How To Handle Pressure and Avoid Turnovers (Partner Ball Handling Workout)

So many players out there struggle with handling defensive pressure, and it's a big part of what holds a lot of players back from being able to handle the ball at a high level. If you want to get better as a ball handler and specifically when it comes to handling pressure, you're going to need to play against another live defender. So right now, we're going to go through two drills you can do with a partner that will make you a significantly better ball handler against pressure. And I guarantee once you start doing these drills, you're going to feel so much more confident as a ball handler. Let's get into it.

So you're handling the ball, Jeremy, you're going to go defense first here. Anywhere inside of this half circle, starting on a reach. So as soon as you reach for it is live off that. You got to really go for that thing on the steel, though. Yeah, Here we go.

So for this first drill, the offensive player is starting off anywhere inside that half circle, and they're just freestyle dribbling. That defender is going to reach and try and steal the ball at some point. Whenever that happens, it's now live. The offensive player is trying to score. So this not only allows us to work on our ball handling and our ability to handle pressure, but also our ability to stay focused on scoring the basketball even despite the pressure.

You're just handling it out here.

Whatever.

I'm on defense. I'm basically, like, full on hand checking you here, so you're going like you're drilling. Whatever. I'm just, like, scary.

Like, I'm.

I'm just getting into it, like, very clearly a foul, but it's live off that. As soon as you get jammed up, then it's live off that. Probably gonna try to rip that ball, too. So I'm moving here. Whatever. You're just, like, following me. Yeah, exactly. And then we'll go off that.

So. So now for this drill here, we're going to go out to the wing, and that offensive player is going to freestyle dribble. At some point, the defensive player is going to jam up that offensive player very clearly, fouling them. But now we're really adding an element of physicality to this ability to be able to handle the pressure as well. All this makes it extremely difficult for the offensive player, and you're going to see some ugly reps here. But that's a great thing because it means that they're going to have to find ways to adapt and get better.

You got to beat him faster, though. Like, it's taking you forever. To he's up in your space. So you got to think, okay, how do I use this to my advantage?

Really?

He's in my space. I'm either I'm like, swimming through it.

Or I'm like, think about, like, trying.

To get skinny, right? Let's say you're coming to get me if I can get myself there and around it. You know what I mean?

The goal right here is for them to be able to figure out different ways to deal with physical defense, still be able to protect the basketball, and also be able to keep that focus on scoring and getting downhill despite the physicality and pressure that they're facing. This is one of my favorite drills to work on, being able to handle pressure. Because now you get into a game, you've seen, seen live defense, you're used to being able to handle that physicality. And in this drill, there's some over the top physicality that you might not even see in a game. So you're going to be more than prepared. And what you'll notice are that no two reps are exactly the same. So this builds a certain level of adaptability that you need to have as a mover and as a ball handler. If you want to be great in games when defenses will throw different looks at you, you have to be able to figure it out on the fly. This drill does a great job at building that quality, which is why it's one of my favorite drills. So go grab a partner and try these drills out and watch how much better you become as a ball handler. Drop a comment, let me know your thoughts. I'll talk to you guys soon. Peace.