How to improve your layup

How to Make a Better Layup

A standout basketball player takes advantage of the scoring opportunities that result from aggressiveness and effectiveness on the defensive end of the court. If you can anticipate a pass from your opponent or you have quick hands on the defensive end of the court, you may be able to impose your will by stealing the ball and going in for an easy scoring opportunity. Improving your effectiveness at making layups will make you a better player and help your team improve.

Step 1

 

Take an aggressive stance when you play defense. Bend your knees and extend your arms. Don't just flail at the ball when you are trying to take the ball away from the dribbler. Get your hands low and in the path of the ball to give you a better chance for a steal and get more layup opportunities. It doesn't matter if you can make layups if you never get the chance to use that skill.

Step 2

Develop your dribbling skills with either hand. When you have the ball on the left side of the court, dribble hard with your left hand and go directly at the left side of the backboard. Switching sides will slow you down and give your opponent a chance to catch up and block your layup.

Step 3

Jump off your inside foot -- the foot closest to the rim -- when shooting a layup. This will help you make layups with more control and accuracy. You want to lay the ball off the outside line on the square painted on the backboard when you shoot a layup. Jumping off your inside foot will give you a direct line to the basket and give you a better chance of making a layup.

Step 4

Focus your vision on the square on the backboard when you go up for a layup. Block out any other distraction and go directly at the spot that gives you the best chance of making the layup. Even if a defender coming in is a strong leaper, if you have a half-step advantage you will get to the backboard before he does and he won't be able to legally block a shot that has already banked off the backboard and will pass through the rim. If the defender gets his hand on that shot, he will be called for goaltending and you will get 2 points.

Step 5

Keep your body between the opponent and the ball. You may absorb a hit, but this will keep your opponent from getting a chance to block the shot. Do this by extending your buttocks in the direction of the defender as you head toward the basket. If he makes contact with you, he will be called for a foul and you will get two free throws if your original shot misses. If you make your layup despite the contact, you will get one additional free throw.

How to Improve Your Weak Hand

On Tuesday, we talked about WHY you needed to improve your weak hand to become a better basketball player. Today, we are going to cover HOW to improve your weak hand.
The most important thing you need to understand is that there is no shortcut to development. You can’t work really hard on your own one day and expect to wake up with a strong weak hand. It just doesn’t work that way. You will reap what you sow. You will get what you put in. This is especially true when training this specific skill. If you put in the time, you will see results.
The best way to make sure you strengthen your weak hand is to give it as many reps as possible. It sounds quite simple, and it is, but you’d be amazed at the players who don’t really understand this. YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR WEAK HAND TO MAKE IT STRONGER.

1. Left Handed Form Shooting
Stand 3-5 feet away from the basket. Square up and shoot with your weak hand only (no guide hand). You will be shooting AND catching with your weak hand – the strong hand will not be used at all. Shoot 5-10 shots from each spot (corner, bank, front, bank, corner). Your arm will probably start to hurt or burn but that’s good – it means you are using new muscles and they are getting stronger.

2. Left Handed X-Out Layups
Start at the left elbow. Take one dribble towards the basket and finish with a left handed layup. Rebound the ball and take one dribble out to the right elbow, turn, take one dribble back towards the basket and shoot another left handed layup (yes, I know it’s on the right hand side – that’s okay). You will do 10 reps of this (2 regular layups, 2 layups after a jump stop, 2 reverse layups, 2 regular layups, 2 layups after a jump stop). Rest. Complete 2-3 sets.

3. Left Handed Ball Handling
Perform basic ball handling drills but only use your left hand (no right AT ALL). Here’s the routine I would follow: around one leg, around both legs, figure 8, 100 inside out dribbles, and 100 pound dribbles. Following that routine, I would do 10 trips of left handed layups (start at the baseline, dribble the length of the floor with your left hand, rebound, come back and do the same thing – all left handed). After the layups, repeat the ball handling circuit.

4. In Between Drills
Why not get some extra reps in between drills? When you are shooting your free throws, why not rebound and finish with your left hand (even on makes)? Why not dribble back to the free throw line with your left hand. Whenever you have to go somewhere on the court in practice, use your left hand to get there. These extra reps, when you focus on them, can go a long way in developing your weak hand.

You must remember that this will take some time. You probably won’t improve your weak hand that much in a week, 2 weeks, or a month. But if you spend the necessary time and are disciplined enough, you will see dividends in your game. If you get down or aren’t motivated, just think about the last time a defender locked you down and you were limited because you couldn’t finish or dribble as hard to your left. Or come back to the website and read WHY you need a left hand.

Good luck and keep working hard – you always reap what you sow!  There is no substitute for putting in the time and repetitions!