How to Do a Finger Roll in Basketball

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. 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. Tuck your shooting hand under the ball.

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

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

5. Jump off the foot opposite of your shooting hand.

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

7. Flick your fingers up to put backspin on the ball.

8. Watch the ball fall through the hoop.

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.

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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.

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.