Glossary

Basketball dribbling glossary

Plain definitions of the ball-handling, dribbling and rules terms you will hear from coaches, trainers and teammates. Where we have a full drill or guide on a term, the definition links to it.

A

And-one

A made basket while being fouled, which earns the shooter one free throw. Strong ball handlers create and-ones by attacking the rim under control.

Ankle breaker

A move so sudden that the defender stumbles or falls trying to recover. It usually comes from a sharp change of direction or pace, like a crossover after a hesitation. See how to break ankles.

Attack the closeout

Driving past a defender who is running out at you to contest a shot. Their momentum is moving toward you, so a quick first dribble past them is often open.

B

Back-court violation

Taking the ball back over the half-court line into the back court after your team has established it in the front court. The other team gets the ball.

Backdoor cut

A cut toward the basket behind a defender who is overplaying the passing lane. It punishes defenders who deny the ball too aggressively.

Ball screen

A screen set on the defender guarding the ball handler. It is the core of the pick and roll and forces the defense to make a quick decision.

Ball wraps

A stationary drill where you pass the ball around your waist, head, legs or ankles without dribbling. It builds hand speed and feel for the ball. See ball wraps.

Behind the back

A dribble that moves the ball from one hand to the other behind your body. It protects the ball from a defender in front of you while changing direction. See behind-the-back dribble.

Between the legs

A dribble that bounces the ball through your legs from one hand to the other. Your body shields the ball as it changes hands. See between-the-legs dribble.

Blow-by

Beating a defender so cleanly on the first step that they never get back in front of you. Usually follows a jab, hesitation or crossover that freezes them.

C

Carry

A violation where the dribbler’s hand goes under the ball and holds it, then continues dribbling. Also called palming. See carrying in basketball.

Change of pace

Speeding up or slowing down your dribble to throw off a defender’s timing. Often more effective than any flashy move, because defenders react to speed.

Chin the ball

Holding the ball firmly under your chin with elbows out after a rebound or when you pick up your dribble. It protects the ball from swipes.

Combo

Two or more dribble moves chained together, like a hesitation into a crossover or between the legs into behind the back. See dribble combos.

Control dribble

A low, protected dribble used when a defender is close. You keep your body between the defender and the ball and your off arm up as a shield.

Crossover

A dribble that moves the ball from one hand to the other in front of your body. It is the most common change-of-direction move in basketball. See crossover drill.

D

Dead ball

Any time the ball is not live, such as after a whistle, a made basket before inbound, or a timeout. Players cannot score or dribble during a dead ball.

Dead dribble

When you have dribbled, then picked the ball up, and can no longer dribble again. You must pass or shoot. Defenders often pressure hard once your dribble is dead.

Double crossover

Two quick crossovers in a row, usually right-left-right or the reverse. The first sells one direction and the second goes the other way. See double crossover.

Double dribble

A violation for dribbling with both hands at the same time, or for stopping your dribble and then dribbling again. See the double dribble rule.

Drive

Dribbling hard toward the basket to score or draw help defense. A good drive starts with a quick first step and a long first dribble.

E

Eurostep

A finishing move where you gather the ball, step one way, then take a second step in a different direction before laying it up. It gets you around a defender in the lane. Also written euro step.

F

Fingertip control

Handling the ball with your finger pads rather than your palm. It gives you more control and a quicker dribble. See fingertip control.

First step

Your initial step when attacking a defender. A quick, long first step is often what separates beating your man from being cut off.

G

Gather

The moment you take control of the ball to end your dribble before a pass, shot or layup. Under NBA and FIBA rules, the step you take while gathering does not count toward your two steps; check your league’s rules.

H

Handle

A player’s overall ball-handling ability. Saying someone has a good handle means they control the ball well under pressure and can create space with the dribble. See how to improve ball handling.

Help defense

When a defender leaves their own player to stop a ball handler who has beaten their defender. Reading help defense tells you when to pass.

Hesi

Short for hesitation. A brief pause or slowdown in your dribble, often with your head and shoulders rising, to freeze the defender before you explode past. See hesitation dribble.

Hesitation crossover

A hesitation followed right away by a crossover. The pause gets the defender to stand up, and the crossover attacks the other way. See hesitation crossover.

I

In-and-out

A fake crossover where you push the ball toward your other hand, then pull it back to the same side with the same hand. See in-and-out dribble.

Iso

Short for isolation. A play where teammates clear out so one player can attack their defender one on one.

