Do you have small hands? If so, does that hurt your ability to shoot the basketball during games or make a difference in how well you do? There are many who believe it doesn’t really matter what size your hands are and that as long as you practice enough, it won’t affect your game.
However, there are also those who disagree and think having smaller hands may actually be an advantage. In this post, we will go over some of these opinions and discuss whether or not hand size matters when playing basketball.
How does it affect your game in basketball
All players have their own way of shooting the ball, and the size of your hands may affect your shooting style. For example, if you have very small hands and are a shooter, then there is a better chance that you shoot with your fingers.
This means that the ball will start higher when it leaves your hand and will rise quickly back up to the basket. However, this can be a disadvantage, too, because it may make it easier for defenders to deflect the shot from out of your hands.
The size of your hands might also cause problems if you’re trying to shoot under an opponent’s arm or jump-shot over an opponent. With smaller hands, it will be more difficult to get two fingers on the ball, so you might need to shoot with your palm. This will cause the ball to come off slowly and without much arc, which makes it easier for defenders to block shots from any angle.
Finally, players who use their wrists as a source of power when shooting may find that having smaller hands can be cumbersome because those muscles are not as developed in small-handed people.
The reason why small hands may hurt your game in basketball
There are a number of reasons why having small hands may affect your game in handball. Players with smaller hands find it more difficult to shoot under an opponent’s arm or jump-shot over an opponent because it is harder to get two fingers on the ball. Furthermore, players who use their wrists as a source of power when shooting may find that having smaller hands can be cumbersome because those muscles are not as developed in small-handed people.
That being said, there are also opinions that say having smaller hands may actually be an advantage. For example, if you have very small hands and are a shooter, then there is less of a chance that the ball will be pushed out of your hands while shooting because of the high arc it creates. Similarly, if you’re trying to shoot under an opponent’s arm or jump-shot over an opponent, then there is a better chance that the ball will stay in your hands because it has less of a bounce.
Ultimately whether hand size matters for basketball depends on what position you play and how well developed your muscles are as well as which shooting technique you use.
How to improve the grip on the ball and handle it better
If you are having trouble with your grip on the ball, there are a few things that can help.
First, of course, is to practice shooting more often and work on developing your muscles so they’ll be stronger when holding onto the ball.
Another option is using hand-wraps or taping, which will keep from being as sore after continuously practicing.
Finally, wrapping your fingers while you shoot will give them a “handle” on the ball and make it easier to control.
Some tips and tricks that will help you if your hand size is smaller than average
It can be hard to shoot a basketball with smaller hands, but it’s not impossible. It might make a bit of difference in your performance during games, but there are some tips and tricks that will help you.
-Reach for the hoop with your hand more open
-Get a higher release point to compensate for not being able to cover as much space.
-Finger roll instead of dunking, or get someone else to do it if they are taller than you and have bigger hands. The finger roll will allow you to shoot straight up into the hoop.
-Move the ball to your off-hand and use that for all of your shooting needs.
-Get a grip on things like golf balls, tennis balls, etc., in order to build up strength in smaller hands before taking shots from the perimeter with a basketball. This will help you overcome some of your lack of control due to size.
-Practice shooting with both hands.
-Work on becoming ambidextrous and using your off-hand as much as possible when dribbling or passing the ball to create more space in close quarters. It might not be an option for everyone, but it’s worth considering if you have small hands that are left-handed like me.
A few exercises that will strengthen your fingers, wrists, and forearms, so they don’t get injured as easily
Here are a few exercises that will strengthen your fingers, wrists, and forearms, so they don’t get injured as easily :
-Grip a tennis ball for as long as possible.
-Make a fist and squeeze it tight ten times, then release the tension with your fingers by stretching out each finger individually after doing this set. Do two sets of these exercises every day to build up strength in those small muscles that can’t be seen without cutting into skin or muscle tissue, which is extremely difficult to do.
-Finger push-ups are also another way to build wrist and forearm strength as they keep the hand in a palm-up position for an extended period of time, which will make it easier on your wrists when you go back to shooting baskets with your palms down.
-Lastly, you can also make a fist and place it under your chin as if you were giving yourself a beard-style shave. Hold this with all of the strength that you have in both hands for at least twenty to thirty seconds, if possible, before releasing tension again. Repeat two to three times each day for best results.
Tips on how to improve your game if you have small hands
If you have small hands, you might not be able to dribble as easily as someone with larger hands. You’re going to have a more limited range of motion, but there are ways that you can improve your performance.
Having smaller hands will make it more difficult for you to throw and catch anything, so work on improving your skills there. You’ll also be throwing passes without much distance in them because your arm is shorter, so practice off-the-dribble and back-door pass to get the ball into the basket without having to rely solely on the power of your wrist and arm movements due to being a little bit shorter than other players.
A few things that you can do to improve your game are work on improving the shooting range, as well as practicing free throws and layups. You’ll need to concentrate more in order to not miss baskets because of your smaller hands.
The type of shots where it’s easier for us is when we’re right at the hoop or near just outside of it, and we can use a finger roll or bring the ball in with one hand. Those are both great strategies to make up for not being able to cover as much space when shooting from outside the paint since there’s less room to get your shot off without hitting the backboard first.
Small hands: do they hurt your game? They might hurt your game a little bit, but it’s not impossible to play basketball with small hands.
