A skip pass goes to a teammate who isn't next to you, usually on the far side of the floor, skipping over one or more defenders. It's normally a two-handed overhead pass, used to beat a zone that has shifted to the ball or a help defender who has left a shooter. It's a passing and decision skill: the camera can't see the ball, the defense or your read, so the analyzer doesn't grade it — the lesson coaches the technique.
Set up
Look for the moment the defense has shifted toward the ball, or a help defender has left a shooter on the far side. That's when the skip is open.
Defense shifted, far side open.
Check the far-side defenders before you throw. The defender nearest the receiver is the one who can step into the lane and pick it off.
Check the weak side first.
Hold the ball above your forehead, not behind your head, with your hands on the sides and slightly behind it, fingers spread.
Above the forehead.
Keep your shoulders square to the basket and don't stare at the receiver. Fake a pass the other way first to move the defense.
Square, fake, then skip.
Pass
Step toward the receiver and extend your legs, back and arms into the pass.
Step and extend.
Snap both wrists and release the ball off the first two fingers of each hand.
Snap it.
Throw it on a line over the top of the defense, not a soft lob. A lob hangs in the air longer and is easier to tip or steal.
Over the top, on a line.
Aim at the receiver's head, a little higher than the chest, and lead them if they're moving.
Head high, lead them.
Finish with your arms extended and fingers pointing at the target.
As the receiver, catch it with your eyes on the rim, ready to shoot or attack the closeout.
Eyes on the rim.
Feel it
The ball stays above your forehead until you step, then leaves both hands together with a wrist snap and travels flat across the floor over the defense. Nothing in your shoulders or eyes tells the defense it's coming until it's gone.
Fix-its
- It gets tipped or intercepted Stop lobbing it. Step, extend and snap the wrists so it travels on a line, and check the far-side defender before you throw.
- The defense reads it early Keep your shoulders square to the basket and your eyes off the receiver. Fake the other way, then skip.
- Ball starts behind your head Hold it above your forehead. From behind the head it's slower, weaker and easier to steal.
- It falls short or floats Use your legs and back, not just your arms: step toward the receiver and extend fully.
- It drifts off line Your strong hand is taking over. Push evenly with both hands and finish with your fingers at the target.
Drill
- Wall overhead passes: start about 1 m from the wall and move back 50 cm at a time to 3 m, keeping the ball above your forehead.
- Partner skips: pass overhead from one wing to the opposite wing or corner, then add a passive defender in the middle who tries to tip it.
- Double skip vs a shell zone: skip from the wing over the top to the far side, then skip back after the zone shifts for an open shot or post feed.
- Pin-screen skip: a teammate screens the weak-side zone defender, and you skip to the corner or wing for an open three.
Sources
- Coach's Clipboard — Basketball Passing
- Coach's Clipboard — The "Buzz" (Twilight Zone) Defense
- Coach's Clipboard — Read and React Zone Offense Notes
- TeachPE — Basketball Passing Drills
- Greg Ney — Winnetka Youth Basketball Guide: Passing and Catching
- Randy Brown — Double Skip Pass Drill, FastModel PlayBank (2013)
- Hoop Student — What is the skip pass in basketball?
Last checked 2026-10-26.