Behind-the-Back Pass: Basketball technique, drills and fixes

The behind-the-back pass wraps the ball around your back with your passing hand and sends it out past your opposite hip to a teammate, so a defender in front of you never gets a clean lane at it. Coaches treat it as the right pass when a pass across your front would be risky, such as a 2-on-1 break with the defender right in front of you, and as a turnover waiting to happen when a simple chest or bounce pass would have worked. A camera can't grade a pass, so this lesson coaches the technique and the decision.

Set up

Pick the moment: a pass across your front would go into the defender. Typical spots are a 2-on-1 break with the defender right in front of you overplaying your ball side, a defender running straight at you, or a teammate trailing the break.

Front lane closed.

If a chest or bounce pass will get there, throw that instead. Make the behind-the-back only when it is the easiest correct pass.

Simple first.

Hold the ball in both hands, fingers spread: the passing hand on the back side of the ball, the guide hand in front of it.

Two hands, full control.

Don't stare at your receiver. Look away, or fake a pass the other way, so the defender commits before the ball moves.

Fake one way, pass the other.

Pass

Bring the ball back around your passing-side hip with both hands still on it, weight on your back foot.

As the ball reaches your hip, let the guide hand drop off. Not before: an early release is where control goes.

Guide hand leaves at the hip.

With the passing hand on the side of the ball, thrust it behind your back toward your teammate as your weight shifts forward.

Flex your wrist and fingers to send it, releasing off your first two fingers.

Fingers finish it.

Finish with the passing arm extended across your back, hand near your opposite hip, fingers pointing at the target.

Point at their hands.

Lead a moving teammate: throw to where they will be, not where they are now.

Hit them in stride.

Feel it

The ball stays locked in two hands until it reaches your hip. Then one hand takes it behind you, your wrist and fingers flick it out, and your fingers finish pointing at your teammate's hands. Your eyes or a fake have already moved the defender. Some of the time the right feel is choosing the plain chest or bounce pass instead.

Fix-its

The ball slips or the pass sprays wide Your guide hand is coming off too early. Keep both hands on the ball until it reaches your hip, then let only the passing hand take it behind you.
The defender reads it You're looking at your receiver. Look away or make a pass fake the other way first, then pass.
It misses the target Finish with your hand near your opposite hip and your fingers pointing at your teammate. Don't cut the follow-through short.
Your teammate has to stop or reach back for it Lead them. Pass to where they're running, not where they are.
You throw it for show and turn it over If a chest or bounce pass is open, make that pass. Save the behind-the-back for when your front lane is closed, and don't use it in games until it's reliable in practice.

Drill

Wall pass: stand about 10 ft from a wall, pass the ball around your back so it rebounds to your front, catch it and go again. Add speed or distance once it's clean.
Partner at your side: stationary behind-the-back passes, checking that your guide hand stays on until your hip and your fingers finish at their hands. Then switch hands.
Moving partner: your partner jogs past your side and you lead them with the pass.
2-on-1 break: the defender plays you. If they step into your front lane, go behind the back; if not, make the chest or bounce pass.
Take it into games only once it's reliable in these drills.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-26.