The Advanced Mikan Drill: Master Elite Finishing Around the Rim
This isn't your grandfather's layup line. The Advanced Mikan drill takes the classic rhythm drill and upgrades it for the modern game, focusing on wide finishes, extension, and complex footwork. Designed for players of all levels looking to improve their touch around the rim, this drill sharpens your ability to score over defenders using varying release points and spins, turning you into a versatile threat in the paint.
How to Perform This Drill
- Position: Start in the paint, roughly two steps directly in front of the rim, facing the basket with the ball chin-high.
- Initiate: Step across your body with your left foot toward the right block (crossing the lane).
- Execute: Launch off your left foot and extend your right arm for a wide, sweeping hook layup, utilizing the backboard to score.
- Rebound: Snatch the ball out of the net as high as possible—do not let the ball drop below your shoulders.
- Transition: Immediately fluidly cross-step with your right foot toward the left block, keeping your momentum moving.
- Finish: Jump off your right foot and execute a wide, sweeping left-handed hook shot.
- Repeat: Continue this alternating "figure-eight" motion without pausing until you have made 10 shots.
Why This Drill Works
In a real game, you rarely get a clean, straight-line path to the hoop. This drill simulates the need to finish over and around tall interior defenders by forcing you to utilize wide extensions and "hook" angles that protect the ball. By practicing these cross-step finishes, you develop the muscle memory for "wrong-footed" layups and improve your ability to apply the correct spin (English) on the ball from difficult angles, ensuring you can finish even when the defense cuts off your primary lane.
Pro Tips
- Chin the ball: Keep every rebound high at chin level or above. Dropping the ball to your waist is a bad habit that allows guards to strip the ball in traffic.
- Maximize extension: Don't keep your elbows tight on the shot; force your arm out wide away from your body to create separation from the imaginary shot blocker.
- Use the glass: Focus on the top corners of the square. You must learn to kiss the ball off the glass softly, using spin to control the rebound angle.
- Stay rhythmic: This is a continuous motion drill. Minimize your ground contact time—as soon as your feet hit the floor, you should be exploding into your next cross-step.
