Shamgod: Basketball technique, drills and fixes

The Shamgod (named after God Shammgod) baits a reach: you push the ball out in front with one hand as if it's getting away, take a step or two after it, then pull it back across your body with your other hand and go the other way. It became widely known after Shammgod used it for Providence against Arizona in the 1997 NCAA Elite Eight, and similar moves were already used in Europe before that. It sits close to the carry line, so this lesson teaches the legal version: the hand that pulls the ball back never goes under it.

Set up

Get the crossover, between-the-legs and behind-the-back solid with both hands before you learn this. Shammgod himself teaches those three first.

Basics first.

Attack low, in a crouched stance, dribbling on your fingertips with your head up and eyes forward. This lesson describes it starting in the right hand; flip it for the left.

Low, eyes up.

Come at the defender at about 80% speed and start the move a stride or two away from them, not in their chest.

Controlled approach.

Move

Push the ball out in front of you with your right hand on a bounce, out away from your body, as if it's getting away. Release it toward the floor; don't hold it.

Let it go out.

Take a step or two toward the ball as if you're chasing it. The rules put no limit on steps while the ball isn't in your hand.

Sell the chase.

Take your right hand away once the ball leaves it. The ball must hit the floor before any hand touches it again: touching it twice before it lands ends your dribble.

Floor first.

As the defender reaches or leans for the ball, reach your left hand across past it and pull it back across your body.

Snatch it back.

Keep it legal: meet the ball on its far side or top after the bounce and send it on down to the floor. The rules say you may not put any part of your hand under the ball and carry it, or bring it to a pause and then keep dribbling (NBA Rule 10 Sec. II(4); FIBA 2026 Art. 24.1.2). If your palm scoops under the ball or the ball stops in your hand, it's a carry.

Hand on the side, never under.

Never have both hands on the ball at the same time during the switch. Touching it with both hands at once ends your dribble.

One hand at a time.

Push off and burst the other way at full speed, at the defender's outside shoulder, pushing the ball ahead with a low dribble.

Gone.

Keep your body between the ball and the defender as you go, with your off arm out as a guard. You can't push off or grab.

Shield it.

Feel it

The ball looks loose, your feet chase it, and the defender goes for it. Your other hand meets the ball on its side, never underneath, and you're already moving the other way. Shammgod says it started by accident, when a defender went for the ball and the only thing he could do was snatch it back. The move depends on the defender committing to the 'loose' ball.

Fix-its

Called for a carry on the snatch-back Your palm got under the ball or the ball paused in your hand. Meet it on the far side or top after the bounce and keep pushing it down to the floor. Slow the move down until the hand stays on the side every rep.
Double dribble on the switch Your right hand followed the ball, or both hands touched it at once. Let go with the right hand completely and let the ball bounce before the left hand touches it.
You actually lose the ball You pushed it further than your other hand can reach after a step or two. Push it only as far as you can get back to, and never faster than you can control it.
The defender doesn't bite You started too far away or didn't chase the ball. Start a stride or two from the defender and take real steps toward the ball so the 'loss' looks real.
Slow to explode after the snatch You stood up while chasing the ball. Stay low the whole way so you can push off the moment the ball is back, and go at 100% to the outside shoulder.

Drill

Slow walk-through: push out, bounce, snatch back with the other hand on the side of the ball, both hands. Go slowly until the snatch hand never goes under the ball. Make it part of the 5-10 minutes of dribble moves you do every practice.
Sideline to sideline: right-hand push one way, left-hand push back, down and back twice before moving on.
Chair or cone: approach at 80%, make the move at 60% a stride or two away, attack at 100% past the outside shoulder with a low push-ahead dribble.
Go-to and counter: pair the Shamgod with a counter (for example a crossover) and practise the two together at the chair.
Live 1-on-1: a defender guards you for real. Only snatch back when they reach or lean for the ball; if they don't, keep your dribble and use your counter.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-31.