Don’t have a lot of space to work on your ball handling? Well, here’s a solution for you –the Steph Curry Ball Handling Workout: Home Edition.
TL;DR: To have handles like Steph Curry, you have to do a warm-up sequence of front dribbles, alternate rhythm dribbles, crossovers, between-the-leg dribbles and between-the-leg to behind-the-back dribbles regularly.
Okay, I bamboozled you. This workout isn’t a home workout.
It’s just a workout that can be done in any confined space.
I am truly sorry.
But if you’re willing to forgive me and not hold a grudge, then we can start talking about Steph Curry and his ball-handling workout.
Curry, to me, is one of the most controlled ball handlers in the league.
What I mean is that he doesn’t do anything extra and is always under control, especially in high traffic. He does just enough fancy things to get open or to dupe his defender.
He’s had a lot of beautiful ankle breakers, but the one I remember the most is when he made Chris Paul fall over.
Paul is no joke.
He is one of the best defenders in the NBA. So for Curry to make CP3 slip and collapse the way that he did… it’s just memorable.
So, how is he always under control? Well, Curry works on his ball-handling and footwork a lot.
How to do Steph Curry’s Ball-Handling Workout
You’ve probably seen him do it many, many times.
But before every single game, Curry will do a ball-handling workout, which you will see in the video below. And this is just his warmup.
He’ll do a series of dribbling drills to get familiar with the ball.
But since we’re just average Joes, his warm-up is our workout. So here’s what you have to do:
(Watch the above video for the workout)
The dribbles in Steph Curry’s ball-handling drill:
- Front dribble with two balls (use one ball if you’re a beginner and swap hands)
- Alternate rhythm (if using one ball, continue to do the front dribble)
- Crossover (do regular crossover dribble if using one ball)
- Two-ball between the leg (do regular between-the-leg dribbles if using one ball)
- Crossover to between the leg to behind the back with one ball
Key Notes:
- Take your time and start off slow
- Be in control of your breathing and ball handling
- Stop and reset if you need to
- Dribble each sequence for 30 seconds then switch
- Try to dribble continuously for 10 minutes. Just repeat the flow over and over again
- Do 2 sets of this drill
- For the last sequence, bounce it off a concrete wall if you don’t have a receiver. If a wall is not available, just bounce it hard off the ground and catch it
- As a bonus exercise, you can also dribble with your off-hand (or weak hand) for 20-30 seconds as a finisher
If the Curry workout is too difficult for you or you don’t have two basketballs, then do this Gordon Hayward ball-handling drill instead.
It’s similar to Curry’s, except it’s easier because you’ll only be using one basketball.
Again, start off nice and slow, be in control and reset if you need to. Also, do this drill twice (10 minutes each set).
Steph Curry’s Basketball Ladder Drills
Now that you’re all warmed up, let’s continue on to Curry’s footwork workout.
Have you ever heard of ladder exercises? They’re these speed and agility movements that are done on a rope ladder.
Curry does these a lot to increase his speed and control while handling the ball.
Two of his favourite ladder exercises are In and Out (forward and backward) and Shuffle Hop.
But to make these basketball drills, he’ll also add in a dribbling component.
Key Notes:
- Start off slow and make sure your form is correct
- Control, control, control
- Increase speed as you get more comfortable
- If the addition of ball handling is too challenging, don’t do it –just do the regular ladder exercises
- Do each exercise 3 times (forward and back counts as 1 set)
You can also add more speed and agility exercises to your workout as well.
Some of my favourite movements are lateral run, bunny hops, icky shuffle, single-leg hops, X-Country skier, and straddle hops.
There are many ways to do these drills.
If you can get your hands on a ladder of some sort (drawn with chalk, taped out, etc.), then awesome.
If you can’t, then you’re going to have to use a makeshift one.
You can use the tiles on your floor, orange cones, or a yoga mat.
If you do opt for the yoga mat, however, you’re going to have to imagine where the boundaries are when you do the exercises.
You’re probably thinking right now that these exercises can’t be done at home. You need a lot of space to do them. But you really just need a couple of feet of open space around a yoga mat.
However, I will add that you might not be able to do the dribbling part of the drills at home (or inside the house, anyway). It depends on a few factors.
But if you think you can, then go for it. If you’re wary, just skip it and do the ladder drills.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it -that’s how Steph Curry has so much control on the hardwood.
This Steph Curry basketball workout will develop your ball-handling skills while improving your footwork.
So, if you want to get handles like Curry, do this workout.