How to Split a Ball Screen in Basketball

For this ball screen split basketball drill, you will work on splitting the defenders guarding the ball screen. You will use this move when the big man over shows, or the guard and big man don’t come all the way together. This usually will happen on a hard hedge or a trap situation, and it is because the big man is impatient and gets out too early, or the guard defender gets hung up on the ball screen.

The split is a very effective move if used the right way and is one of the basketball fundamentals of using a ball screen. One of the big keys is staying low and being explosive when you make the move. If you are standing straight up and down, the ball is going to get tipped or stolen. So as you go through this basketball drill, work on reading the ball screen and the imaginary defense and then also being low and explosive.

Basketball Drill Overview

Drill Name: How to Split a Ball Screen in Basketball

Equipment Needed: 1 Basketball, 2 chairs, and a basket.

Similar Basketball Drills and Resources

• How to Refuse a Ball Screen in Basketball
• Ball Screen Mismatch
• Ball Screen Turn the Corner

Goals of the Drill

• Practice reading a ball screen and learning how to split between the big man and guard defender.

Coaching Points

• Don’t turn your back to the ball screen, get below the ball screen level, keep your eyes up and see the floor, and mix up your speeds coming off the ball screen.
• You can practice four different types of split moves:
  • Push through or crossover.
  • Dwayne Wade move (reverse between the legs).
  • Push over the top crossover.
  • Steve Nash move (low crossover push through).

Basketball Drill Instructions

• Place one chair on either wing about free-throw line extended and the other chair a couple of feet wider and up towards the top of the key.
• Have the line of basketball players start 4 or 5 feet above both chairs and towards the sideline.
• Have the first player dribble down the sideline below the ball screen chair.
• Set the imaginary defender up with a couple of different moves and then come off the ball screen.
• As they come off the screen, they will use one of the 4 different split moves.
• After making the split move, finish at the basket with the desired move.