how do i improve my drive to the basket?

Answer 1

The keys to driving to the hoop are an explosive first step to get past your guard and enough upper body strength to finish. You develop your first step through sprinting exercises and upper body strength by lifting weights.

Answer 2

Cut down on the number of dribbles it takes you to get there. I have seen over and over high school players start just outside the head of the key and take 3-4 dribbles to get to the basket. If 3-4 dribbles is the best you can do, there aren't many players you can beat to get free for a shot. You couldn't even beat me and I'm an old man.

Here's the secret. From that spot on the floor (just outside the head of the key), it should take you exactly ONE dribble to get to the basket. This is called a power dribble and should be practiced until you can do it all the time and easily. You can practice from the baseline to the half court time line (you do that in 3 dribbles). You can practice full court (you should do that in 6 dribbles). The first time you do this drill, if you go full court, your 6th dribble will probably take you somewhere between the foul line and the 3-pt line. Stop after 6 dribbles, go back and do the drill again this time stretching out the dribble. You may lose control at times until you get the hang of getting the ball out ahead of your body (not down by your feet where most players dribble).

Practice for about 10 minutes a day and after about a wek, you will find yourself getting closer to the far baseline. You can also practice your footwork with this drill. When you get to each baseline with your dribble, jump stop and don't move with the ball. I'll tell you how to do that if you write another Q&A.

A while back I had a point guard who was 5'9" and could get from one baseline ot the other with control in 5 dribbles. Nobody in the league could get the ball away from him by pressing. He became an all-league guard and played small college ball.

Answer 3

Practice over and over. Set up cones or obstacles, and drive to the basket at full speed and imagine defense and just keep driving.

Answer 4

Develope a good stutter step, try to be ambidextrous (sp?) with dribbling, have good upper body strength, don't drive the same way each time. Mix it up to keep the defense guessing.

Answer 5

Dribble lower and even while doing normal layups make them more complicated like pull it back and pump fake it trust me it helps turn your body in the air too, set up pilons and even practice with your friends.

Answer 6

easy get low and go in fast