Fingertips, not palms
The ball should never touch your palm. Push through the fingertips with a snap of the wrist. If you can hear a clean slap on the floor, you're on the pads. If it thuds, you're palming.
Get low, stay low
Hips below the knees, chest up, off-hand out as a shield. Every crossover, hesitation, and change of pace starts from that stance. If you're standing tall, you're already beat.
The 10-minute daily handle routine
- 2 min — right-hand tight pounds (below the knee)
- 2 min — left-hand tight pounds (below the knee)
- 2 min — crossovers, low and hard
- 2 min — between-the-legs, both directions
- 2 min — behind-the-back walking pattern
Train the off-hand twice as much
Your weak hand needs double the reps until it matches your strong hand. Brush teeth, open doors, carry bags with the off-hand. Neural reps stack up.