The pound dribble is a hard, stationary dribble where you push the ball into the floor with force so it snaps straight back to your hand. A firm dribble is harder to tap away than a soft one, and pounding at different heights with each hand builds the control every other move needs.
Set up
Get in a low, athletic stance: knees bent, body low, head up.
Low, eyes up.
Spread your fingers and keep them relaxed on the ball. The pads of your fingers touch it; your fingertips steer it.
Finger pads, not palm.
Lift your other arm as an arm bar between the ball and an imaginary defender. It shields; it never pushes off.
Arm up, ball shielded.
Dribble
Push the ball down hard into the floor. Extend through your elbow and snap your wrist at the bottom of the push.
Forearm and wrist push it.
Let the ball come back up into a relaxed hand, then push it straight back down. Don't slap at it with a stiff hand.
Push, don't slap.
Keep the ball close to your body. Under pressure, keep it low and behind you, with your body between the ball and the defender.
Keep your eyes up and forward the whole time. You should be able to see the floor, not the ball.
Feel the ball, see the floor.
Change the height on purpose: ankle, waist, then shoulder height, each with both hands. Go only as hard and as fast as you can still control.
Feel it
The ball should hit the floor hard and return to the same spot in your hand without you chasing it. Your fingers stay loose and spread, your forearm and wrist do the pushing, and your eyes stay level and forward. If you have to look down to find the ball, slow down until you don't.
Fix-its
- Slapping the ball with a stiff hand Relax and spread your fingers, let the ball rise into your finger pads, and push it back down instead of hitting it.
- Soft, weak bounces Push the ball down with force. A soft dribble is easier to tap away.
- Standing up tall Bend your knees and stay low. The lower you are, the shorter the ball's trip and the easier it is to control.
- Looking down at the ball Lift your eyes to the floor ahead of you and keep them there. Slow the dribble down until you can keep your eyes up.
- Only pounding with your strong hand Give your weak hand the same number of reps, or more, at every height.
Drill
- Strong-hand pound, waist height: 15 to 30 seconds, eyes up. Then the same with your weak hand.
- Ankle-height pound: a few inches off the floor, fast and hard, 15 to 30 seconds per hand.
- Shoulder-height pound: as hard as you can while staying in your stance, 15 to 30 seconds per hand.
- Height ladder: a few pounds at ankle, waist and shoulder height without stopping, then switch hands.
- Two balls: pound both at the same time, then alternate, 15 to 30 seconds each.
Sources
- Basketball For Coaches — How to Dribble a Basketball (7-Step Guide + Drills)
- Basketball For Coaches — 50 Basketball Dribbling Drills
- Coach's Clipboard — Basketball Dribbling and Dribble Moves
- Basketball Manitoba — 5 Drills to Develop Youth Basketball Dribbling Skills (2016)
Last checked 2026-10-26.