5 Basketball Fakes you should be doing RIGHT NOW!

If you are looking for ways to improve your basketball game then adding fakes such as pass fakes and pump fakes can really add to your bag of tricks. These basketball moves are always a good idea to use often during a basketball game as they work very well.

Using ball fakes will help you improve your game while opening up scoring opportunities in the process. Ball fakes are easy to implement with a little practice but are highly effective at getting the defense to over-commit and be out of position. This creates an easy assist or an open look at the basket.

If you don’t know what to work on during the off-season this summer then here are 5 ball fakes you can add both on offense and yes even on defense that will make you stand out from the rest of the competition. Let’s get started!

The 5 ball fakes you should be doing right now

Basketball fakes should always be worked on and implemented in your game as it is a fundamental skill that tirelessly needs practice to perfect. Don’t let these ball fakes fool you into thinking they aren’t effective or they are easy. I bet there are tips here that you haven’t heard of or thought of doing. So without further ado here are the 5 basketball ball fakes you can add to your game right now.

Pass fake to shoot

This is one of the easiest yet most effective scoring moves that I know to get you a couple of easy baskets a game. The way it works is you are going to make it look as if you want to pass or get rid of the basketball anywhere at the top of the three-point. (This can work on any spot on the court).

You will need to position yourself so that your shoulders are squared to one of your teammates, who you are trying to pass the ball too. Or your body should look as if it has no intention of being a threat or looking to score. You must still have your dribble. You will notice that the defense will relax, especially if you are standing tall.

The moment you see the defense relax you explode pass them to the basket. This also works in transition or during a fast break. You dribble the basketball up the court looking to pass, you stop at the top of the key still looing to pass, watch the lane open up. The defense is worried about the pass and will completely forget about you.

How to do it:

• Anywhere on the court where you think the defense may relax.
• Standing straight up look as if you want to pass the ball and get rid of it.
• Position your body as if you want nothing to do with the basket.
• When the defense relaxes, blow by them or take the now open shot.

More Pass Fakes in Basketball

I am willing to bet that the average basketball player that is reading this doesn’t make nearly as many pass fakes as they should. Think about the number of times you turned over the ball due to a poor pass. I would also be willing to bet that half those passes, if they started with a ball fake, would have prevented a turnover.

If you are someone who turns the basketball over or has trouble with their passing. Remember this, Fake a Pass to Make a Pass. Pass fakes work very well in games. Working on pass fakes in practice will instantly make you a better passer in-game. This allows you to relax on your passes because you need more time to make the pass while opening up an easier pass because the defense bites on the fake, leaving your teammate wide open.

Pass fakes can also be used to open up the player who faked the pass to an open shot when the defense decides to fall back. It is crucial during zone defense and useful in passing the ball into the post when being denied entry. 

Work on your pass fakes while in the triple threat stance, pivoting while doing overhand and two hand pass fakes. This will make you comfortable during games when you need to make those pass fakes before releasing the basketball to actually make the pass.

Tip: Practice pivoting and pass fakes in a mirror so it looks natural when you are making a pass fake. The last thing you want to do is shorten the pass fake in a jerky fashion.

Pump Fakes

Yes, we all know pump fakes are important, but if you are someone who doesn’t have success with their pump fakes then your doing it wrong. Your pump fake for starters should mimic and look like your actual shot before release. The more it appears that way the better the chance a player will jump and try to block the shot.

Don’t shorten the pump fake bringing it halfway up and then down. You will notice the more time you take to pump fake the better and therefore the result will be blowing by your opponent. Take as much time as you need to get the defense to bite. Realistically the pump fake shouldn’t take any more time than your normal shot minus the release.

Keep in mind the better a shooter you are the more likely a player will bite on your pump fake. If you just made a shot from 15 feet out I would almost always pump fake the next time you get the ball regardless of how good of a shooter you are, you will have the defense overplaying the shot and jumping to block your it on the pump fake.

Tip: Don’t try to pump fake every single time, unless there is a purpose. You likely want to switch it up and pump fake when it’s necessary.

Pump Fake Layup

If you are ever on a fast break one on one with another player, and you think you will be challenged at the rim and may get blocked do this instead.

Try to get to the key on the low block on the left side of the rim if you are right-handed. Jump stop and cuff the ball with your right hand and pump fake the layup with that hand cuffed with the basketball in it. Bring it back down and go back up with both hands.

This pump fake works very often, and you will have shot blockers and taller players jumping for the basketball 90 percent of the time. I have used this countless times and one of two things happen, an easy basket or a foul call giving you free throws.

Defense close out fake the block attempt

This is one of the best ways to close out on defense and prevent an open three-pointer. I have mentioned this before in past articles but feel this is worth mentioning again. Often times when we play zone defense or help defense we are closing out on shooters on the three-point line.

When we close out we take a few stutter steps to control our speed and to not run into or foul the player but get a hand up when they shoot. How do we prevent a three and closeout when they are wide open? Do this…

 For example, the skip pass is thrown from one side of the court to the other. It goes over your head and the player your guarding is behind you and is wide open now with the ball.

You will close out and pretend you are going to block the shot, in doing so you want to mimic a volleyball approach jump like you are going to spike the ball or in this case, block the shot. This will only work with a two-foot approach jump.

You must look like you are going to jump as high as you can just right after you close out. You want to emphasize the arm swing, swinging my arms hard and through as if I am about to take off. 

Shooters love to pump fake at the three because they see you quickly moving to get to them but they think you will overjump them, so they pump fake and it usually works. But, they will realize that now they can’t pump fake you if you don’t jump and they will not shoot the basketball.