If you were a basketball player or fan in the early 2000’s, you probably remember the And1 Mixtapes.

These were videos of playground legends showing off their handles. You would see guys doing crazy combination moves and drawing oohs and aahs from the fans.

There was just one issue.

Most of the time, these moves didn’t accomplish anything. They looked great, but didn’t actually lead to an advantage for the dribbler.

Often, the player would end up in the same place he started in. It reminds me of the famous John Wooden quote, “Don’t mistake activity for achievement.”

The goal of using a dribble move is to get by your defender and create an advantage.

Too many players forget this. They use moves that look great but don’t lead to scoring opportunities.

Sometimes, the simplest is best. Let’s look at how that applies to you and your handle.

The Most Efficient & Most Effective Dribble Move

When people think of dribble moves, they often think of crossovers, between the legs and behind the back.

Those are all good moves and they all have a place.

One often overlooked most is the in and out dribble. Don’t make this mistake.

The in and out is perhaps the most efficient dribble move there is. Why is that so?

• First, the ball doesn’t change hands. This does a couple things.

  • It makes the move quicker. That makes you quicker.

  • It also makes it less likely that the defender will steal the ball.  By not bringing the ball across the middle of your body, it’s less likely that the defender will impact the ball.

  The beauty of the in and out is that it makes your defender think you’re changing directions without you actually doing so.

• Second, you can perform the move while moving forward at a fast speed. Many moves require the dribbler to slow down.

  Not the in and out. You can continue to move your feet forward as you make the move. This puts your defender on their heels. It also allows you to accelerate past the defender as you finish the move. 

  That puts you in an advantageous position. It makes the in and out an especially effective move when attacking in transition (or anytime you are moving forwards with your dribble).

How To Perform The In & Out Dribble

The in and out seems like an easy move to execute. However, many players do it incorrectly.

The most common mistake players make is not rolling their hand over the top of the ball. Instead, many players almost execute a ‘V’ dribble, where they essentially execute a one hand crossover and then bring the ball back to the outside.

That makes the move slow and exposes the ball.

Here’s how you can master the in and out:

• Stationary in and out dribbles - stand with feet shoulder width apart, straddling a line. The line should go through the middle of your body.

  Perform in and out dribbles in place. Focus on rolling your hand over the ball, from outside to inside.

  When rolling your hand over the ball, you want to bring the ball to the middle of your body. That’s where the line comes in. As you perform the move, make sure the ball touches or crosses the line bisecting your body.

  Make sure the ball only touches the line when it’s in your hand. It should not bounce on the line. As you push the ball back out, it bounces by your foot.

  Perform the move for :30 with each hand. Repeat 2x. Check it out here.

• Add the footwork - the movement of the ball helps convince your defender you are changing directions. When you add in the footwork, it really sells this deception.

  As you perform the move, you want to step with the opposite foot. So if I’m going in and out with my right hand, I want to step outward with my left foot at the same time.

  Timing is important. The ball and my foot should hit at the same time.

  Practice this by performing the move with the footwork for :30 with each hand. Repeat 2x.

• Drop your shoulder - after performing the move, you want to go past your defender. Do this by dropping your shoulder and driving through the defender’s hip.

  Say you’re making the move with your right hand. After executing the move, you want to drop your left shoulder and step by your defender with your right foot.

  Ideally, your shoulder will brush your defender’s hip. This helps keep your shoulders pointed at the rim.  That prevents your defender from having a good recovery angle.

  Practice this by walking the length of the floor. Make your in and out move with the footwork, then drop the shoulder and take 1 imaginary step past your defender. Repeat for the length of the floor. Switch hands on the way back.

  If it helps, use cones or chairs to simulate defenders.

• Add counters - it’s easy to add counters to the in and out. One popular move is an in and out to a crossover.

  Why would you do this? If the in and out doesn’t work. Let’s say you make the move and go to step by the defender. Your defender alertly steps over to cut off your drive.

  At that point, a counter move in the opposite direction can get you past your defender.

  The two best moves to complement the in and out are the crossover and the between the legs.

  Start by practicing these moves in a stationary position. Proceed to doing them on the move.

  If you have a partner, attack them and perform an in and out. Have them alternate randomly between reacting and not reacting to the move. Respond accordingly.

  If they don’t react, simply go by with the in and out. If they do react, counter the opposite way and go by them.

This link with videos shows some excellent ways to practice the in and out dribble and combinations. 

As you get more comfortable with the move, start using it in games.

A Simple Move That Gets Sensational Results!

Too many players are all show and no go.

Don’t let that be you. If you’re like most players, you want to create good scoring opportunities. The in and out is a great way to do this.

Master it and start leaving defenders in the dust!

Learn more ball handling tips & drills with our Progressive Dribbling And Footwork Workouts!

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