Practicing the lay-up will not only give you more confidence when it comes to finishing at the rim but will also help you to be a more dominant player. However, when it comes to completing a layup, it is just as important to be able to finish with your dominant hand as it is to be able to finish with your non-dominant hand.
Typically, the dominant hand in basketball is the right-hand. This is because a majority of players are right-handed. In fact, worldwide, nearly 90% of people are right-handed.
As-such, most players are able to efficiently and easily score a layup with their right hand. However, doing so with the left-hand can prove to be more difficult and challenging.
That is why we are going to discuss and provide you with basketball left hand layup drills that will make you a more efficient player and give you the confidence to finish at the rim with either hand.
Want to take it up a notch? Here’s our comprehensive guide to shooting a basketball with your left-hand.
Two-Lane Layup Drill
One of the more classic basketball drills of all time, the two-lane layup drill not only helps with practicing the left-handed layup but also helps with learning how to effectively pass to a cutting player.
It is a simple drill and one of the more effective ones.
To complete the two-lane layup drill, simply have two lanes of players setup on opposing sides of the court within one half.
Have the lane on the left-hand side of the basket dribble towards the hoop, completing the layup with their left-hand. Simultaneously, the lane on the right-hand side should follow the players on the left-hand side, securing the rebound after the layup attempt.
The player who started on the left-hand side should run to the back of the lane on the right-hand side and vice-versa for the player who started on the right-hand side.
Full-Court Layup Press
A full-court layup press is a great, fun, and challenging exercise to help with improving your players left-handed layups. This drill is particularly effective at the end of a practice and many times is used with a punishment of suicides or push-ups if failed.
To complete the full-court layup press, have half your team beneath one basket with the other half beneath the other basket.
The first player with the ball will dribble with their left-hand down the length of the court. Attempting, and hopefully making, the left-handed layup, the second round of players will grab the rebound and do the same on the other end.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. As a coach, set a number of shots made you expect within a certain amount of time. Typically, 30 made shots in five-minutes. If completed, practice is done. If not, everyone must run suicides to finish practice.
Left-Handed Single Drill
While there are a number of basketball left-handed layup drills to complete, there is nothing better than the simple left-handed single drill. This drill places full focus on the left-hand, helping to develop and train that hand as a natural extension of the body.
To perform, simply stand beneath the basket to the left-handed side. Holding the ball with your left-hand, toss against the backboard, aiming to make the shot. Once shot, grab the rebound and repeat.
This simple drill will focus your attention on your left-hand and your ability to score with your non-dominant hand.
Left-Handed Shot Put Back
The left-handed shot put back is one of the more advanced basketball left hand layup drills and should only be completed after you’ve gone through the above drills a number of times.
To do the left-handed shot put back drill, simply toss the ball from the free-throw line against the backboard. Grabbing the ball in mid-air, aim to put the ball in the hoop with only your left-hand.
This drill is difficult for two main reasons. Firstly, it requires you to both grab the ball in mid-air and score a basket. But secondly, you are only allowed to score with your left-hand.
Weak Side Left-Handed Layup
We’ve previously discussed the weak side and how to play against it. However, as an offensive player, it may be prudent at times to attack the rim from the weak side. With less defenders and more room to complete the layup, you will find scoring to be a bit easier.
However, attacking from the weak side requires both agility and speed to complete.
To complete the weak side left-handed layup, begin dribbling from the right side of the basket. Dribbling past the basket, with your left-hand, toss the ball against the square on the backboard and into the basket.
Beat Them to the Left
If you thought the weak side left-handed layup was difficult, then the beat them to the left will only take your game to the next level.
This basketball left-handed layup drill requires two players to complete.
Both players will stand near half-court, out-of-bounds of the court.
Player one will take the ball and begin their drive to the basket with their left hand, attempting to make a left-handed layup.
Player two will give player one a one-second advantage to begin dribbling the ball to the basket. However, once the one-second has past, the second player will try to defend and block the shot attempt.
Pass and Chase
Lastly, we have the pass and chase. This is a great left-handed layup drill as it helps to not only practice your left-handed layup but also your mental toughness.
To perform, have two players on the court. Player one, standing at the top of the three-point line, will pass to player two, who is standing on the left-handed arc of the three-point line.
Once player two has received the ball, they will dribble and sprint to the basket, attempting to score a left-handed layup. However, once the initial player has made the pass and the pass has been received, they will chase the player attempting to score, in an attempt to block or distract them from scoring.