How To Practice Basketball Alone
We as hoopers know that a lot of the time we are not going to have the luxury of having people around us to practice with.
That is why it is important to learn how to practice effectively by yourself to really get the most out of our game.
Below I will be going over some tricks, as well as individual drills you can use when you are practicing your game by yourself.
1. Shooting
Shooting by yourself is a great opportunity to work on both your form and your conditioning while you work on your shooting.
If you want to work on your form by yourself then you can do slow and deliberate form shooting either close to the basket, or from any other areas, you would like to improve.
Pro Tip: Form shooting close to the basket can be optimal for practicing alone since it allows you to get the rebound easier.
Now if you want to work more on your conditioning you can do spot shooting. Which is a simple as taking a shot quickly getting your rebound, and then going back to the next spot you want to shoot from.
You can do this in many different ways or forms. The only important thing is knowing what you want to get out of the drill.
For example, if you want more conditioning then make the drill longer while also hustling more for the rebound.
But if you want to focus more on your form then you might want to slow down and really get your fundamentals right.
For more great tips practicing your shot while alone check out the video below.
2. Dribbling
One of the great advantages of dribbling is that you can virtually do it anywhere at any time. In fact most dribbling drills you will never need a partner or person with you, all you need is a ball and yourself.
Different ways to practice Ball handling at home
Stationary Ball handling- This is a drill where you stay in one place and do different ball-handling moves.
Zig Zag- Zig zag is a ball-handling drill where you work on your change of directions while dribbling up and down the court. You can use a cone if you have any but simple imagination will do.
For more great ball-handling drills and tips you can do at home check out the video below and the link here.
3. Conditioning
Conditioning is something you can easily do by yourself in basketball. It is often one of the most overlooked parts of the game and something that can really elevate you as a player.
One of the best ways to condition by yourself is to go at game speed on all your shooting and dribbling drills.
This will not only enhance your skills for competitive play. But it will also get your body and muscles ready for the physical challenges a basketball game can put on a player.
For More information on conditioning, drills check out the link here.
4. Strength And Athletic Training
Strength and athletic training can be done by yourself in the comfort of your own home even with limited equipment.
The only time I highly recommend you use a partner while training is when you use heavyweights. Just to ensure your safety, and give you that confidence to really push yourself in the weight room.
For more information on strength and plyometrics training click the link below. A lot of these drills and exercises can be done alone and with very limited equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How do you practice defense by yourself?
Answer: While you may not be able to actually defend a real player. You can implement lateral agility drills into your workout.
This can be things like lateral bounds, and even shuffling as fast as you can side to side.
Question: How to practice passing by yourself?
Answer: A great way to practice passing by yourself, is to get a wall or something you can throw off and get back.
While doing this drill try and hit specific targets on that wall to work on your accuracy and technique.
Conclusion
As hoopers, we need to adapt and get better no matter the situation we might find ourselves in.
While it might not always be the most optimal situation, practicing alone can be a great time to settle down and really get some breakthroughs in your game.
Thank you for reading and as always keep hooping my friends.
