So, you want to be a better ball-handler? We tracked down some of the best ball-handling gloves on the market and will guide you to the right one for your game. If you’re new to these innovative products that make you better at dribbling and passing, then you’ve come to the right place.
Ball-handling is an exhilarating and underrated art on the court. Sure, you can watch Kyrie Irving’s dribbling highlights all day long. But you may not appreciate, or notice, those unflashy players who control the ball with ease. The art of ball-handling takes practice—and ball-handling gloves can help.
We’ve researched some of the best ball-handling gloves on the market. In this article, you’ll learn what we thought about each one.
Let’s dive in!
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Who Should Get Ball-Handling Gloves
Ball-handling gloves will benefit anyone who wants to improve their dribbling and overall ball-handling skills. They increase finger strength and control. Users will dribble the ball faster, making moves in traffic easier to accomplish when defenders are all around.
The ideal user is a beginner who hasn’t formed bad habits yet and wants to build a foundation of ball-handling utilizing the best methods possible. Weighted gloves may be difficult for younger players. However, once they feel comfortable with the weights, you’ll increase your dribbling speed and strengthen your wrists, hands, and fingers.
Best Ball-Handling Gloves: What to Consider in 2022
No two sets of hands are the same; each player has a different fit and set of needs. Does it matter if your gloves are weighted or not? How important is the style behind your gloves? You should ask yourself these questions, and more before making your purchase.
Fit
Fit is huge. If you don’t have correctly sized gloves, your training will not be optimized. Ball-handling gloves should fit like a regular pair of gloves—not too small that you feel the seams pull, not too big that the finger holes bend at the tips. They should mimic your hands, enabling you to perform drills at real game speeds.
Price
While most ball-handling gloves won’t drain your savings account, there is a bit of price difference between top-tier gloves and their value alternatives. With a price cut comes a loss of features that might be critical to your improvement. Cheaper gloves may be built with different materials—and they may not be weighted. However, your problem might be more hand-eye related; the weight in your dribbling gloves may not make a difference one way or another.
Features
We’ve mentioned weighted vs. non-weighted gloves and anti-friction materials throughout this article. These are standard features on ball-handling gloves that you should consider when you make your purchase. Are you looking for more dribbling strength, or is your problem the function of dribbling and coordination? Understanding what your goals are will help you decide which features you really need in a glove.
Best Ball-Handling Basketball Gloves: Our Picks 2022
Dribbling in a pair of POWERHANDZ can be a bit alarming at first—but that discomfort leads to vast levels of improvement. If you want explosive dribbling, better passing, and stronger hand and wrist muscles, look no further.
What We Like:
Made with high-quality materials for years’ worth of training sessions
Comfortable fit during training
Weighted gloves offer strength and control over your dribbling
What We Dislike:
It’d be nice if you could get them heavier than just 1 lb.
Seibertrons are a great value but won’t do the trick for every player as they are not weighted. Having weighted gloves isn’t necessary, though, as the anti-grip material on the fingertips does a lot in terms of building your control over the basketball. The lack of weights in the gloves makes them more flexible to wear, giving you a real-hands feel while you train, as opposed to some ball-handling gloves that feel like soccer goalie gloves when you wear them.
What We Like:
Simple design, very affordable
The S-Flexible rubber wrist offers comfort and support—and ensures they won’t slip
Well-ventilated for breathability during training
What We Dislike:
The absence of weights in the gloves might be a dealbreaker for some
Ball Hog is taking the basketball training market by storm, producing well-respected equipment that helps ballers get better. Their ball-handling gloves don’t disappoint. Many users have seen an immediate difference in their dribbling, passing, and catching thanks to their innovative anti-grip material. The material appears to be unmatched according to several reviewers who were unhappy with others on the market.
What We Like:
Sleek design which hides the weights in the gloves
Extremely accurate sizing chart
Maximizes dribbling speed with perfectly distributed weights in each glove
What We Dislike:
Lack of finger breathability can be an issue, especially during long practice sessions
Useful Tips & Resources
While dribbling gloves are a great addition to your training regimen, they can only do so much. You can form bad habits elsewhere, which could negate your improvement. Keeping your head up while dribbling is still an area that needs to be focused on; Dribbling Goggles from Spalding are a great place to start with that issue. For more information on the benefits of dribbling goggles, check out this article.
Final Thoughts
As a former college basketball player, I have seen many training gimmicks come. These ball-handling gloves are not one of them because they actually work! Your next step is to find the best pair for your needs and hand size.
You’ll then be on your way to dribbling circles around your defenders and sending dazzling passes to your teammates. Ball-handling gloves will make you wish you found them earlier in your basketball journey.
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