Basketball is a fast-moving, quick-paced game. There are many ways to play it, and a variety of different moves that players can use to score while on offense. One of the most efficient tools in that arsenal is the ever-versatile bounce pass.
Throughout this guide, I will look at the move from a few different angles. Not only will I break down what it is and how it’s used, but I will also analyze the best ways to improve your own bounce passes by looking at when to throw them in a game.
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The Bounce Pass
In basketball, there are three basic pass types. You have the chest pass, the overhead pass, or the bounce pass. The chest pass is the most common, the overhead pass is used for long throws, while the bounce pass is best for tight situations.
As you might imagine, a bounce pass is when a player literally bounces the ball off the court to their teammate. This is done with one hard bounce that either goes straight to the target or leads them towards the basket. It can be thrown one or two handed.
If you throw it one handed, you need to put a good amount of force behind the ball when you put it down. If you throw it with two hands, you first need to bring the ball back to your chest before tossing it down at the court like you’re throwing a chest pass.
In most cases, it’s better to throw a bounce pass with two hands. That gives you more power and, more importantly, more control. One handed passes are typically best when you’re tightly covered or when you’re running down court and need a bit more finesse.
To Bounce, or Not to Bounce?
A bounce pass is not an incredibly difficult move, but knowing when to throw it is not as straightforward as it first might seem. Most of the time, you want to throw a chest or overhead pass in basketball. Those moves are faster and help stay ahead of the defense.
If you don’t have to bounce the ball, you shouldn’t. Even so, there are a variety of situations where a bounce pass is needed. That includes any time you’re not able to make one of the other two throws due to the defense being in your way.
If a defender is blocking where you want to pass the ball, or if you simply don’t have enough room to make a longer pass, a bounce pass is the way to go. That typically occurs in a half court offense where you don’t have as much room to maneuver.
In addition, a bounce pass can be useful on a fast break when you need to squeeze the ball between transition defense or during a trap where you can’t go above the players guarding you. It allows you to easily slip the ball under defenders arms or through gaps in the defense.
How to Improve Your Bounce Pass
As with any type of pass, a bounce pass is something that can be improved through practice. While the actual throw is not terribly difficult, especially if you’re familiar with the chest pass, getting the right angle and power takes a bit of finesse. Even for more seasoned players.
What makes the bounce pass harder than it first might seem is the angle. As it’s a bit slower (and more straightforward) than other pass types, it’s easier to defend if done wrong. That’s why you want to put a good amount of power behind the throw.
On top of that, you also need to lead your target. Most passes in basketball are thrown directly to a player, especially in the half court set. That’s almost never going to happen with a bounce pass. Rather, the move is specifically designed so that you’re leading them somewhere.
That in and of itself can be tough to pull off correctly. When putting a bounce pass onto the floor for a cut or fast break, you want to throw it to where the player is going to be rather than where they are at.
Final Words
A bounce pass is one of the most fundamental moves in all of basketball, and it’s harder to perform well than many people might think. You need a soft-but-strong touch, a good sense of angles, as well as a high basketball IQ. Not to mention, you have to wrap it around defenders.
A basic bounce pass is something everyone will make at some point during a game, but a tricky or well-timed one takes more skill. As long as you practice and study different offensive sets, you’ll be able to throw with confidence in no time.
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