Basketball Drills to Improve at Home

Great basketball players know that they need to work on their game both during team practices and on their home basketball court. As Michael Jordan used to say, “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” Try some of the drills below to improve your game.

Ball Handling

Whether you’re the center or the point guard, ball handling is an essential part of the game. This drill is great and can easily be done at home. You need two basketballs and some open space. 

First, bounce the balls at the same time, one basketball in your right hand and the other in your left. Bounce them both up to your waist and back down. Then bounce them low to the ground using only your fingertips. Once you get that down, alternate bounces at waist height, then move lower to the ground using only your fingertips once again. 

Once you master all these while standing still, try walking across the court and back.

Five-Spot Shooting

Shooting drills are always better with a partner, but when you are alone on your home basketball court, Five-Spot Shooting is a great drill to improve your jumper. First, mark out five spots about 15 feet away from the basket: one on each baseline, one on each elbow and the last one straight on. 

Start on one of the baseline spots and shoot only from that spot until you make five shots. Once you make five, move to the next spot. Keep track of your total shots, and work on getting that number lower next time you do it. Feeling good from 15 feet? Move it back to 18, then 20.

Athleticism 

Basketball is an extremely athletic sport. Along with shooting and dribbling, quickness and conditioning are other elements you can work on at home. A Line Jumps drill is a simple and effective way to get this. Find a line on your home basketball court, or a crack in your driveway. 

First, face the line and jump over and back as many times as possible in a minute. How many did you get? Then go side to side for a minute. Once your quickness begins to improve, try doing it with one foot. Always keep track of how well you do so you can improve the next time. 

Danny Coleman is an athletic writer for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Sport Court. Follow on Twitter.