Overhead Pass: Basketball technique, drills and fixes

The two-hand overhead pass is thrown from just above your forehead, so you can pass over a close defender. Coaches use it for outlet passes after a rebound, skip passes across the court over a zone, moving the ball around the perimeter and entry passes into the post. A passing skill: accuracy and vision, not camera-gradeable.

Set up

Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, facing your target.

Balanced and square.

Hold the ball with both hands on the sides and slightly behind it, fingers spread firmly around it.

Fingers, not palms.

Lift the ball to just above your forehead, elbows bent to about 90° and tucked in. Keep it over or slightly in front of your head, never behind it.

Ball up, not back.

Pick your target without staring at it. A look or a fake the other way keeps the defense from reading the pass.

See it, don't stare.

Pass

Step toward your target and extend your legs, back and arms together. That extension supplies most of the power.

Step and reach.

Snap both wrists and flick the ball off your first two fingers of each hand, with both hands working equally.

Snap, both hands.

Aim for your teammate's head or a little above it, so they catch it high. If they're moving, throw to where they'll be.

Hit them high, lead them.

Finish with your arms fully extended and your fingers pointing at the target.

Fingers to the target.

Feel it

A good overhead pass feels like one quick motion: step, reach, snap. The ball starts above your forehead and leaves without dipping behind your head first. Your arms end long with your fingers pointing at your teammate. If you feel the ball drop back behind your head, you've added time and given the defense a chance to take it.

Fix-its

Ball taken behind the head Start with the ball just above your forehead and pass from there. Behind the head is slower and easier for a defender to strip.
Pass is too soft or falls short Check the ball isn't behind your head, then step into the pass and extend your legs, back and arms before the wrist snap.
Pass drifts off line Make both hands work equally so your strong hand doesn't steer it, and finish with your fingers pointing at the target.
Defense reads it Find your target without staring at it, and use a look or fake first.
Thrown behind a moving teammate Pass to where they're going, not where they are.

Drill

Wall passes: start about 1 m from a wall and make overhead passes, moving back in 50 cm steps up to 3 m. Watch that the ball stays above your forehead.
Partner passes: 10 overhead passes to a partner, each one load, step, snap. Aim at their head.
Rebound and outlet: one player rebounds, turns and throws an overhead outlet to a partner calling for it up the court.
Man in the middle: a defender stands between two passers; pass over them with overhead passes.
Skip pass: pass from one wing across to the opposite wing over one or two defenders.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-25.