Dribble Pullup Shooting Drills

In watching basketball games today most players are either scoring at the basket or shooting 3-point shots.  The art of the mid-range game is something that is not used anymore in basketball.  The 10-15 foot jumpshot is a tool for any offensive player to use to keep the defense completely off-balance.  A complete scorer can make 3-pointers, score at the basket, and also shoot the pullup jumpshot.

The one or two dribble pullup makes it really hard for any defender to guard.  It prevents the defense from closing out too fast.  A fast closeout gives the chance for the offensive player to go right around the defender.  But it also does not allow the backside rotation of the defense to get to the ball to contest the jumpshot. 

The one or two dribble pullup stays in the middle ground of the defense making it really hard for the defense to guard.  The on the ball defender does not have enough time to catch back up on the drive.  The rotational defense does not have enough time to rotate all the way to the ball.  This gives the offensive player an open 10-15 foot jumpshot.

There are a couple of different ways to get players shots in that 1 or 2 dribble pullup range using different setups.  I am going to go through 4 different drill setups that are able to get players shots using the dribble to create in that midrange area.  I will show and give you the breakdown of each different setup.

Before getting to each setup, I will have the players start each setup using a dribble pullup.  After each player goes through the line a few times, I will then make the players use 2 dribbles.  The players will then go through the drill again with each player getting a couple of shots.  Then I will make the players dribble once or twice and then use a change of direction dribble before shooting.

The change of direction dribbles are crossover, behind the back, between the legs and spin move. Follow the link for a more detailed post on the change of direction dribbles.

I will have the players go through each change of direction dribble getting shots coming off of each move.  The change of direction dribbles give the players the ability to create a shot even with a possible rotational defensive player getting over to the midrange area.  Players need to be able to create when things are not perfect.  Each change of direction dribble gives offensive players the ability to modify their drives when things are not perfect.

Here are the four different setups to get 1 or 2 dribble pullup jumpshots.

Dribble Pullup Drill #1

The first drill is setup to get as many shots up as possible.  The players get into lines around the 3-point line.  I have 7 different spots but this can be reduced down to 3-5 lines at any one time.  The 7 spots are the top of the key, the wings on both sides, the corners on both sides, and about halfway between the wing and the top on both sides.  This position is the spot where most players are in when running a 4-out offense.  The players will get into each line you are using.  All players are going to move in the same direction using either 1 or 2 dribbles.  Everybody has to move in the same direction or players are going to collide with each other.

After each shot, the player gets the ball and passes to their line.  They return to their line by running around the outside of the drill.  Nobody should be inside the 3-point line except for the players dribbling and shooting.  Each line needs 3 players to keep the drill running without having to stop and wait for players to get back in lines. 

For this drill, I have everybody go right with 1 dribble first.  After a couple of rounds, then the players go to 2 dribble pullups still to the right.  After 2 dribble pullups, all the lines rotate one line to their right.  This puts the top of the key to the right slot.  The right slot moves to the right wing. And so on. 

The process repeats with 1 dribble then 2 dribble pullups.  Then every line rotates again.  This continues until the players are back in the initial line.  Once everybody is back where they started, the drill then makes everything move to the left.  The players dribble to the left for the 1 and 2 dribble pullups.  The lines all move to the left after both sets of pullup shots.

Dribble Pullup Drill #2

The second drill is about simulating a game type movement and less about getting a good quantity of shots up.  This makes each rep that much more important to focus on the minor details of the dribble pullup.  This is a drill where not travelling on the take off step and dribble can be focused on.  I see too many players travel on the take off for a turnover rather than get a good shot up.

This drill allows for the 1 dribble, 2 dribble and change of direction dribble to a shot all to be used.  The addition of the change of direction dribbles gives players the chance to work on shooting straight off a crossover or between the legs dribble.  These change of direction dribbles are useful in creating space against a rotating defender to get off a shot.

In the drill there are two lines.  One line has the ball and the other is the shooting line.  The line with the ball attacks and dribbles into the foul line or elbow area.  Once there they pass the ball out to the shooting line.  If you are wanting to work on catch and shooting, then a shot can be taken immediately off the catch.

Once the shooting line catches the ball, then they can take a one dribble pullup going in either direction.  An extra dribble can be used to go from 1 dribble pullups into 2 dribble pullups.  Again, the players can move in either direction off the catch.  This lets the players work on going both right and left on the dribble.

