Basketball Spin Move

What is a spin-move in basketball dribbling?

This basketball dribbling move is also called the spinnin'-o-rama.  Spin-move is a basketball dribbling move in which you rotate your body around your opponent while applying weight on your opponent.  By the looks of it, it seems to be a move of rotating your body 360 degrees.  Wrong!  It is actually consisted of two 180-degree spins combined together smoothly.

What does it take to do a spin-move in basketball dribbling?

• A strong grip: when you perform a spin-move, your basketball is traveling at a great velocity and a tight grip or a cradle grip is needed to maintain control on the basketball in motion.

• A mind fearless of contact: Many basketball players tend to avoid contact and choose to squeeze by opponents or blow by defenders with speed. Spin-move requires constant body contact for successful execution.
• Exceptional footwork: To execute the spin-move efficaciously and smoothly, you need to take the right step at the right time while twisting your foot at the right angle.
• An awareness of opponent¡¯s position: Spin-move is about out-competing your defender for space and planting your feet in a favorable spot so that you can rotate your shoulder and try to get around your defender while you are applying pressure on your defender to secure your own position

What are the steps for performing the spin-move in basketball dribbling?

 (Assuming the player is right-handed)

1. Drive towards your defender and the hoop with speed
2. When you encounter your defender, give the ball a huge bounce
3. While the ball hangs, heel-pivot* your left foot
4. First half-spin: Push hard with your right toe to rotate your body 180 degrees to the left
5. Swing the ball over to the left also while maintaining a tight grip
6. Now your back should be facing your defender, bump into him with your back
7. As soon as you are clinging to your defender with your back, heel pivot again with your right foot
8. Second half-spin: Push hard with your left foot to spin 180 degrees until you are facing the hoop again
9. During the second half-spin, Your right shoulder should be in contact and rubbing off your defender at all times.
10. Leave the ball behind this time and use your left hand to fetch it after spinning.
11. Push hard with your right foot again for a drive.

*Heel-pivot is when you lift your toes and use your ankle (the "ball" of your feet) as the ONLY fixed contact point with the ground so that you can initiate a spin.  The purpose of doing a heel-pivot is to reduce the friction between your foot and the ground by decreasing the contact area of the foot with the ground.

The spin-move is seemingly one move.  Yet, in fact, it is a combination of two half-spins in a silkily smooth manner.  The first stage half-spin is completed with your back to the hoop while moving the basketball sideways.  The second half-spin is completed when you turn and face the hoop again.

What are the useful basketball combination moves that incorporates the spin-move 

• Drive towards baseline ¨¤ hesitation head fake ¨¤ Drive ONE STEP towards the basketball hoop (bounce hard) ¨¤ Spin move away from baseline ¨¤ Bank shot

Level of difficulty: intermediate

How and why useful? You seemingly entrap yourself at the baseline and force a shot.  Defenders will always come closer to apply more pressure.  As he comes closer, you spin away.  A typical manipulation of the mind.  Also, when you spin away from baseline and face the hoop again, it is almost always the perfect angle to bank it.  Know your positions

• Drive towards basketball hoop ¨¤ bumps into defender lightly ¨¤ spin move into the defender ¨¤ BIG pump-fake a shot ¨¤ step forward if d jumped ¨¤ floater

Level of difficulty:intermediate

How and why useful? Defenders are often allergic to spin move because it is good at creating space for a shot.  Hence, they are likely to jump right after a spin move.  Do a pump fake will get them totally off you.

In what situations do I perform the spin move in basketball dribbling

Checklist about your defender

• When your defender is plant his feet on the ground and slow in reaction

• When your defender likes to repel any contact you initiate

• When your defender place his arms on the side for coverage but occasionally steals

• When your defender defends by focusing on your arms swinging movement

• When the position of your defender's feet are leveled (i.e. both feet are equidistant from you)

• When your defender focuses on the ball when defending (losing sight of the ball startles him)

Checklist about the setting

• When your team decides to play isolation for you because a double crossover takes time to set up

• When no other defenders are nearby you to perform help defense

• When there is space for you to plant both of your feet firmly after spinning

• When the targeted side of where your double-crossover is finally heading is unpopulated or near a boundary

Pros-n-cons about doing the double-crossover basketball move

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