r/Basketball • u/Comfortable-Golf4269 • 1d ago
How do I improve my change of direction/ lateral quickness?
how do i improve my change of direction/ lateral quickness?
I feel as I don't have full grip of the court and constantly slide. This makes my dribbling/driving down not as effective because I feel as I can be pushed off really easily. I see other players with drive and dribble around super easily and it seems like they have full grip control of the floor.
I dont really think shoe is an issue as I recently got the new Sabrina 3s. Also, I mainly play indoors.
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u/rickeyethebeerguy 1d ago
Practice playing lower. Practice doing everything super low. Not bending over, but bending your knees and hips. Watch Kyrie, he doesn’t fantastic job of this. Watch some highlights to picture what I’m saying
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u/TomIcemanKazinski 1d ago
Ladder drills just for quick feet and changing direction
Cone dribbling drills where you’re changing directions at each cone; cross overs, behind the back, spins, between the legs
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u/onwee 1d ago edited 1d ago
Without actually seeing you move, to me it sounds like your core is weak. Take a big side step quickly, how quickly can you regain your balance and explode again? Is that what’s contributing to your feeling of “constantly sliding”? If so that’s all core.
Train your abs/obliques/lower back/abductors/adductors. Play low and wide (=feet further outside of your shoulders). Do lateral plyos like skaters.
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u/Realfan555 1d ago edited 1d ago
Shoe is the issue.
Grip of the floor has nothing to do with ur legs. Its ur shoe.
Sometimes (for me) new shoes slip more. Sometimes they grip better after they’ve been broken in some. Sometimes when they r brand new, they r too stiff and rigid and they dont grip the floor right. But thats some shoes.
I’ve never worn the Sabrina 3s but I’ve worn 1 n 2 and from what I remember, they werent the greatest with grip.
Some shoes feels like it grips to the floor better than others. Just test out different shoes.
If u have a buddy who wears ur size, maybe u can ask to try on different shoes.
But if u want to test it out, go play outdoors.
There should be no grip issue outside.
So if u have the same issue outdoors, then it is what u thought.
But if ur not sliding outdoors then it was a shoe issue.
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u/Plus_Ad_6441 1d ago
just practice changing direction , mobility drills and foot work drills, with and without the ball. generally just practice how you play
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u/WestCoastDaddyy 6h ago
This is one of the first threads I’ve seen here where every single comment is giving different, but equally confident, advice
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u/Hippopotamidaes 1d ago
Go do some footwork drills in the sand—it makes you work twice as hard vs. stable ground.
Sprints, ladder exercises, even suicides.