Basketball’s popularity skyrocketed during the 20th century, beginning in America and quickly spreading to other countries. After the game took root in many American colleges, it was adapted for professional use with the creation of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1946.
By the close of that century, this multibillion-dollar enterprise had become a large part of American culture, thus solidifying its place as one of today’s most beloved competitive sports worldwide. The game spawned different iterations, including playing in a swimming pool using a pool basketball hoop. There are even basketball games for kids.
But many basketball players also want practice tricks that make them look impressive. One of these tricks is learning how to spin a basketball on your finger. It may seem impossible, but ball spinning on your index finger is relatively easy if you know how to do it right.
Step-By-Step Process To Learn Spinning A Basketball
Spinning a basketball on the fingers is among the staples of the Harlem Globetrotters. The Harlem Globetrotters are renowned for combining athleticism with theatre and comedy. It’s no wonder why audiences across the globe have fun as they watch this exhibition basketball team perform on the court.
It would help if you started with the basics to learn basketball games on your finger. Here is a step-by-step guide that will help you learn this trick:
Prepare for the Trick
Grab an old basketball and find yourself some open room. Spinning a basketball may not appear strenuous, but if you do it too roughly or quickly, you can strain your wrist or break a finger. To ensure that doesn’t happen, take 60 seconds before starting to stretch out your fingers and arms for optimal warmth-up.
Mastering the Ball Toss
Before you can successfully spin the ball on your finger, it is paramount that you first become adept at launching and twirling the ball. Make sure to achieve a straight rotation for optimal results; remember that the faster it spins, the better the chance of success!
When spinning a ball, you have two options: the one-handed spin or the more powerful and controllable two-handed approach. The latter provides an efficient start on your spin while giving off a greater speed than its single counterpart. However, if you’re looking for style points – nothing is cooler than doing it with just one hand! Ultimately, pick whichever fits your needs best; use either both or alternate between them as needed.
- One-Handed Spin – Position the ball at chest level in your dominant hand, ensuring the vertical stripes and the grooves meet on your hand. Rest it on your fingertips with your palm beneath and point it away. With one smooth movement, rotate your hand towards yourself while simultaneously sliding it up; as soon as you finish twisting, launch the ball into the air! Don’t concern yourself too much with speed in the beginning. Focus on generating a dependable spin. Once you have developed a reliable spin, increase your power to up the velocity.
- Two-Handed Spin – Secure the ball in both hands, with your fingertips resting around the bottom of it and one hand flat against its side. The grips should face vertically while you hold the ball at chest level. Subsequently, twist your hands upwards and spin the ball perfectly on one finger – not too high to prevent injury! At this stage, focus on getting the perfect grip on the ball and developing a consistent spin in midair – you should observe the stripes moving around steadily in a circular motion. Afterward, work on speeding up your throw until it becomes second nature.
Ball Spinning
When you have the hang of it, give spinning a basketball on your finger a go. Use any method that helps you launch the ball into midair – just be aware not to let it fly too high, or you might risk losing control and hurting your digit!
Launch the ball onto your dominant index finger with a swift yet tender movement. When you’ve become adept at controlling the speed and altitude of the toss, it will be easier to catch the ball. Keep your hand close to the ball as much as possible. This will make things easier for you in terms of positioning. Place your finger directly between where two grooves meet; that way, when the spinning motion begins, you’ll maintain its balance on top of your finger with no hassle! After throwing it up into place, you should tweak its position slightly until everything feels steady underneath.
Maintain the Spin
As the ball loses its energy, it will eventually cease to rotate. To continually keep the momentum going, give a light tap on one side of the sphere with your free hand; however, avoid any forceful strikes that may cause you to lose grip of your finger!
The more you practice, the better your balancing skills will become. Persistence and dedication will allow you to master the skill. You might take some time, but with daily practice, you’ll be spinning like a professional basketball player in no time! If you can keep the ball balanced for over 30 seconds, congratulations – that’s a sign showing you’ve made it! At this point, you can even look for other basketball accessories that you can use to improve your spinning technique.
Spinning a basketball on your finger is an impressive trick you can master with practice and dedication. It may take some time to get the hang of it, but you will eventually become adept at launching and twirling the ball quickly while maintaining its spin for long periods. You’ll soon find yourself spinning like a professional player with daily practice!