You make a great move to get by your defender.

You have a direct line to the rim.

It all looks good. . . until the ball gets knocked away from you before you can score.

If you’ve played long enough, this has probably happened to you.

At the very least, you’ve seen it happen to teammates and opponents.

When the ball gets knocked away, it often goes off the offensive player’s body, resulting in a turnover.

Even if the offensive team retains the ball, they just missed the chance for an easy two points.

The good news is, there’s an easy fix to this situation. Read on to learn more.

Avoid Turnovers: The 2 Common Mistakes That Expose the Ball

When a defender is beat on a drive, they don’t have a lot of good options. If they can’t get back in front of the ball, trying to knock the ball away is their best option.

Unfortunately, too many players allow this to happen.

Why? For two reasons.

1. Players swing the ball back to the inside - This is a natural movement. As you gather the ball to go up for your layup, momentum tends to bring the ball across your body.

   This puts the ball on the inside of your body. The issue with that is the ball is now on the same side as the defender. This exposes the ball and makes it possible for the defender to swipe it away.

2. Players keep the ball low too long - as a general rule, you want the ball high after you gather. First of all, that shortens the time and distance it takes you to release your shot.

   It also lessens the chance of getting the ball knocked away. Defender’s hands are usually positioned around waist height. If the ball is above that, they are unlikely to knock it out of your hands.

So, how do we fix those two issues?

Protect the Ball Like a Pro with This Simple Mental Trick

So, how do you make the ball your phone? Am I suggesting your court time should match your screen time? While that would be an interesting challenge, that’s not what I’m talking about here.

I want you to think of how you keep and use your phone. Most people keep their phone in their pockets.

That’s the first step. When you gather the ball after your last dribble, ‘put the ball in your outside pocket’.

In other words, get the ball to your outside hip. From there, it is well protected against a swiping defender.

To get at the ball, the defender will have to reach all the way across your body, which will likely result in a foul.

The second step is to place a call (and you can’t use a speaker phone)! To do this, bring the ball to your outside ear.

By doing this, the ball is not only away from the defender’s hands, it’s also elevated. This both protects it and puts you in position to shoot quickly and efficiently.

How To Build This Habit (Without Using Your Actual Phone)!

As we mentioned, most players bring the ball back to the inside naturally. You might do this without even being conscious of it.

That means you will have to be intentional about breaking the habit.

To create this new habit, you don’t need to do any special drills. What you need to do is focus on your pickup when working on your finishing.

• Imagine a line going up and down through the middle of your body. Start by not allowing yourself to cross that line with the ball. Every pickup and finish must occur outside that line.

• As that becomes easier, continue to move the imaginary line out.

• Then imagine a magnet between your ear and the ball. As soon as you gather, get the ball up.

By using your vision and imagination in these ways, you can start to build new habits.

If you have a partner or coach, ask them to stand on your inside when you do your finishing drills. Have them swipe at the ball. This will let you know if you’re gathering the ball correctly.

With time and practice, this will become second nature.

Make Sure You’re Dialing Up Buckets When Finishing Your Drives!

It’s not easy to get a layup opportunity. You’ve worked hard to create that chance.

Don’t give it back by exposing the ball to the defense.

Treating the ball like your phone will help you protect the ball and score more at the rim!

To learn more finishing tips, moves, & drills, check out Next Level Finishing Moves.

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