Two hand passes come in a variety of forms, but mastering the fundamentals of all of them will result in peak performance on all basketball courts, even the Goalrilla Goal Basket Goal court you have at home. Let’s look at the fundamentals of a Two Hand Bounce Pass.

The key points to remember:

• Both feet are square to the target and slightly wider than should width apart.
• One foot is designated as the pivot foot while the other will be used to step toward the target.
• The player’s entire body will remain square to the intended target.
• The basketball is held with one hand on each side of the ball.
• Position the ball at chest level.
• Visually focus on delivering the bounce pass from the chest level ball position to the hands of a teammate

As the arms are extended downward at a slight angle, the player will rotate the thumbs of each hand simultaneously downward toward the ground. As the thumbs rotate downward, the fingers are now rotated from pointing skyward to pointing toward the passer’s chest. The ball is released off the index and middle finger of each hand.

When properly executed, the pivot foot will remain stationary. The non-pivot foot extends toward the intended target while the arms are fully extended with the back of each hand facing each other. The fingers are all pointed toward the target and pointed toward the ground.

The ball will travel from the chest level of the passing player, strike the ground two-thirds of the way to the target receiver and then bounce into the hands of that receiver.

Developing a fundamentally sound two-handed bounce pass is a key building block to a player’s ability to move the basketball effectively from one player to another on the court. From that, the play can add other skills to become a well-rounded offensive basketball player.

 -Pat of the Basketball Goal Store Blog Team

We are back to good fundamentals with the Wall and Ball Two Hand Pass Drill. Playing basketball looks so easy when you’re sitting in the stands. But for players, good players, that easy look is developed through practice and concentration on mastering fundamental skills.

This drill will help you do that. All you need is a basketball and a wall (with no windows!). Combine this drill with a one-minute shooting drill around the court and in square in front of your Goalrilla Goal Basketball Goal and you will have a complete practice in your driveway or on your home court. (If you need help finding the best goal for your home court – visit us at the Basketball Goal Store – we have everything you need!)

The Drill:

• With the basketball in hand, the player should set themselves about 8 to 10 feet away from the wall.
• Stand square to the wall. Place one hand on each side of the basketball, visually pick a spot on the wall and then execute the bounce pass by keeping the pivot foot planted and then stepping out with the other foot toward the wall as the ball is released.
• After release, hands immediately go up and out for the return pass as the ball bounces off the wall.

Catch the ball and repeat the process, executing 10 to 20 reps for 1 set. Complete 2 to 3 sets per practice.

Emphasize these key points:

• Player should focus on stepping into the pass. Match the arm extension with the leg extension in order to generate power behind the pass.
• Hand position: Holding the basketball in both hands, the player extends the arms outward and at a slight angle downward withthe stepping motion. The player will rotate the thumbs of each hand simultaneously down toward the ground and then extend the ball forward off of the index and middle finger of each hand. when properly executed, the back of each hand will be facing each other with the fingers pointing forward and thumbs pointing toward the ground.
• Receiving the ball: The player can focus on automatically getting the hands into the ready position by getting both hands up and out with the palms facing the wall. This permits the player to visually watch the ball as it comes back into their hands as they catch the simulated return pass. It’s a great way to build hand to eye coordination while at the same time building greater hand agility.
• Hand and eye coordination: The player should should select a spot about two-thirds of the distance between himself and the wall to bounce the ball – with force so that there is not a high loop in the return pass. More power at the release in a good angle means the ball will snap back.

Good intense practice makes for good play on the court!

-Pat of the Basketball Goal Store Blog Team

For beginners and intermediate players, mastering the fundamentals of passing is crucial to building a team on the court. Develop that passing proficiency and confidence with the Wall and Ball Two Hand Chest Pass Drill.

All you need is a wall (with no windows) and a basketball. Combine this drill with a drill shooting baskets on your Goalrilla Goal Basketball Goal in your driveway or on your home court. (With answers to all your questions and the best equipment available, the Basketball Goal Store is the place to go for your Goalrilla Goal Basketball system.) Players can engage in an independent routine of practice at home to enhance their performance in games.

The Drill:

• The player will stand square to the wall, holding the ball with one hand on either side.
• Visually pick a point on the wall that is at head level or slightly above head level. The ball will tend to return to the passer at about chest level.
• Execute the two handed chest pass by keeping the pivot foot planted and then stepping the other foot toward the wall as the pass is executed.
• The player should immediately keep the hands up and out for the return pass.

The player should execute 10 to 20 good two hand chest passes off of the wall for one set. Complete 2 – 3 sets.

Players should be mindful of setting their position 10 to 12 feet from the wall and adjusting their position based on how the ball returns to them with each pass. It should be smooth and the player should not be reaching.