J

Jab step

A short, sharp step toward the defender with your non-pivot foot to test their reaction. You can follow it with a drive or a shot. See jab and shake.

K

Killer crossover

A crossover with a big, convincing fake in the first direction, then a hard, low cross the other way. See killer crossover.

L

Lane

The painted area near the basket, also called the key or the paint. Driving into the lane forces the defense to collapse.

Live dribble

When you are still dribbling and have not picked up the ball. With a live dribble you can drive, pass or shoot, so defenders have to respect every option.

O

Off arm

Your arm without the ball. Used as a shield to protect the dribble, but pushing off with it is an offensive foul.

Off hand

Your non-dominant hand. Also called your weak hand. See how to improve your weak hand.

P

Palming

Another name for carrying: letting the ball rest in your hand, usually with your palm under it, during a dribble. It is a violation. See carrying in basketball.

Pick up your dribble

To stop dribbling by catching the ball with one or both hands. Once you pick it up, you cannot dribble again until another player touches it.

Pivot

Turning on one foot while the other foot moves, after you have stopped. Pivoting lets you protect the ball and find a pass without traveling.

Pivot foot

The foot that stays planted while you pivot. Lifting it and putting it back down before passing or shooting is traveling.

PnR

Short for pick and roll. A teammate sets a screen on your defender, you use it to get open, and the screener rolls toward the basket for a pass.

Pound dribble

A hard, firm dribble, often at knee height or lower, that builds strength and control. A common warm-up. See pound dribble.

Push dribble

A long dribble pushed out in front of you to cover ground fast, often in transition. See speed dribble.

R

Reach-in

When a defender reaches for the ball and makes contact with the ball handler’s arm or body. It is often called a foul. Good handlers protect the ball so reach-ins miss.

Retreat dribble

Dribbling backward, away from pressure, to create space or reset a play. It keeps your dribble alive when a defender is crowding you. See retreat dribble.

Rip through

Swinging the ball quickly from one side of your body to the other at low level from triple threat, before driving. It protects the ball and opens a lane.

Rocker dribble

A move where you rock your body forward and back while dribbling to make the defender react, then attack. See rocker dribble.

S

Shake

A quick body or shoulder fake, sometimes with a jab, to get a defender off balance before you move. Coaches use it to mean any short fake that buys space.

Shammgod

A move where you push the ball out with one hand and pull it back across your body with the other hand, named after guard God Shammgod, who made it famous. See shammgod.

Snatch back

Driving one way, then sharply pulling the ball and yourself back with a hard dribble to create space, often for a shot. See snatch back.

Speed dribble

A dribble used to move fast up the floor, with the ball pushed out ahead and bouncing higher than a control dribble. See speed dribble.

Spider dribble

A stationary drill where you dribble quickly in front of and behind your legs, alternating hands, with fast taps. It builds hand speed. See spider dribble.

Spin move

Turning your back to the defender and spinning around them while dribbling, switching the ball to the other hand as you come around. It is effective when the defender is overplaying one side.

Stepback

A move where you dribble toward the defender, then step back away from them to create space for a jump shot. Also written step-back. See step back.

Strong hand

Your dominant hand, the one you are most comfortable dribbling and shooting with.

T

Ten-second violation

Failing to bring the ball past half court within the time allowed after gaining possession. NBA and FIBA rules use eight seconds; many other levels use ten. Check your league’s rules.

Through the legs

Another way to say between the legs. See between-the-legs dribble.

Transition

The moment a team switches from defense to offense or the reverse. Ball handlers push the ball in transition before the defense sets up.

Traveling

A violation for taking too many steps without dribbling, or moving your pivot foot illegally. See traveling in basketball.

Triple threat

The stance after catching the ball and before dribbling: knees bent, ball near your hip, ready to shoot, pass or drive. It keeps the defender guessing.

Turnover

Losing possession to the other team without a shot, such as by a steal, a bad pass or a violation. Good ball handling is mostly about avoiding turnovers.

Two-ball dribbling

Dribbling two basketballs at once, together or alternating. It forces your weak hand to work as hard as your strong hand. See two-ball dribbling.

V

V dribble

A one-handed dribble where you push the ball side to side in front of you, making a V shape. It builds control and is the base of the crossover. See V dribble.

W

Weak hand

Your non-dominant hand. Defenders often force you to it, so developing it is one of the fastest ways to improve. See weak-hand dribbling.

Z

Zig-zag drill

A full-court drill where you dribble diagonally side to side, changing direction at each turn. It builds change of direction under movement. See zig-zag dribbling drill.

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