How To

How to Do a Finger Roll in Basketball

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(17 Ratings)

When done correctly, the finger roll is a thing of beauty as the ball gently floats through the air and then drops through the rim with barely a flutter of the net.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Basketballs
  • Basketballs
  1. Step 1

    Drive to the net as you would to do a layup. To start, it's easiest to drive straight to the front of the rim.

  2. Step 2

    Tuck your shooting hand under the ball.

  3. Step 3

    Point the fingers of your shooting hand away from your body. On a typical shot your fingers are bent back toward you.

  4. Step 4

    Take two steps after you've stopped dribbling, beginning with the leg on the same side as your shooting hand.

  5. Step 5

    Jump off the foot opposite of your shooting hand.

  6. Step 6

    Extend your arm completely to the basket keeping your hand underneath the ball. Let the ball roll forward off your hand.

  7. Step 7

    Flick your fingers up to put backspin on the ball.

  8. Step 8

    Watch the ball fall through the hoop.

  9. Step 9

    Surrender to gravity.

Tips & Warnings
  • If you get a chance to watch footage of Former NBA great George "Ice Man" Gervin of the San Antonio Spurs, do it. He's the recognized master of the finger roll.
  • Flicking your fingers is the most important step. The proper trajectory of the ball starts with a good flick.
  • Try learning the finger roll without using the backboard to start.

Comments  

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 3/15/2006 Make sure no matter what side you are on when you do a finger roll, that you are always aiming at the back side of the rim. That way you won't come up short and hit the front rim.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 It's all in the wrist. Do a nice, soft flick at the apex of your jump and the rest is easy to learn.

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