In-and-Out: Basketball technique, drills and fixes

The in-and-out (also called the inside-out) fakes a crossover with one hand. You bring the ball in as if you're crossing it over, sell it with your head, shoulders and a step, then roll your hand over the top of the ball and push it back out the same side. It's used most often in transition to make a defender shift their weight the wrong way and open a driving lane.

Set up

Attack the defender in a crouched stance with the ball in one hand, low and close to your body. Keep your head up and your eyes forward, not on the ball.

Low, eyes up.

Control the ball with your fingertips, not your palm, and keep the bounce below your waist.

Fingertips.

Move

As you reach the defender, bring the ball in toward the middle of your body, as if you are starting a crossover to your other hand.

Looks like a cross.

Sell it with your body. Step sideways with your inside foot (your left foot if the ball is in your right hand) and turn your head and shoulders toward the fake.

Head, shoulders, step.

Don't let the ball cross. Before it reaches your other hand, roll your dribbling hand over the top of the ball to its inside.

Roll over the top.

Push the ball sharply back out to the same side. Keep your hand on top or on the side of the ball, never under it. Under NBA rules (Rule 10, Section II) a dribbler may not put any part of the hand under the ball to carry it or bring it to a pause; FIBA, NCAA and high-school (NFHS) rule books word this differently, so check your league.

Hand stays on top.

Bring your inside foot back to the outside as quickly as you can and go hard past the defender on the ball side, keeping your body between the ball and the defender.

Back out, go.

Keep dribbling until you can pass or shoot. Don't pick the ball up just because you got past.

Keep the dribble alive.

Feel it

A good in-and-out feels like the start of a crossover that your hand cancels. The ball comes in, your head, shoulders and inside foot go with it, and then your hand rolls over the top and sends the ball back out without ever leaving that hand. It's the same hand roll you feel in the front V-dribble. Your upper body moves with the rhythm of the ball, and the burst back out is the fast part.

Fix-its

The ball crosses and your other hand takes it That's a crossover, not an in-and-out. Roll your dribbling hand over the top of the ball before it gets to the middle, so the same hand brings it back.
Your hand slides under the ball to scoop it back (a carry) Keep your hand on top or on the side of the ball the whole time and push it back with your fingertips. Under NBA rules, a hand under the ball to carry it or pause it is a violation; check your own league's wording.
The defender doesn't move Sell the fake with more than the ball: step sideways with your inside foot and turn your head and shoulders toward the fake.
Slow burst back out Stay crouched through the fake and bring your inside foot back to the outside as quickly as you can, then go hard around the defender.
You look down or the ball bounces high Keep your head up and the bounce below your waist. Pick a spot on the wall to look at when you practise on your own.

Drill

Front V-dribble: one hand only, push the ball in front as if crossing, then roll your hand over the top and bring it back. 30–60 seconds each hand, eyes up.
Stationary in-and-out: add the inside-foot step out and back to the hand roll, slowly first. Work both hands as part of 5–10 minutes of dribble moves every practice.
Full-court dribble-moves drill: dribble from half court to a stationary token defender at the arc, do the in-and-out, go around and finish with a layup. Go around several times right-handed, then left-handed, from both sides of the floor.
Combination: in-and-out into a crossover at the token defender, then finish at the rim.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-26.