Drill Emphasis:

Focus on stepping into the pass. Match the arm extension with the leg extension to put power behind the pass.

• Hand Position: The player should begin with one hand on each side of the basketball. As the player extends the arms with the stepping motion, rotate the thumbs of each hand simultaneously down toward the ground and then extend the ball forward off of the index and middle finger of each hand.  When properly executed, the pivot foot will be stationary, the other foot and leg will be extended, the arms fully extended and the back of each hand will be facing each other with the fingers pointing forward and thumbs pointing toward the ground.
• Receiving the ball: An added bonus is that the player can work on receiving the return pass. Hands immediately get ready to receive the pass after the ball is initially released. Build hand and eye coordination as the player visually looks at the ball as it moves from the wall to their hands.
• Hand and eye coordination: Passing the ball to the exact spot selected on the wall improves hand and eye coordination. The more this is practiced, the better the player gets putting the ball right where they want it in game play.

That’s what practice is all about – building skills to apply on the court!

-Pat of the Basketball Goal Store Blog Team

Really, it takes more than two on the basketball court, but it’s the idea that a team is more than one player and a good team moves the ball between players to win games – and that requires passing.

Developing a strong, fundamentally sound stationary two-handed chest pass is a key building block to moving the basketball from one player to another – and puts the team into teamwork.

Teamwork on the court means players are familiar with how each other play and they work together to move the ball and score. That familiarity comes from hours under the hoop together.

Those hours aren’t always in the gym. Teammates hang out together – and you know they’ll be shooting hoops or playing pick-up games in their spare time.

With a Goalrilla Goal Basketball system at home, that’s where they’ll congregate – which is a good thing! A Goalrilla Basketball Goal is quality-made to endure hours and hours of hard play and is just right to practice good form and techniques so the practice transfers to the game court.

The Fundamentals of the Two-Hand Chest Pass Position

Footwork

• Both feet begin square to the target and slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
• Designate one foot the pivot foot; the non-pivot foot will be used to step toward the target
• As you start to step with the non-pivot foot, roll onto the ball of the pivot foot

Lower Body Position

• Lower body remains square to the basket

Upper Body Position

• Upper body remains square to the basket

Head and Eyes Position

• Head is up, facing forward
• Eyes are focused on the chest level, ready-hand position of the intended receiving teammate

Arm, Hand and Finger Position

Ready Position:

• Grasp the ball at chest level with right hand on right side and left hand on left side of ball
• Fingers point toward the sky and thumbs are pointed toward the chest

Extended Pass Position

• As arms are extended, the player rotates thumbs of each hand simultaneously downward toward the ground.
• Fingers rotate from pointing skyward to pointing toward the passer’s chest
• As hands and arms are extended, ball is released off the index and middle finger of each hand

Start with this pass and master it. Get it down pat with your pals and your team can run plays that will dance around your opponents. Then you can start adding other attributes. Skill by skill you can build an unstoppable team of players -  and friends.

-Pat of the Basketball Goal Store Blog Team

Fundamentals – fundamentals – fundamentals.

You’re probably tired of hearing it, but it’s true:

Improve form and technique with good fundamentals and your game will improve. You’ll make more baskets and be a basketball scorer rather than just a shooter. (There is a difference, you know.) It’s precise skill that turns shooting into points.

The Basketball Goal Store is where you’ll find the premier, in-ground Goalrilla Basketball Goal equipment you need to use. The Basketball Goal Store blog is your resource to find step-by-step instructions, tips and drills – and demonstration videos – to learn the fundamentals to make you successful on the court. Check back often (or subscribe to our blog!) to catch every post.

Fundamentals of Shooting: Part 2 (Perimeter)

There are three phases of shooting:

1. The Shot Prep Position
2. The Cocked and Flexed Shooting Position
3. The Release Shooting Position

Each phase of shooting requires the proper technique including the position of key body components:

• Footwork
• Lower body
• Upper body
• Head
• Arm
• Hand

Part 2 – The Cocked and Flexed Shooting Position

Let’s move to the next phase:

Footwork

• Bring the shooting foot up and slightly forward of the pivot foot (as you receive the basketball)
• Keep pivot foot directly centered on the basket
• The feet are wider than hip width apart
• Rise up on the balls of both feet as you swing into the shooting motion (known as stepping into the shot)

Lower Body Position

• Knees go into a bent and flexed position
• Lower body remains square to the basket

Upper Body Position

• Lean slightly forward
• shoulders are square to the basket

Head and Eyes Position

• Head is up, facing forward
• Eyes are focused on the front rim of the basket

Arm Position

• The upper portion of the shooting arm swing parallel with the floor
• The shooting elbow points toward the rim
• The shooting forearm is perpendicular to the floor and straight to the basket

Hand Position

• The fingers are spread
• The ball rests on the pads and fingertips of both hands (No palms!!)
• The valve stem is centered between the index finger and the middle finger of the shooting hand
• Ball is centered in the off-hand and fingers are pointing toward the ceiling
• Shooting hand is flexed, wrist wrinkled
• Thumbs of both hands maintain a “T” formation
• Thumb of shooting hand points toward shooter’s ear
• Both wrists are cocked and flexed

You are ready to spring forward when the body contracts all together in one smooth rhythmic motion. The result is a score (Wooo-hooooo!)

