Palming a Basketball – How Hand Size and Technique Play a Role

Palming a basketball may seem like a pointless parlor trick, but it involves significant skill. You need to know how to grip the ball with coordination and control, and your hand needs to possess certain physical attributes to palm a full-sized basketball for any sustained period.

Today, we will explain how hand size, grip strength, coordination, and control all play a role in palming a basketball. We will also explain how learning to palm a basketball can enhance your in-game ball control and ability to grab rebounds and stray passes.

So, if you are ready to learn everything you need to know about palming a basketball, it’s time to jump in!

What Role Does Hand Size Play in Palming a Basketball?

While skill and technique certainly play a role, there is no escaping the fact that hand size is an essential factor in a person’s ability to palm a basketball.

As you would expect, having larger hands and longer fingers makes it much easier to grip and hold a basketball.

Simply put, when you have long fingers, you can stretch them over more of the basketball. Not only does having more coverage help you cover more of the ball’s surface area, longer fingers allow you to generate a firmer and more stable grip.

By enveloping more of the ball, generating more of the downward force needed to hold it with a single hand is easier.

While big hands and long fingers obviously have their advantages when it comes to palming a basketball, it is important to remember that technique and practice are also essential. The truth is, even players with relatively small hands can learn how to palm a basketball.

What Role Does Technique Play in Palming a Basketball?

To learn how to palm a basketball, you must understand how important it is to develop proper technique and grip strength.

The following are some of the skills you will need to develop if you plan on palming a basketball for yourself.

Proper Hand Placement and Finger Spread

To hold a basketball with one hand, you must ensure that your hands are in the correct position and that your fingers are spread wide. This allows you to cover more surface area, which is essential for generating the proper force to hold the ball in place.

Start by holding the ball from below with your non-dominant hand. You will use this hand to support the ball while learning how to palm it. Take your dominant hand and spread your fingers and thumb apart as much as possible.

Align the thumb of your spread hand with the center of the basketball. Your outstretched thumb should line up with the main seam of the basketball. Once you have done so, keep your fingers spread apart and squeeze inwards as if you were about to create a clenched fist.

While it may take a bit of practice and time to develop your grip strength, this is the best way to place your hand on the ball, as it allows for optimal coverage and enables you to generate more power with your grip.

Developing Grip Strength and Flexibility

Even those with large hands must develop their grip strength to palm a basketball. Much of the strength you need to palm a basketball comes from your forearm muscles.

To develop these muscles, you must perform resistance exercises targeting them. This can include using a hand grip strengthener and various dumbbell and barbell exercises, like wrist curls and hammer curls.

You can also work on improving your finger flexibility. While it may sound weird, regularly spreading your fingers as wide apart as possible will help you improve your finger dexterity and flexibility.

Basically, the wider you can spread your fingers, the better your chance of holding and carrying a basketball with one hand.

Another useful exercise you can perform to develop both finger strength and flexibility is to place your hand flat on a table.

Starting with your thumb, lift each finger individually off the table while keeping the others flat. Hold this for at least two seconds, then move on to the next finger.

Not only can performing this simple exercise regularly increase your chances of palming a basketball, but it can also help you be more resilient to basketball-related finger sprains, which are painful, temporarily debilitating, and common in the sport.

Can Being Able to Palm a Basketball Make You a Better Player?

If you have taken the time to learn how to palm a basketball, you may be wondering if the skill can make you a better basketball player.

The reality is that having the ability to palm a basketball with enough strength in a game can have some important advantages.

For starters, being able to palm a basketball will give you a greater degree of control over the ball when it is passed to you.

It will make it much easier to grab and hold a stray pass with one hand, and you will also be able to reach for rebounds with one hand rather than needing to position your entire body beneath the ball.

Knowing how to palm a basketball can also be incredibly useful when you are in possession of the ball. If you can confidently and securely hold the ball with a single outstretched arm, you can use the other arm and shoulder to shield the ball and create distance between the ball and your opponent.

Doing so can give your teammates the time to create space for a pass or even set up a pick so you can drive toward the net.

If you have the height and jumping abilities to dunk, being able to palm a ball can also open up your game to one-handed dunks.

Being able to palm a ball also makes it easier to throw convincing fake passes, which could deceive your opponent and create the space you need to get past them.

The Physiological Benefit of Being Able to Palm the Ball

Knowing that you can securely hold a ball with one hand can boost your confidence in all aspects of your game.

Whether you are reaching out for a rebound with one hand, taking an off-balance shot, or even just preventing an opponent from taking the ball off of you, knowing you can securely hold the ball with one hand rather than needing two can give you that mental boost you need to complete a task with confidence.

Palming a basketball can also help you feel like a more well-rounded and dominant player. You can even put off a defending opponent if you can hold a ball with a single outstretched hand.

Remember, in a sport where confidence and intimidating the opposition are so important, every little psychological boost you can give yourself can make a significant difference.

Final Words

While palming a basketball will be easier for those with larger hands, the ability also depends heavily upon technique and practice.

Even with smaller hands, you can develop your palming skills with regular practice and strength training exercises.

If you are ready to put in the work and reap the in-game rewards of being able to palm a basketball, we encourage you to read How to Palm a Basketball.

This informative guide will explain everything you need to know about training to palm a basketball, including which grip strength exercises you should incorporate into your training routine.

It is also worth noting that the type of basketball you are using will impact your ability to palm it. As you would expect, a worn-out basketball with minimal grip will be much harder to hold than one with a pebbled, non-slip surface.

If you are in the market for a new basketball, or you just want to learn how to palm a basketball with a basketball that has a good outer surface, you should read 10 Best Outdoor Basketball Options – Our Top-Rated Picks.

Remember, as with most skills related to basketball, dedication, persistence, and plenty of practice are necessary if you want to learn how to palm a basketball. Don’t give up!