Basic Basketball Dribbling Drills For Beginners

list of basketball dribbling drills

Key Takeaway: Consistent practice of basketball dribbling drills for beginners, such as ball slaps, wraps around body parts, figure eights, and specialized dribbles, along with tips like keeping eyes up, dribbling with fingers, and maintaining speed, can significantly enhance skills with dedication and perseverance. Paid courses are also available for further improvement, including vertical jump training for dunking proficiency within a short period.


If you are a beginner you are in the right place. Our drills listed below will help your dribbling skills improve. Do not be discouraged if you think being a beginner is embarrassing, there’s a first time for everything right? Just grind and be consistent on what you do. We provide the list of basketball dribbling drills for beginners like you. If you are motivated already, let’s start practicing these drills!

1. Ball Slaps

Slap the ball from one hand to the other. This is a drill to get your hands ready for the workout, this is the stretching exercise for dribbling drills. 

2. Wraps around waist 

Wrap the ball around your waist, do it counterclockwise first and vice versa. Make sure it won’t touch the ground

3. Wrap around Ankle 

Wrap the ball around your lower legs/ankles, do it counterclockwise and vice versa. Do not drop the ball while u do this.

4. Wraps around head

Wrap the ball into your head, do it counterclockwise first and vice versa. 

5. Wraps around left leg

Starting with your left leg in front and your right leg back, wrap the ball around only your left leg. Make sure not to drop the ball.

6. Wraps around right leg

Starting with your right leg in front and your left leg back, wrap the ball around only your right leg. Make sure not to drop the ball.

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7. Spider Dribble 

Start with your knees shoulder width apart and bent. The ball should stay underneath you the entire time of the drill. Start dribbling in front, dribble the ball with your right hand, then your left hand, then reach your right hand around behind your knee for a dribble, and then your left hand behind your knee for a dribble, and then back to your right hand in front. The ball and your hands should continually dribble, this drill will practice your speed in changing your hands while dribbling.

8. Dribble around right leg 

Start in a wide stance. Keep the ball low to the ground, dribble the ball around your right leg only and using your right hand only

9. Dribble around left leg 

Start in a wide stance. Keep the ball low to the ground, dribble the ball around your left leg only and using your left hand only

10. Figure eight dribbling drill

Again starting in a wide stance. Dribble the ball in a figure 8 motion around both legs using both hands. Do it quicker if you can do it quickly.

11. Behind the back dribble

Cross the ball continuously behind your body. Make sure you are crossing wide

12. Crossover dribble

Dribble the ball in front of your body, dribble it from left to right and right to left

13. Wall dribbling 

Dribble the ball against the wall using your fingers not palms.

14.  Drop ball

Stretch your arms while holding the ball, your arms should point forward, and it should be at head level. Drop the ball and catch it quickly and do not let the ball touch the ground. This will train your speed and agility

15. Pound Dribble – Ankle Height – Right Hand

Dribbling the ball low and should be on the ankle level. Use your right hand only 

16. Pound Dribble – Ankle Height – Left Hand

Dribbling the ball low and should be on the ankle level. Use your left hand only 

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Basketball dribbling tips for beginners

  • Make sure to keep your eyes up when dribbling, it will help you to be more alert if there will be incoming defenders
  • Dribble the ball as hard as you can
  • Dribble the ball using your fingers, not your palm
  • Perform the drill as fast as you can 
  • Do this drills consistently 

To help your vertical and help you to dunk within 3 weeks, you can check out our paid courses. We have affordable courses that will help you to level up your game.

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