Finally, the players can use a change of direction dribble after 1 or 2 dribbles to work on shooting after a move.  These moves can start going in either direction and I recommend forcing the players to go in both directions.

Using the crossover as an example, a player can dribble to the right and crossover to their left hand.  Off of the crossover, the player will go straight into the jumpshot.  Then the player can start the initial dribble to the left and crossover to the right hand.  By going in both directions, the players are forced to learn how to pick up the ball using both hands to get into the proper shooting form. 

Some players will struggle with picking up the ball using one hand or the other.  This will make it hard for the player to get good shots because even if the player is moving left, they will put the ball into their right hand before picking it up.  This right-handed pickup makes it easy for the defense to steal the ball.

Players need to be able to pick up the ball using either hand.  This drill can help with those pickups.

Dribble Pullup Drill #3

This is a 5-line drill using 4 basketballs at the same time.  The first line is on the baseline and is strictly a passing line.  The next four lines are positioned around the 3-point line.  All four lines will get a shot before the drill gets set up again for the next round.

Each of the four shooting lines will move in the same direction to prevent collisions from occurring.  And all four lines will perform the same number of dribbles or the same change of direction dribble before shooting.  So, the four shooting lines will be performing the same actions just at different spots on the floor.

The drill will start with all four basketballs in the passing line on the baseline.  A player from the passing line will pass the first ball to the near corner.  The ball will then be passed between each line until it reaches the far corner.  When the player in the far corner catches the ball, they will make the move being used in the drill and get a shot.

After the first line passes the ball to the 2^nd line, the passing line will pass the 2^nd ball to the corner.  So, the first ball will be passing between the 2^nd and 3^rd line when the 2^nd ball is passed to the 1^st line.  The 2^nd ball will be passed from the 1^st line around to the 3^rd line.  The 3^rd line will pass the 1^st ball to the 4^th line but will catch the 2^nd ball and make the move being used to get a shot.

After the 1^st line passes the 2^nd ball, they will turn back to the passing line and catch the 3^rd ball from the passing line.  The 1^st line will pass the 3^rd ball to the 2^nd line.  The 2^nd line will pass the first two balls on but will catch the 3^rd ball and make the move and shoot.

After passing the 1st, 2^nd and 3^rd balls, the 1^st line will catch the 4^th ball from the passing line and make the move and shoot.  Each player in the 4 lines around the 3-point line will get a shot.  They will follow their shot, get the rebound, put the ball back into the passing line, and move to the next line.  Everybody moves the same way as the pass.  The 4^th line will move to the passing line.  The passing line will move to the 1^st line and so on.

The drill can be flipped by moving the passing line to the other side of the basket and making the passes go in the other direction. 

This drill is a great drill to work on making and using the extra pass as well as working on 1 and 2 dribble pullups.  Usually when I do this drill, I will start with just a straight shot off of the catch before moving onto the dribbles.  And offense that uses the extra pass off of a kick-out is really hard to defend.  This drill helps to work on getting the players used to making that extra pass as well as looking to score from the extra pass.  By also having and using the 4 lines, the players get used to making the extra pass and catch from all over the floor.

This is a simple and easy drill that works on passing and catching.  It can be a catch and shoot drill.  It can be used for 1 dribble pullups or 2 dribble pullups.  It can make the players use a change of direction dribble into their shot as well.  This can help create more dynamic playmakers and shooters.

Dribble Pullup Drill #4

This last drill works on attacking a closeout with a 1 or 2 dribble pullup.  This is also a nice way to work on defensive closeouts while focusing on an offensive skill.  Now players are able to get offensive work as well as some defensive work all in the same drill.

The team will get into 2 lines, one of each side of the floor.  One player will have the ball under the basket.  The ball is passed to the front of the line.  The passer will follow the pass and closeout to the ball.  The catcher will wait for the closeout and attack as the closeout gets to them.  The defense will let the offensive player go around them on their 1 or 2 dribbles.  After the 1 or 2 dribbles the offensive player will pull up for a jumpshot. 

The offensive player will get their rebound and come back to become the passer for the next player in line.  This keeps the drill continuously moving.  You can have the offensive player get the rebound and move to the opposite side of the floor.  This gets the players starting from both wings in their 1 or 2 dribble pullups.  Players need to be comfortable attacking from both sides of the floor so by switching sides this accomplishes that without much work.  If the players are not switching sides, then the lines should switch sides halfway through the drill.