Master the Power Stop & Pump Fake: Finish Through Contact
Getting into the paint is only half the battle; staying composed enough to score is what separates average players from elite scorers. This intermediate footwork and shooting drill focuses on controlling your momentum, freezing the defense, and finishing with precision. It is designed for guards and forwards alike who want to reduce turnovers, avoid charging fouls, and improve their field goal percentage in traffic.
How to Perform This Drill
- Setup: Start at the top of the key with a ball and put one minute on the clock. Your goal is 9 to 10 made baskets.
- Attack: Drive hard toward the elbow or block using a maximum of two aggressive dribbles. Simulate game speed—don't coast.
- Execute the Stop: Push off your drive foot and perform a "power stop" (jump stop), landing on both feet simultaneously. You must land in a wide, balanced stance.
- Protect: Immediately seal your inside shoulder toward the imaginary defender to shield the ball from a potential strip.
- Sell the Fake: Perform a hard pump fake to lift the defender. Keep your knees bent and your hips low—do not straighten your legs on the fake.
- Finish: Explode upward for the shot. After the make or miss, rebound your ball, sprint back to the key, and switch your driving direction for the next rep.
Why This Drill Works
In a real game, driving out of control usually leads to offensive fouls or wild, off-balance attempts. By mastering the power stop, you learn to convert your horizontal momentum into vertical power, giving you the stability to absorb contact and finish strong. The addition of the pump fake is the great equalizer against athletic shot-blockers; once you get a defender in the air, you own the leverage to step through for an easy layup or draw a foul to get to the line.
Pro Tips
- Stick the landing: When you execute the power stop, you should be immovable. If you hop, slide, or drift after landing, you are traveling. Focus on engaging your core and sitting into your hips.
- Sell with your eyes: A pump fake isn't just about moving the ball; your eyes must look directly at the rim to trigger the defender's shot-blocking instinct.
- Chin the ball: On the catch and stop, keep the ball strong at chin level or tucked tightly to your hip. Never expose the ball low where digging guards can swipe it away.
- Change speeds: The effectiveness of this move relies on the contrast between your fast, aggressive drive and the sudden, controlled stop. Lull the defender to sleep, then freeze them.
