How to Drive the Ball to the Hoop
- 1). Practice dribbling frequently until it becomes second nature. Pistol Pete Maravich was famous for having a basketball with him everywhere he went. He even sat in a movie theater bouncing the ball in the aisle.
- 2). Train your body to generate explosiveness in your legs. A strong first step can free you up almost instantly on a drive. Practice running winds sprints and weight training exercises that build leg muscles, such as squats.
- 3). Establish yourself as an outside threat early in the game. Defenders often play off their men at the top of the key to guard against penetration. But if you start making your shots, the defender will have to move closer, giving you a better chance of driving.
- 4). Use misdirection. Take a hard step in one direction, then attempt to drive around your defender in the opposite direction. You may catch him off balance.
- 5). Keep your head up and your eyes scanning around you as you drive. Watching the ball as you dribble is a bad habit.
- 6). Shoot your layups confidently. Shying away from defenders when driving increases the chances of your shots being blocked.
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