Learning basketball dribbling drills for guards is now easier than ever. You must work hard at it day in and day out. Practicing everyday and trying to beat your performance from the day before. But before you began dribbling drills you must understand the proper techniques of dribbling.

There are alot of improper training techniques. The first lesson to becoming a professional dribbler is to dribble with your finger tips. Dribbling with your finger tips and not the palms of your hands allows for better control of the ball and leads to less turnovers. keep the ball low. The closer the defender the lower should have the ball. Try and keep the ball no higher than waist height, as the defender get closer you will dribble the ball no higher than knee height. This is also why you must learn to see the ball with your hands. Keep your head up the whole time you are dribbling. Keeping your head up allows you to see where your defender is and helps you to locate your team members faster for the quick pass to them to get an open shot or hit them on the run for quick drive for a layup.

Now that you know how to dribble the next step would be dribbling with a purpose. People misunderstand the purpose of dribbling. They would dribble around in circles with nowhere to go. Which leads to waisted time on the clock, poor ball movement and a rushed shot before the shot clock is up. This type of performance will leave you at the end of the bench with splinters up your butt. As an offensive player you want to attack the basket for a good shot or give the ball up to a teammate for a good shot. The proper way would be to advance the ball up the court with your head up and under control with one goal in mind. That is to put points on the board, either its you or a teammate. You can dribble all day, but if the ball doesn't go through the hoop then you are waisting your time.

You know the meaning behind dribbling, lets go over the dribbling drills. These drills will help the ball to become an extension of your hand.

1) Basic Technique

The first drill to began with is learning how to cup the ball. Your hand will be like a suction cup. You want to spread your fingers on the ball, dribble the ball and as it is coming back up you want flex your wrist upwards. The goal is to try and hold the ball in your hand as long as possible in between dribbles. The longer the ball is in your hands the less chances it is likely to get stolen

2) Low Dribble

This drill will teach you to keep the ball low as a defender is guarding you close. You want to peform controlled low dribbles for 30 seconds. Keep the ball below your knees, keep your body in between you and the defender and raise your opposite arm as an extra guide for protection between you and the defender

4) crossover

This is one of the most effective move that an offensive player can perform. This drill is also done in 30 seconds. What you are doing is crossing the ball from one hand to the other hand. Going from left to right and then right to left back and forth for 30 seconds. keep the ball low. keep a wide base. A little more than shoulder width apart. Extend your arms on the crossover and shift your weight each time you crossover which will help on deceptiveness. The key to a good crossover is quickness and deceptiveness

3) Speed Dribble

You will want to use this drilbble when advancing the ball up quickly for a fast break. Unlock the previous dribbling drills you want to keep the ball high. Start from one baseline and try to make it to the opposite baseline in less dribbles as possible working on your speed. In this drill you want to push the ball out as you are running. Perform four sprint dribbles up and down the court. Remember to stay under control.

6) Change of Pace

This is a great tool because it keeps your defender guessing. Start baseline and start to perform the speed dribble then slow down like your about to stop then explode and blast off. In this drill you catch your defender sleeping. You can also perform this drill at half court you can also use a crossover over or between the leg dribble on your blast off

7) Behind the Back

Another effective drill is the behind the back drill. Works just like the crossover but you are performing the drill behind your back. For 30 seconds you want to go from left to right and right to left dribbling behind your back. This move is good because you are performing a crossover drill with your body in between you and the defender which will help for extra protection.

8) Pull Back Dribble

This dribbling drill allows for you to escape a double team. Also known as the retreat dribble. Perform for a minute. You want to start off dribbling like you are protecting the ball with your opposite arm guard up for protection. For a minute dribble and shuffle your feet towards the defender, like defensive slide, for a few steps and shuffle your feet from defender back towards starting point. Helps on getting out of trouble or double team.

To be a professional point guard you must be the on court general. When you combine your knowledge of knowing how to dribble, dribbling with a purpose and proper dribbling drills you will become an unstoppable force. The ball will now become an extension of your hand, and the only person that can stop you is you.