Dribbling is an important aspect in the game of basketball. It is the act of bouncing the ball continuously on the court as it is a requirement for a player to take steps while dribbling the ball. Failure to do so may result in a traveling violation which will give the possession to the opposing team. In order to dribble, a player must push the ball down towards the ground rather than patting it to ensure greater ball control.

Dribbling is a skill that needs a lot of practice. At first, dribbling may seem awkward for any beginner as it may prove to be difficult concentrating on putting the ball on the floor and trying to move at the same time. But with constant practice and a lot of patience, any beginner would be able to get the hang of it and master the art in no time. Here are some useful tips that may be able to help you get better at dribbling.

When you are trying to dribble past an opponent, you should try to dribble with the hand that is farthest from the opponent. This will make it more difficult for the defensive player to get his hands on the ball. Dribbling competently with both hands would be necessary in order to do this.

Try to bounce the ball low to the ground. This reduces the distance from the floor to the hand, making it more difficult for the defender to steal the ball away from you. As you become a better ball handler, you might want to learn to dribble behind the back, between the legs, and change hands and directions of the dribble when you want to. This gives you the advantage of being less predictable in your dribbling pattern that makes it more difficult to defend.

Try dribbling without looking at the ball. Make use of your peripheral vision to keep track of the ball's location. Practice not to focus on the ball when dribbling so that you may be able to look for teammates or scoring opportunities instead of concentrating on where you try to bounce the ball on the court. This can also help avoid the danger of someone stealing the ball from from you by keeping track of your defender's movements. Remember to always keep your head up while dribbling the ball so that you can keep your eyes on your defender, find an open teammate for a potential pass, or to shoot the ball.

When you are closely guarded by your defender , try to dribble the ball lower. If you are trying to go through two defenders, try also to dribble very low even as you pass right between your defenders.

Practice dribbling the ball with your fingers and not with your palms. Doing so will give you more control of the ball. You will be able to guide the ball where you want to when you use your fingers.

Make sure that you know how to use both hands when dribbling the ball. Using only your strong hand will make it easier for your defender to steal the ball away from you. This will need a lot of practice but will surely improve your overall game.

Try to dribble the ball as close to your body along with your elbow as well. Doing this will help you have better control of the ball and will make it easier for you to do a variety of moves.