-Pat of the Basketball Goal Store Blog Team

If you want to be a scorer, concentrate on your form. When the fundamentals come automatically, your performance will improve.

Not only does the Basketball Goal Store offer premier Goalrilla Basketball Goal systems, they’re also interested in helping players learn and practice fundamental skills.

Check back often (or subscribe to our blog!) where you’ll find resources to help you learn correct form with step-by-step instructions, tips and drills – and videos that show you what we’re talking about. Our series will also provide drills to practice at home on your own Goalrilla Basketball Goal home court, (available at great prices at the Basketball Goal Store).

Start with Fundamentals of Shooting: Part 1 (Perimeter)

There are three phases of shooting:

1. The Shot Prep Position
2. The Cocked and Flexed Shooting Position
3. The Release Shooting Position

Each phase of shooting requires the proper technique including the position of key body components:

• Footwork
• Lower body
• Upper body
• Head
• Arm
• Hand

Proper positioning and movement of the body along with proper handling of the ball will improve shooting results.

Part 1 – The Shot Prep Position

Let’s concentrate on the Shot Prep Position for perimeter shooting – from any place on the court’s perimeter.

Footwork

• Feet will always be pointed directly at the basket
• The feet are wider than hip width apart
• The shooting foot and the shooting hand are on the same side
• The pivot foot is opposite the shooting foot
• The pivot foot is in front of the shooting foot
• The lower body is always pointed toward the basket

Lower Body Position

• The lower body is always pointed toward the basket
• Knees are bent

Upper Body Position

• The upper body is turned toward the ball

Head and Eyes Position

• Head is up, facing the player with the ball
• Eyes are focused on the ball

Arm Position

• Arms are extended toward the player with the ball

Hand Position

• Hands are up and out, extended directly from the chest, signaling for the basketball

You are ready to catch that ball – and focused on what comes next. You can see it happening, can’t you? But to score, you have to be solidly balanced and in position.

You know what happens if you aren’t – you get off balance and then it’s all up for grabs. Don’t get caught – be ready – with great form!

-Pat of the Basketball Goal Store Blog Team

If you’ve been following our series on Fundamentals of Shooting (Perimeter) you’ve read the instructions and watched the video.

There are a few extra little tidbits to add that might help you understand why these three phases, and mastering the fundamentals are important in developing that “shooter’s touch.”

As I said before, everyone here at the Basketball Goal Store knows equipment is important which is why we offer the best (and, I might add, the original) premium, in-ground Goalrilla Goal Basketball system.

We also know mastering the basic techniques and mechanics of the game are important too, which is why we’re providing this resource for you.

But the other thing we know is that players need to understand why the techniques are important. So that’s what I want to share with you – why certain movements are important when releasing and shooting the ball toward that basketball hoop – so you’ll do more than just hope it goes through – you’ll understand why it does – or does not – score points.

Why arm position matters

The extension of the shooting arm from the Cocked and Flexed “L” position into the shooting release position will help produce a 45 to 55 degree arc on the basketball as it heads straight toward the basket.

That arc is what gives the ball the best opportunity to go through the basket – not too high, not too low.

By keeping the guide hand arm up with the elbow positioned ahead of the pivot foot, it keeps the shooting arm straight. If you’re square with the basket, your shot should be straight too.

Why hand position matters

Holding the basketball in your off-hand with the fingers pointing toward the ceiling is important. This ensures that the off-hand will not provide any influence on the basketball as you extend your shooting hand. That means the shooting hand aims the ball – and the off-hand doesn’t alter the aim.

When you release the basketball off the end of the shooting hand’s fingertips and then snap your wrist at the top of the extension, you’re producing back spin on the basketball which causes the ball to rotate. When the shooting hand comes to rest pointing toward the floor, it allows the shooting hand to have total influence on the basketball.

Mastering all these little nuances in properly executed fundamentals, combined with a smooth, rhythmic motion is what yields the true “shooter’s touch” – and scores.

-Pat of the Basketball Goal Store Blog Team