What to remember

  • Pass to a target your teammate can use.
  • Step and finish in balance.
  • Move after the pass.
  • Accuracy comes before distance or speed.

01

1. Stationary chest pass to a wall

Choose a solid wall in a safe area and mark a target around chest height. Hold the ball near the chest, step toward the target, extend both arms, and finish with the thumbs turning down. Catch with soft hands and reset your balance.

Complete three sets of ten accurate passes. Change distance only when the ball returns predictably.

02

2. Bounce-pass target

Place a floor marker roughly two-thirds of the way to the wall or partner, then adjust for distance and surface. Send the ball down through the marker so it rises into the receiver's hands rather than ankles or face.

Keep the pass away from where a defender's hands would be. Count passes that hit the floor target and arrive at a comfortable catching height.

03

3. One-hand push passes

Stand in an athletic position with the ball protected near one hip. Step and push the ball to a wall target with the hand behind it. Practice right and left sides without twisting off balance.

This pass is useful when a defender takes away the middle of your body. Begin close enough to control the return.

04

4. Pivot and pass

Catch, make a jump stop, choose a pivot foot, and turn until your chest faces the target. Pass without sliding the pivot foot. Alternate front and reverse pivots plus which foot stays down.

This drill connects legal footwork to a useful next action and helps prevent rushed passes from poor angles.

05

5. Dribble-stop-pass

Take two controlled dribbles, stop on balance, locate the target, and pass. Work from both directions and with both hands. Your final dribble should bring the ball into control instead of bouncing away from the body.

06

6. Pass to a moving partner

Have a partner walk or jog across your view. Lead the pass into open space so the receiver can catch without stopping or reaching behind. Begin slowly and increase speed only after ten clean catches.

07

7. Read-the-signal passing

Ask a partner to show one of three signals for chest, bounce, or one-hand pass. If practicing alone, use timed audio prompts. Identify the cue, organize the feet, and deliver the correct pass to the target.

The decision makes the drill more like basketball. In games, the best pass depends on space, defenders, timing, and what the receiver can do next.

Avoid these

Common beginner mistakes

  • Throwing hard before learning accuracy.
  • Passing at a teammate's face or feet without purpose.
  • Jumping without knowing where the pass will go.
  • Practicing only two-hand passes from a stationary stance.
  • Standing still after every pass.

Try this next

50-pass accuracy test

12 minutes
  1. 10 chest passes to a wall target.
  2. 10 bounce passes through a floor target.
  3. 10 right-hand push passes.
  4. 10 left-hand push passes.
  5. 10 pivot-and-pass repetitions.

Score it: Record how many of 50 arrive inside the target area without losing balance.

Beginner questions

Can I practice passing alone?

Yes. A safe wall target can train accuracy, catching, footwork, and both hands. A partner or game is still needed to learn timing with a moving teammate and defenders.

When should I use a bounce pass?

Use it when the floor path is open and a direct pass is threatened by a defender's hands. The bounce should rise into a comfortable receiving area.

Sources and further learning

We use official basketball organizations for rules, standards, and instructional references. Always confirm the current rules for your league.