Handles AI
iPhone app
A dribbling app that counts real dribbles
If you want a ball handling app and nothing else, this page is for you. Handles AI is a dribble trainer for iPhone: it calls moves, checks them with the camera and scores your handle. Here are the moves it calls, the six modes, and how the score works.
Why a dribbling app instead of a general trainer
Ball handling is the skill you can improve the most on your own. You do not need a hoop, a rebounder or a partner. You need a ball, some floor and reps. The problem is that solo dribbling gets repetitive, and you cannot see your own mistakes.
A dribbling app solves both. It mixes up the moves so you have to react, and it tells you which reps were clean. Handles AI does only this, so every mode, rating and drill is about your handle.
Try the dribble trainer free for 20 seconds. Prop up your iPhone and start dribbling.
Download on theApp StoreThe moves it calls
Coach Ace calls moves out loud and you dribble them. The list includes:
| Move | What it trains | Learn it |
|---|---|---|
| Pound | Control, a hard dribble, strong wrists | Pound dribble |
| Crossover | Changing hands in front of you | Crossover |
| Between the legs | Protected change of direction | Between the legs |
| Behind the back | Changing hands away from a defender | Behind the back |
| In-and-out | Faking a cross with one hand | In-and-out |
| Hesi | Freezing a defender, then going | Hesitation |
| Snatch back | Creating space backward | Snatch back |
| Spider | Quick hands, fast touches | Spider dribble |
| Speed dribble | Pushing the ball at pace | Speed dribble |
| Shake | Selling a fake with your body | Jab and shake |
| Weak hand | Your off hand | Weak-hand dribbling |
| Change of pace | Slow to fast bursts | Hesitation crossover |
Each drill page linked above explains the technique in detail, so you can learn a move properly before the app starts calling it at speed.
How it counts a dribble
Plenty of apps count motion. This one counts the ball. A basketball detector and body tracking run on your iPhone, and a dribble only counts when the ball goes down, hits the floor and comes back. Moves are checked from where the ball goes. Every called move is graded Clean, Nice work, or Next rep.
The six modes
Handle Lab
The core moves, one at a time. Good for building clean technique on crosses, between the legs, behind the back and in-and-outs.
Reaction Training
Random calls you cannot predict. This is the closest thing to a defender forcing you to change direction.
Game Moves
Hesi, snatch back, shake, change of pace and other moves you actually use to beat someone off the dribble. See how to beat a defender off the dribble.
Weak Hand Development
Calls aimed at your off hand. Most players’ biggest gap, and the fastest way to look like a better ball handler.
Speed Burn
Fast calls and speed dribbles to push your pace once your control is solid.
Combo Lab
Two- and three-move chains, like hesi into cross or in-and-out into between the legs. Our dribble combos guide lists good ones to learn.
There is also Free Dribble mode. No calls, no grades. It counts every bounce and tracks your speed while you run your own drills, like stationary dribbling drills or a figure 8.
The Ball Handler Score
Your handle gets a number from 0 to 100, built from six ratings:
- Control: keeping the ball low, hard and tight.
- Speed: how fast you can dribble and make moves cleanly.
- Coordination: moves that need both hands and your body in sync.
- Reaction: how quickly you respond to a call.
- Creativity: combining moves and varying what you do.
- Weak Hand: how your off hand compares to your strong hand.
Levels climb from Rookie Handle to Ankle Breaker. You can take a Skill Assessment any time to see where you stand, and your plan targets the lowest rating. Watching one number move is a simple way to know your practice is paying off.
Getting clean grades: technique that carries over
The app rewards the same things any good ball-handling coach looks for. A few habits will raise your grades and your game at the same time:
- Dribble hard and low. A firm push into the floor brings the ball back faster and makes it easier to control. See how to dribble low.
- Eyes up. You have to hear the call and react, which is much easier when you are not staring at the ball. Our guide on keeping your head up has drills for it.
- Clean before fast. A sloppy fast rep is worth less than a controlled one. Speed comes once the move is automatic.
- Reset between reps. Get back to a balanced stance, knees bent, before the next call.
A sample 10-minute dribbling session
For a no-app version, try the 10-minute ball-handling workout.
FAQ
Is there an app that counts dribbles?
Yes. Handles AI counts dribbles with your iPhone camera, and a dribble only counts when the ball actually hits the floor and comes back. Free Dribble mode also tracks your speed.
What is the best ball handling app?
It depends on what you need. If you want an app that only trains dribbling and grades each rep, Handles AI is built for exactly that. Our roundup of the best basketball training apps compares options.
Should I learn moves before using a dribbling app?
It helps to learn each move slowly first, using a drill page or a coach. Then let the app call it at speed. Beginners can start with pound dribbles and simple crossovers and build from there.
Do I need special equipment?
No. An iPhone, a basketball and about 8 feet of space. Lean the phone against something so your whole body and the ball are in view.
Will it work outside?
Yes. Indoors or outdoors both work. Good light helps the camera see the ball.