Handles AI
Ball-handling drill
How to do a Shammgod
The Shammgod is a push-and-pull move: you push the ball out in front with one hand, then sweep it back across with the other. Done right, the ball is where the defender expects it for a split second, then gone.
What is the Shammgod?
The Shammgod is named after God Shammgod, a guard known for using it in the 1990s. With the ball in your right hand, you push it out and forward, step toward it, then reach across with your left hand and pull the ball back to the left. The defender reacts to the push, steps that way, and the ball comes back across in front of them. This page covers the general technique; Handles AI is not affiliated with any player.
It looks like a trick, but it follows the same idea as every good move: show one thing, do another. The push makes the defender commit. The pull takes the ball away from them while you step past.
It is an advanced move because the timing is tight. Your feet, both hands and the ball all have to line up, and the pull back has to stay legal. Expect it to feel awkward for a while.
When to use it in a game
The Shammgod works best when a defender is reaching or lunging. If they are already leaning toward the ball, the push looks like a gift, and the pull leaves them stuck. It is also used in the open floor when a defender steps up to stop your drive.
Against a disciplined defender who stays down and does not reach, it can be risky: the ball is out in front of you and exposed during the push. Use it sparingly and only after you can do it cleanly at speed in practice.
In pickup or practice, it is also a great coordination drill. Even if you rarely use it in a game, it trains soft hands and quick hand transfers that help every other move.
How to do it, step by step
- Start with the ball in your right hand, dribbling at about knee height, with a light, balanced stance.
- Push the ball forward and slightly out to your right, about an arm’s length in front of you. Keep the push low so it does not bounce up into the defender’s hands.
- Step forward with your left foot toward the ball as it travels, so your body follows the push.
- As the ball comes up from the bounce, reach across in front of your body with your left hand and get your fingers on the outside of the ball.
- Pull the ball back across to your left in one sweeping motion, keeping your hand on the side of the ball, not underneath it.
- Step your right foot across and forward to follow the ball, getting your body between the defender and the ball.
- Push into your next dribble with your left hand and go.
Common mistakes
- Pushing too far. A push that goes too far leaves the ball with nobody. An arm’s length is plenty; any more and you lose control or hand it to the defender.
- Carrying on the pull. If your palm rotates under the ball as you pull back, it is a carry. Keep your hand on the side of the ball and keep the motion quick.
- Feet not following. If you push and pull while your feet stay still, the ball ends up behind you. Step to the push, then step with the pull.
- Watching the ball. Looking down shows the defender what you are doing. Practice slow enough that you can keep your eyes up.
- Skipping the basics. Without a solid crossover and good fingertip control, the Shammgod falls apart. Build those first.
Three progressions
- No-dribble push and pull. Stand still. Push the ball out on one bounce with your right hand and pull it back across with your left. Reset every rep and go slow.
- Walking Shammgod. Walk forward and add the footwork: push, step left, pull, step right. Do it down and back on each side.
- Shammgod at speed. Jog toward a cone, Shammgod past it and take two hard dribbles out. Only speed up once the slow version is clean.
5-minute Shammgod workout
This is a slower workout than most because the Shammgod punishes rushing. Keep every rep clean, even if that means fewer reps.
How Handles AI coaches it
Handles AI does not call the Shammgod by name, but it trains the pieces. Coach Ace calls crossovers, in-and-outs, snatch backs and weak-hand work, which build the quick hand transfer and the push-pull feel the move depends on. Free Dribble mode counts every bounce and tracks your speed while you practice the Shammgod on your own.
Your Coordination and Creativity ratings reflect how well you handle varied, unpredictable calls, and those are the same qualities a clean Shammgod needs.
Prop up your iPhone and let Coach Ace call the reps. Your first 20-second session is free.
Download on theApp StoreFAQ
Is the Shammgod legal?
Yes, when done correctly. It becomes a carry if your hand goes under the ball and you hold it during the pull back. Keep your hand on the side and the motion quick.
Who invented the Shammgod?
The move is named after God Shammgod, who made it famous. Similar push-and-pull moves existed in streetball before that, but his name stuck to it.
Why do I keep losing the ball on the push?
Your push is probably too far or too high. Keep it within an arm’s length and low enough that the bounce stays near knee height.
How long does it take to learn the Shammgod?
It depends on your base. Players with a clean crossover and good fingertip control usually get the slow version in a few sessions; game-speed takes much longer.
Can kids learn the Shammgod?
They can try it, but younger players get more out of mastering the crossover, in-and-out and between the legs first.