Can You Dribble With Two Hands In Basketball?

This is a common beginner’s mistake. When you are dribbling the ball, only one of your hands should be on the ball at any given time. If you have two hands on the ball, it’s a double dribble, and you automatically lose the ball. This is one of those “rules” that seem obvious once you know it but is easy to overlook when you are just starting.

We will find out more in the coming sections of this article.

What is a double dribble? 

A double dribble occurs when you put both hands on the ball at the same time. This is a foul, and the other team gets to have possession of the ball. Double dribbling is not allowed in basketball. Only one of your hands should ever be on the ball at any given time. 

This rule is in place to avoid unfair advantage of the offensive player as they will have an edge while playing against the defender. The defender would have a more challenging time stopping the offensive player from dribbling past him without committing a foul as there would be more options at the disposable of the ball handler. 

How can you avoid committing a double dribble?

On the whole, it’s pretty simple. If you are dribbling with one hand, you should keep your other hand off the ball until you have completed your dribble. This way, you won’t commit a double dribble. However, this is not always possible. For example, if you are driving to the basket, you will naturally put both hands on the ball to control it and finish the layup. In this case, you need to learn to recognize when you are about to commit a double dribble and correct yourself right away. You can do this by listening to your body and instincts.

For your body and instincts to work, you would have to put them into practice. Practice makes perfect. Therefore, the first thing you should do is make sure you are always aware of your hands on the ball. The next step is to practice dribbling with only one hand on the ball at a time. This will force you to be more aware of your dribbling and give your body and instincts a chance to catch up. Don’t worry. In no time, your body and instincts will get the hang of it, and you will be able to easily avoid committing a double dribble. 

What other rules should you know while dribbling the ball?

One rule similar to this is the carry rule, where the ball handler lets the ball come to a rest and continues to dribble it. This can be a brutal rule to grasp as it goes against the grain of what most people consider to be natural. However, if you have ever played street ball or simply watched professional basketball games, you would have noticed that the great players never stop dribbling the ball even when they have it trapped or are about to be double-teamed. They continue to dribble the ball until they either make a shot or decide to pass it. 

Another rule is called the “five-second rule.” If an opponent is guarding you, you should not hold onto the ball for more than five seconds at a time. You would have to decide on what to do next with the ball within five seconds. If not, you will give up the ball. This is a fundamental rule that is easy to forget under the stress of the game. You should practice this often and make sure your teammates remind you of this basic rule from time to time. You will find this rule especially common when you are driving towards the basket, and you have the ball trapped against the opposition and cannot make any decision. If you are in such a situation, always look to pass the ball immediately. Always remember that the only time you should hold onto the ball for more than five seconds is when you have an open shot at the basket or when you are about to pass it to an open teammate who has a better chance of making a shot. 

Conclusion

Can You Dribble With Two Hands In Basketball? No, You Can’t! You can dribble with one hand only. That means your non-dribbling hand should not be holding the ball unless you look to pass or shoot the ball. This makes perfect sense and is simply common sense. The dribbling hand should be the one that controls the ball and makes all the decisions. It is only by doing this that you will develop total control over the ball and thus do what you need to do with it.