Become a Better Player with these Basketball Passes

All of the basketball passes you need to learn as suggested by the basketball passing tips.

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• Two Handed Chest Pass
• Overhead Pass
• Bounce Passes
• Behind the Back Pass
• Underhand Pass, and
• Alley-Oop

Fundamental Passes

Two-Handed Chest Pass
This is the most fundamental of all basketball passes and one of the most commonly used.

This most fundamental of basketball passes should be used whenever possible, as it is the quickest pass. If you can use a chest pass, do. Use this when you have a clear path to your target (your teammate).

You should be in the triple threat position when you catch the ball, then:

• Bring the ball to your chest level, holding it with both hands and your thumbs up.
• Target the ball toward your teammate's throat (slightly above his/her chest) if there is a passing lane to do so.
  • If there isn't a passing lane, then target it toward their outside hand, away from the defender.
• Extend your arms toward the target and rotate your hands out so that palms are now facing out and thumbs pointing down (push through the ball with your thumbs for backspin).
• Never leave your feet to throw a chest past.
  • If you can, take a step toward your target for a stronger pass, but if you must make a quicker pass then don't take a step.

Overhead Pass
This is one of the best basketball passes for passing over a defense. It's also one of the best "ball fake" basketball passes to use since you are showing the ball up high and the defense (especially zone defenses and help defenders) can see the ball better and react to the fake.

The overhead pass is often used for slightly longer passes or when being crowded by your oppenent. Most times when you need to get the ball over the defense, then the overhead pass is likely your first choice.

As usual, you should start in the triple threat position since you've been training to get in triple threat immediately, then:

• Move the ball overhead, holding it with both hands. Do so as quickly as possible.
  • You should have your arms fully extended above your head, and thumbs back behind the ball
• Target the pass slightly above where you actually want it to go, as overhead passes tend to drop a little. If you target your teammate's head then it should drop to his neck/chest area (where your pass should go).
• To make the pass, don't wind up behind your head.

  • It's made with mainly the wrists and fingers. Flick your wrists and push your thumbs through the ball, resulting in them ending forward.
  • A slight movement of the hands/arms backward is allowed for more power, but remember not to bring the ball behind your head.

• As with any pass, take a step toward the target if possible since it gives you more power behind your pass.

Bounce Passes

• 2-Handed Bounce Pass
• 1-Handed Bounce Pass

2-Handed Bounce Pass
The 2-handed bounce pass is very similar to the chest pass, except you're basically throwing the chest pass to the floor. One of the best uses for using this basketball pass is when a teammate is cutting backdoor. It is also usefule when the defense is in the chest pass passing lane or passing out of a trap.

You probably know from all of the other basketball passes, start in the triple threat position.

• Bring the ball to chest level.
• Pick a target on the floor about 2/3 of the way to your teammate.
• Just as the chest pass, start with your thumbs up, extend your arms and push through the ball with your thumbs. The push with the thumbs is very important for the bounce pass as it gives the ball better spin to bounce off of the floor to the proper level for your teammate to easily catch it. You should end with thumbs down and palms facing out.
• If you can, take a step toward your target to increase the power of your pass.

1-Handed Bounce Pass
The 1-handed bounce pass is similar to the 2-handed bounce pass in that it is used in pretty much the same situations. The only difference is that you either don't have the space to used a 2-handed pass and/or you have to step to the outside of a defense and use one hand to get ball around him/her.

Again, you should be in triple threat to begin.

• Granted you have the step to take...with the foot opposite the hand/direction you are going to throw, take a cross step to clear a little space for you toward the direction you're going. (i.e. if your going to throw the ball on the right side of the defense, step with your left foot across to the right side and use the right hand to throw the ball.)
• The next part is to decide what kind of spin is going to be used to get the ball to bounce correctly.
  • Most often, a bit of an overhand spin also spun toward the player is used. In the case above, you would spin it overhand and across to the left using your right hand and wrist.
• The pass should be thrown pretty low to get around the defense, and with enough force to bounce to a catchable level for your teammate.

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Advanced Basketball Passes
(Coming Soon)

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Basketball Passing Tips