Master Various Lay Up Footwork: Expand Your Finishing Package
To become an elite scorer in the paint, you must possess more than just a standard one-two layup. This drill isolates and builds the fundamental footwork patterns necessary for high-level finishing, blending ball handling with specific movement mechanics. It is essential for guards and forwards alike who want to improve their body control, timing, and ability to finish through traffic.
How to Perform This Drill
- Setup: Begin in a stationary split stance with your non-shooting foot forward and the ball in your shooting hand. Keep your knees bent and chest up.
- Initiate: Execute a hard pound dribble next to your back foot to simulate the start of a drive.
- Progression 1 (Standard Pickup): Immediately after the dribble, push off your back foot, take one aggressive step with your lead foot, and explode upward for a standard layup. Perform 10 repetitions on each side.
- Progression 2 (The Jump Stop): Reset your stance. Dribble hard, push off, but instead of a lay up step, execute a quick 1-step jump stop, landing on both feet simultaneously in a balanced power position. Explode up for the finish. Perform 10 repetitions.
- Progression 3 (Same-Foot Finish): For the advanced tier, dribble and immediately jump off the same foot corresponding to your shooting hand (right hand, right foot takeoff). This mimics a "speed layup" used to throw off shot blockers.
Why This Drill Works
This drill works because it breaks the predictability of your offensive rhythm. Defenders are trained to time their block attempts against standard layup footwork; by mastering variations like the jump stop or the same-foot finish, you throw off their timing and create open windows to score. Furthermore, isolating the pickup phase strengthens your ability to protect the ball while transitioning from the dribble to the shot, a critical skill for avoiding strips in the lane.
Pro Tips
- Pick Up Points: Vary where you pick up the ball—sometimes low by your hip, sometimes high above your head. This prevents defenders from timing their swipe at the ball.
- Chin the Ball: On your jump stop variation, snap the ball to your chin immediately upon landing. This "chinned" position is the strongest leverage point to absorb contact and finish strong.
- Visualize the Defense: Don't just go through the motions. Imagine a defender on your hip or waiting at the rim. This mental rep ensures you are practicing with game-like intensity.
- Soft Touch: Even when exploding violently off the floor, your wrist must remain loose to kiss the ball softly off the glass.
