Part 1

Part 2

#1. Do around-the-body drills to improve ball-control and quickness with the ball. Move the ball in a circle around your head, around your waist, around both legs, around your right leg, around your left leg, and in a figure 8 motion around and through both legs. Make sure to do these drills in both directions. Start out slow, and once you can do at least ten in a row, work on doing the drill as fast as possible. One way to see if you are getting any faster is to put these drills into timings. See how many times you can move the ball around your waist in 30 seconds. When I first started doing this drill in 2nd grade, I couldn’t do very many. But through dedication, and the use of the timer on my mom’s microwave, I eventually got to the point where I could do at least 70 around my waist in 30 seconds. With some serious dedication, you can do the same thing!

#2. When working on dribbling, make sure to pound the basketball as hard as possible. You have got to challenge your hands and fingers to get stronger and quicker with the ball. Now, this doesn’t mean you hit at the basketball like a fly swatter. Make sure to absorb the basketball with the pads of your hands and fingers, but don’t hit at it with your palm. If you mess up, don’t worry about it. In fact, if you never mess up, you definitely aren’t pushing yourself hard enough. Weak ball-handlers are flimsy and weak with the dribble while good ball-handlers are strong with the dribble. Pound the ball!

#3. When working on change of direction drills, such as stationary crossovers and between the legs dribbles, make sure to have rhythm with your movements. A stiff player with robotic movements will never be consistently effective off the dribble. The players that are the best off the dribble have rhythm and can lean their body in one direction or the other in a smooth manner. It is important that while working on both stationary and moving drills, you rock your body to the rhythm of the dribble. Be smooth and athletic while still pounding the ball.

#4. Incorporate 2-ball dribbling drills into your basketball training regimen. Work on dribbling the balls at the same time as well as in an alternating fashion. Make sure that you pound the balls as hard as possible! Challenge yourself by crossing the balls over in front of you, between your legs, and behind your back. Make sure you can do at least ten repetitions in a row of a specific drill before you work on speed. Also work on these drills while moving. If you can dribble two balls well, in full speed, game-like situations, then dribbling only one ball will be easy. It’ll feel like it’s a part of your body!

#5. It’s important that your ball-handling skills transfer over into game situations. One drill that can help this transition and improve your ability to dribble under pressure is called the Side-Rider drill. In this drill, start on the baseline with a defensive player at your side. The defender’s goal is to literally push you to the sideline. This means that the defender is going to foul you while you are dribbling. On offense, your goal is to dribble in a straight line at full speed to the opposite end of the court and score. The defender is going to be at your side, pushing and fouling you, so it’s important that you stay low and strong with the dribble while protecting the ball. Make sure to execute this drill with both hands. Once you can handle this pressure, have the defender try and steal the ball as well. If the defender steals the ball, bring the ball back to the spot the ball was knocked away or stolen, and continue the drill.

Implementing these five tips will put you well on your way to maximizing your potential as a ball-handler.

Jon “Superhandles” Hildebrandt is widely viewed as one of the best ball-handlers in the world. With his vast knowledge in ball-handling and dribbling, Jon created instructional DVD and iPod training programs for all levels of basketball, now available at http://www.superhandles.com

PHOENIX, AZ – Oct. 16th, 2008 – Ball handling guru Jon “Superhandles” Hildebrandt took to the airwaves in Arizona tossing out tips and talking about the Superhandles Advantage with Kevin Gassman of KWSS and 1060 The Fan.

Host Gassman quizzed Superhandles on how he acquired his ball handling prowess and asked how Superhandles’ program can help every player.  The live interview was broadcast to morning commuters listening to the alternative rock station, 106.7fm and later rebroadcast on the AM sports station, 1060am The Fan.

Listen to the whole interview by hitting the audio player at the top of this post.

Superhandles shows off his moves on AM Northwest

 Jon “Superhandles” Hildebrandt showed off his moves in front of host Dave Anderson and students from Jefferson High School for a segment of the Portland morning talk show.

His quick, two-ball dribbling skills drew cheers from the audience and an awestruck look from the host. Hildebrandt then turned his attention to improving host Anderson’s skills and after a few tips had him showing his stuff to the crowd.

Hildebrandt also pulled two students from the audience and put on an impromptu clinic.  They were a quick study and with Hildebrandt’s help they were soon dribbling two balls like seasoned pros.

For their efforts, both kids and Anderson got to keep a basketball, signed by Superhandles.  Each audience member also got a free copy of SuperMix 1.0.

Superhandles runs host Anderson through a drill.

Two Jefferson students work on their game with Superhandles.

Hosts Helen and Dave to get a lesson from Superhandles

The ball-handling wiz will put on a quick show and then dish out the tips on how Dave, Helen and viewers at home can improve their skills.  Hildebrandt will quickly evaluate their skills and then show them some specific drills to improve.  It’s all part of the program he developed, designed to help them gain the Superhandles Advantage. The program evaluates players on a scale of 0 to 100 and then lays out a specific workout program tailored to their skill level which will maximize each player’s potential.

Students from Jefferson High school will be in the audience and a couple of lucky kids will get some one-on-one tips from “Superhandles”.

The appearance comes on the heels of “Superhandles” releasing SuperMix 1.0, a DVD featuring the legendary Portland Trail Blazer announcer Bill Schonely and some of Hildebrandt’s 200 moves.  In SuperMix 1.0, Shonely shares the story of how Hildebrandt became known as “Superhandles” and even tries to stop him in a game of one-on-one.

Portland, OR- July 20^th- Ball handling guru Jon “Superhandles” Hildebrandt brought his skills to the Rose Quarter for the Portland Trail Blazers’ Street Jam.

Superhandles puts on a clinic for kids at the Rose Quarter.

       Hildebrandt showed off some of his 200 moves and tricks that have earned him the nickname “Superhandles”. 

       After the performance, Hildebrandt pulled about two dozen kids out of the audience for a quick hands-on clinic. Hildebrandt went over some ball handling basics and then gave them some tips on how to improve their game. 

       His style and rapport with the kids even caught the attention of longtime Portland Trail Blazer announcer, and former coach, Mike Rice.  Rice stopped by to check out the action and said he was impressed with Hildebrandt’s skills and how easily he was able to share his knowledge with young players.

Superhandles talks shop with Blazer announcer Mike Rice.

Little ballers get some tips from Superhandles.