What are the different passes in basketball?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 25, 2026
What is the most common pass in basketball?
Chest Pass: This is the most common, and probably the most efficient pass used in basketball. It can be used in most situations and from anywhere on the court.
How many passes are there in basketball?
There are essentially two types of passes: Air Pass - The pass travels between players without hitting the floor. Bounce Passes - The pass is thrown to the floor so that it bounces to the intended receiver.
What are the 4 ways to pass a basketball?
Basic Variations:
- Chest Pass.
- Bounce Pass.
- Overhead Pass.
- Wrap Around Pass.
What is overhead pass?
An overhead pass in basketball is when the player throws the ball with both hands starting from behind the head and releasing the ball out front. Knowing how to throw overhead passes can be an extremely useful skill to have in your basketball repertoire.
What is the chest pass in basketball?
Hold ball in both hands, chest high. Step forward, extend your arms and snap your wrists to throw the ball in a straight line to your teammate's chest. Finish with your arms in front, chest high.
What is underhand pass?
Forearm Pass (Underhand Pass) The hands are clasped together so that the forearms are parallel. The clasp should be relaxed, with the type of handclasp a matter of. choice. The thumbs are kept parallel and together, and the fingers of one hand make a partially cupped fist, with the fingers of the other.
What is underarm pass?
Sport: Netball. A one-handed pass that is taken from below the waist area and is used to pass the ball to a fellow team member who is close by and unmarked.
What is a bounce pass?
: a pass to a teammate that is made by bouncing the ball once.
What is the difference between chest pass and bounce pass?
The chest pass is best suited for quickly advancing the ball up court and swinging the ball around the perimeter. The bounce pass originates from the same area on the torso as the chest pass does, however you should aim towards the ground.
What is behind the back pass?
Stand about 10 feet away from a wall. Pass the ball around your back so it bounces back on your front side. Once you catch the ball again, you wrap it around your back again and continue the drill in the same way.
How do you execute an armpit pass?
Squeeze your hitting hand into a fist and rotate your arm so your wrist is facing up. Then draw your hitting arm straight back, swing it forward firmly as you step forward, straighten your back, and hit the ball. To learn how to aim the ball when you're serving, keep reading!
How do you bounce a basketball pass?
Bounce Pass
- Hold ball in both hands, chest high.
- Step forward, extend your arms and snap your wrists to throw the ball forward and down into the floor, to bounce it to your teammate.
- Finish with arms in front, thigh high.
- Use whenever a defender's arm or body might block a chest pass.
What is the difference between forearm pass and overhead pass?
... the overhead pass is used, the construction of the attack is faster and the chances of hampering the defensive organization of the adversary are enhanced. This is so because the point of contact with the ball in overhead pass is higher than the one in forearm pass (Figure 1).
What is a baseball pass?
A “baseball” pass is a one handed pass that is used to throw the ball long distances. When throwing the pass the person stands side on to their target and lifts the ball to just above their shoulder.
What is another name given for the underhand pass?
Bump pass is a slang term for forearm pass. A forearm pass is done by joining the forearms together to pass or set a ball in an underhand motion. The forearm pass is a ball handling skill that players use to legally contact the ball at about waist level using the forearms as the contact surface.
What is the spider in basketball?
DESCRIPTION. Stand with your legs spread apart; drop the ball in front of you. Now hit it with your right hand and then your left hand, then reach behind you and hit it with your right hand then left hand, then reach in front of you again and hit with your right hand then left hand, and then behind you again...
What is a lay up in basketball?
A layup is a shot near the basket, usually off the backboard. For a layup, you run towards one side of the basket, jump, and lay the ball off the backboard into the hoop. Practice layups from both sides of the hoop, and with both your right and left hands.
