Improve your dribbling skills and get better hand-eye coordination with our "Tennis Ball Handles" program presented by The Scoring Factory

Handling the basketball with precision is crucial for players at any position who want to excel at the next level. Tennis ball basketball dribbling drills are great ball handling drills because they place added difficulty on the ball handler by making the player focus on tossing and catching the tennis ball while simultaneously keeping their dribble alive. Tennis ball drills work on two skill sets: improving their hand-eye coordination and forcing the ball handler to dribble a basketball without looking down. If you can make a move and toss/catch a tennis ball at the same time you can make the move in a game, no problem.

The simple tennis ball is a wonderful and inexpensive tool to stimulate professional level handles. The following Bouncer drill series was developed by The Scoring Factory and is demonstrated by Coach Jordan Harbison. He uses a Molten GGX basketball and Penn Championship Tennis Balls.

Bouncer Tennis Ball Ball Handling Drill

Start in an athletic stance with your knees bent and chest up begin with three reps each side to practice equal coordination add more reps. As you improve, pound the basketball as you slam the tennis ball keep your eyes up as much as possible. Don't worry about mistakes and always push hard!

Behind-the-Back Tennis Ball Ball Handling Drill

Start in an athletic stance. Bounce the tennis ball in front of you while dribbling the basketball behind you to the opposite hand. Make sure to keep your knees bent the whole time and don't lean back. Prepare yourself for game action and really pound the basketball with power. This drill can also be done on the move remember keep your eyes up work hard and don't worry about mistakes.

Crossover Tennis Ball Ball Handling Drill

Start in athletic stance with your knees bent and chest up. Bounce the tennis ball in front of you while crossing the basketball to the opposite hand. Crossovers should be fast and low, trying to get as much distance as possible. Remember to make it game-like. This drill can also be done on the move. Remember to keep your eyes up. Work hard and don't worry about mistakes!

Through-the-Legs Tennis Ball Ball Handling Drill

Start in an athletic stance. Bounce the tennis ball in front of you while dribbling the basketball through your legs to the opposite hand. Make sure to keep your knees bent the entire time. Focus on making every rep a game rep so it translates to on court success. This drill can also be done on the move. Remember keep your eyes up work hard and don't worry about mistakes.

Combo Tennis Ball Ball Handling Drill

Start in athletic stance. Bounce the tennis ball in front of you while doing any two dribble moves. Make the dribbles as game-like as possible. When you bounce the tennis ball again do a different combination of moves to challenge yourself. Do this drill on the move: bounce the tennis ball and complete each combination as you move forward down the court. Remember keep your eyes up work hard and don't worry about mistakes.

The Gear You Need for Tennis Ball Handles

Molten GGX Official Basketball

The Molten® GGX Official Basketball boasts a flat-pebble surface with a dual tone composite cover for maximum grip, control and visibility on the hardwood.

‍Get the Molten GGX Official Basketball Here

Penn Championship Tennis Balls

The official ball of USTA League Tennis, the Penn® Championship balls feature natural rubber for reliable feel and reduced shock. Interlocked wool fiber provides durability along with deep-elastic seams that reduce cracking. The Penn® Championship Regular Duty Tennis Balls are there from day one to match one.

Get Penn Championship Tennis Balls Here