between your legs and moving your hands into position for the hand touch.