Windshield Wiper Post Catch and Finish Basketball Drill

Passing, catching, and ball handling are all essential components in the game of basketball. Players have to be able to effectively do all of these if they want to be complete players. This basketball post move drill encompasses all of those skills into one quick, challenging drill.

Regardless of position, all players need to be able to finish around the basket. This basketball drill can be used as a warm-up or in practice for players to get quality repetitions in a short amount of time. By using two basketballs, players are also going to be challenged to improve their hand-eye coordination.

Basketball Drill Overview

Drill Name: Windshield Wiper Post Catch and Finish Basketball Drill

Equipment Needed: 2 basketballs, a partner, and a timer (optional).

Similar Basketball Drills and Resources

• Two-Ball Same Side Facing Out Mikan Basketball Drill
• Windshield Wipers Basketball Dribbling Drill
• Dump-Off Finish Basketball Drill

Goals of the Drill

• Improve hand-eye coordination and being able to catch the ball.
• Develop a soft touch and work on finishing off of different footwork and from different angles.
• Work on ball handling and finishing around the basket.

Coaching Points

• Stay in a low, athletic stance and dribble the basketball as hard and fast as possible.
  • Players should challenge their speed with ball-handling and push beyond their comfort zone.
• Players need to keep their eyes up to receive the pass and catch the ball cleanly.
• Have players reach high and extend up and out on the finish, using a nice soft touch.

Basketball Drill Instructions

• The player will start with their back to the baseline and underneath the basket.
• They will begin with one basketball in their left hand.
• The passer will be facing them in the center of the paint with another basketball.
• The player will begin the drill by dribbling the basketball in a windshield wiper motion.
  • The windshield wiper dribble should make a “v” shape.
• At any time, the passer will throw the second basketball to the player’s right hand.
• The player must catch the pass with their right hand, gather the dribble with their left hand, and finish with a reverse layup on the right side.
• If the player misses the layup, they will rebound and continue to shoot until they make it.
• Once the layup is made, they will immediately pass one ball back out to their partner and repeat the same action.
• The player will continue this pattern for the desired amount of time and then switch which hand begins the dribble and finishes the reverse layup.

Recommended Time, Scoring, and Repetitions

• This ball handling and finishing basketball drill is demonstrated with a player using one ball to do windshield wiper dribbling while receiving a pass with the second ball to catch and finish for a reverse layup. The player completes four reverse layups on one side. After completing the moves on one side, they repeat the same drill on the other side until they complete four made reverse layups.
• To vary the drill, you could increase the number of made layups on each side.
• The drill could also be completed for a specific time on each side, rather than a set number of made shots. The players could compete to see who can make the most number of layups in the desired time.
• To modify the drill for a less advanced player, they could do a stationary pound dribble.
• The player could do a front-to-back windshield wiper move instead of a side-to-side windshield wiper to increase complexity.

Windshield Wiper Post Catch and Finish Basketball Drill Conclusion

Whether it’s a post player catching in transition or a guard attacking off the dribble, the ability to finish around the basket is essential. Great finishers maintain their focus on the rim, despite external factors that try to deter the making of the shot. Players need to have excellent hand-eye coordination to make tough catches in traffic, absorb contact, and finish in various ways. Using a reverse layup, this windshield wiper post catch and finishing drill will reinforce the advantage of the rim to protect the ball from shot blockers.

Being a great finisher doesn’t mean a player has to be the strongest, fastest, or most athletic. A player that challenges beyond their comfort zone and works tirelessly to improve will be the player that succeeds. This drill will help develop ball control, finesse, coordination, and awareness to produce great finishers.