How to Master the Cross Jab Basketball Move in Transition
6 Basketball Drills and Tips on Making Better Reads In Transition
Huffman Basketball training community!
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We hope everybody is having a great fall, grinding in the gym, working on their footwork, competing against themselves or others, and keeping the momentum we have had going since the summer!
Before you know it, the season is going to be right around the corner, and we want you to be prepared to accomplish the goals you have set. Today we will be talking about a transition move that will help elevate your game to the next level. It’s called the cross jab. The cross jab starts by crossing the ball over to my other hand moving downhill in transition. Once the ball hits the floor, whatever hand I cross the ball with, I’m stepping/jabbing laterally to the same side that the hand the ball just left, aggressively shifting my weight.
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Why is this the most effective move in transition in the game of basketball?
Because it allows the offensive player to keep his speed in a linear way while shifting the defender laterally to create advantages and reads.
The biggest key when learning a new move is to first see it done on film. Watch the situation of a player doing it, notice their footwork, height, positioning of the body, height of the basketball, and how aggressive their lateral jab is, etc.
Once you have broken it down, you now break the move down into parts. For the cross jab, first is the crossover and the jab.
Start stationary just continuously cross the ball over and then step laterally. If you would like to put a cone down, use a reference to step your foot too. From there, add it all together, working on shifting, the pace, and everything. Start with a slow crossover and add an explosive jab. This is how you create great dribble moves, by changing speed from slow to fast.
Going against 1-0: Now you are going to take the move live at the basket. Start at the volleyball line and go 50% by just getting the rhythm, fluidity, and action. Once you get it, keep on working your way up until you are 100% going full speed, mastering the move of all aspects, especially the small details.
Video yourself and send it in a comment, and we’ll give you some feedback.
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3. Live BDT Reads/ 1 on 1: Now you are going to put it all together and have a defender in front of you, forcing you to make reads and play the game. There are so many times we learn a new move and do it great against air but do not know how to put it into real-game scenarios.
The best way to learn and master a move is to put it right into live play. So start at the half-court line, and push like you're pushing the ball in transition in a game! Have a defender right at the top of the key, then go right into your move and into the read. Have the defender stay in front of you, bumping you, making it hard for you to score.
Then the second wrinkle is now you have the defender shade one direction, and you go opposite of where the defender is going. Once you shade your defender can cut you off, bump you, back up, whatever they want to make you make a game-like reads. Finally, you have two defenders, one at the top of the key (make the player use hands behind the back or hands above the shoulders for disadvantage) and the other defender above the basket at the charge circle. Now the offense is at a disadvantage and now has to learn how to score 1 on 2!
Add another offensive player in the corner for 2v2, and if the offensive player in the corner puts their hand up (hand down, go score), they have to kick it out and relocate and play 2v2 live. The defense can rotate and scramble. NO EASY LAYUPS!
From the video, you can see Luke, Anthony, Chaz, and Wyatt all working on different moves, angles, and finishes to get to the basket! So go get a buddy or teammate to the gym, and compete using the cross jab reads.
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Sincerely,
Huffman Basketball