Dribbling is one of the core, fundamental skills in basketball. And developing this skill is one of the best ways to build confidence in your game. Having a quick dribble and being able to dribble the ball effectively will not only help you avoid having the ball stolen but it will also help you to crossover your opponents and drive in for the easy bucket.
But, learning how to dribble better and more effectively can be challenging. While there are a number of drills and workouts that promise to make you a great dribbler, many of them fall short on that promise. Rather, below, we’re going to show you how wrapping a basketball in a plastic bag will make you a great dribbler once and for all.
Why Placing a Plastic Bag Around a Basketball Helps Your Dribble?
We’ve previously discussed how basketball follows many of the basic principles of physics. While you cannot estimate every shot trajectory, every pass arch, or every dribble movement, you can, with practice, begin to see certain elements within each action that occurs on the court.
And the same is true for when it comes to dribbling a basketball.
When you bounce a basketball off a hardwood court, there is an underlying expectation that the ball will return to the palm of your hand in a similar location. Without any other variables, whether it be weather conditions, the inflated size of the ball, or an opponent obstructing the ball, the basketball dribble tends to follow a similar and expected route.
And although that route is essential to understand, particularly for game time plays, it is also important to throw in variables during practice to help you be a more effective dribbler.
While you may not be able to control the weather, the size of the ball, or the defensive actions of another player, you can force the ball to act erratically. The best, easiest, and most simple way to do this is to wrap the basketball in a plastic bag.
Placing a basketball in a plastic bag helps to develop your dribbling skills by removing the grip on the basketball. As plastic bags have no inherent grip on them, wrapping a basketball in one will remove all grip from the ball. Although the ball will continue to bounce, the lack of grip will force you to work harder on your dribble.
In addition, by placing a plastic bag on a basketball, you are forcing the basketball to act erratically. The plastic bag over a basketball will lose basic basketball functionalities and when dribbled on a basketball court, will bounce differently.
This erratic, non-grippable basketball will essentially force you to learn how to dribble the basketball in a more difficult and challenging environment. The idea is that if you can learn how to dribble and control an erratic basketball, then you will more naturally be able to dribble and control a regular one.
How to Place a Plastic Bag Over a Basketball
Now that you understand the importance and benefits of placing a plastic bag over a basketball, we’re going to review how to do so.
Simply grab a plastic bag from your kitchen or from the supermarket. Place the basketball in the plastic bag and secure it tightly. With the two handles, wrap them in a strong knot that won’t break or come undone. Make sure to remove as much air and leave as little space between the ball and the plastic bag as possible.
Plastic Bag on Basketball Dribbling Drills
Once you have placed and secured the basketball in a plastic bag, it is time to begin your dribbling skills. You will first want to practice simple, basic, and easy dribbling skills so as to get a better understanding and handle on the ball.
To begin with, simply dribble the ball with one-hand up and down the length of the court. For instance, dribble the basketball with your right-hand from one end of the court to the other. Once you have reached the opposite side, switch the ball to your left-hand and dribble back down the court with your left-hand.
Once you have practiced dribbling with one hand up and down the court, you should look to practice with both hands. Again, simply dribble the basketball up and down the court, passing the basketball from your right to your left-hand with each step.
Once you complete these two basic dribbling skills, you will want to take it to the next level.
Begin dribbling the ball full court, in a similar manner as you would during a live game. Be sure to complete simple behind the back and through the leg crossover moves to increase your overall handling and dribbling skills. Continue to do so back and forth on the court until you feel comfortable dribbling the plastic wrapped basketball.
Lastly, enlist the help of your teammates to run a quick scrimmage game with the ball wrapped in a plastic bag. While the plastic bag won’t have too much of an effect on your shot, it will make dribbling and handling the ball more difficult.
Scrimmaging with your teammates is also great overall practice for the team. You will all earn the benefits of the ball being wrapped in a plastic bag and will learn how to more effectively dribble and handle the ball with the reduced grip and added difficulty.