How to Do a Crossover in Basketball

Co-authored by Ryan Tremblay

Last Updated: June 24, 2024 Approved

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Also known as an ankle-breaker, the crossover is a dribbling technique used to create space between yourself and a defender. It involves faking to one side and getting the defender to follow you before bouncing the ball back over to your other hand. This leaves the defender off balance and out of position, and leaves you open to take a shot, drive the lane, or pass. With enough practice, the crossover can be a deadly offensive weapon.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Doing a Basic Crossover

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Develop your dribble. Before you attempt a crossover, make sure you've got a good handle on power dribbling and can maintain good ball control. A good crossover requires that you dribble effectively with both hands and can drive the lane from either direction.
2
Fake to your dominant side. To do an accurate-looking fake, push the ball to the side you're dribbling it in. Step the way you fake, and lean that way, too. Keep your eyes focused on the defender's hips and midsection, rather than the hands or legs, which the defense will use for distraction. When the hips turn in the direction you're faking, that's when you'll know you've faked effectively. ^{[1]
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- Also consider faking to your non-dominant side and crossing back over to your dominant hand and driving from your strong side. Keep the D guessing.
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3
Hesitate. This is the most important and convincing part of the crossover dribble. When the ball is up, some players will give a little hop, as if you're about to quickly drive to your dominant side. The ball will be in your palm at this moment, so really what you're doing is less about dribble and more about feigning motion.
- Watch videos of great crossover players to practice and imitate their hesitation move. Be careful not to palm the ball, or you'll be whistled for a dribbling violation.
4
Stay low and wide. Since the move involves bouncing the ball in between you and the defender, you'll want to make sure that you're low to the ground and that you're leading with the foot on your dominant side.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Ryan Tremblay
Basketball Coach

Expert Interview. 9 March 2021.} Allen Iverson was great at keep the ball very far away from his body, but still totally controlling its bounce. You want to look as much like you're heading to that direction as possible. Don't open yourself up to a steal.^{[3]
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- Don't look at the ball as you're doing the move. Keep your eyes on the defender and up-court, scanning for possible open spaces, open teammates, and opportunities.
When you've got the defensive player turned in the direction you want, quickly power dribble across your body, switching to your other hand.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Ryan Tremblay
Basketball Coach

Expert Interview. 9 March 2021.} At this instant, you should be open to set for a jump shot or pass the ball to your teammate. It'll happen in an instant, so be ready to act as soon as you've completed the move. Practice this move a couple times to really get it perfect!

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Doing Variations

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1
Go behind your back. Instead of crossing over in between yourself and the defender, which can be tricky and dangerous, bounce the ball behind your back to shift directions. This uses your body to shield the ball, and can leave defenders in your dust.
- Practice dribbling behind your back before trying this move. You can't see where the ball is going, so it can be a difficult maneuver to pull off.
2
Dribble between your legs. Another effective shielding technique is to dribble the ball between your legs. Most typically, you'd dribble back through your non-dominant leg, catching the ball with that hand, but you can improvise in all sorts of ways.
- Try going back to front, from your non-dominant side to your dominant side as your hesitation maneuver, fake toward that dominant side and abruptly cross it back over between your legs again.
If you've gone to the well one too many times and your defender catches you in the act by staying centered when you try your crossover, kick the ball back into your dominant hand and drive in the direction you tried to fake. This double crossover will often go so far as to trip up the defender, leading to this move's reputation as the "ankle-breaker."
Try different combinations of between the legs and directional shifts to improve your offensive game. The simple crossover is really just a quick dribble, but when you've mastered that and can effectively crossover, your offensive game will only be limited by your imagination.

Stephen Curry, Professional Basketball Player

Play the sport with your own unique approach. "Whatever that means, however you got on that mountain, why not try to climb it? And do it in your own way."

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How can I improve my crossover skills?

Ryan Tremblay
Basketball Coach
Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ryan Tremblay

Basketball Coach

Expert Answer

Practice crossing right to left. From there, try faking right and crossing left, and faking left and crossing right. A good crossover dribble should involve quick changes in direction.

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Question

What is a crossover?

Ryan Tremblay
Basketball Coach
Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ryan Tremblay

Basketball Coach

Expert Answer

A crossover dribble is basically going from right to left or left to right, crossing the dribble in front of yourself. It should be low, below the knee, and it should be quick and start with a fake.

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I'm not comfortable with my crossover. What should I do?

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Practice it a lot. Grab a chair, cone, or anything really and just practice crossing the "defender" over. One important thing to remember is to practice it game speed. Keep doing it over and over again and you will see results. After that, do it in a pickup game.

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Put your hand out in front of the ball because if the defender tries to steal the ball, they will have to get through your hand or your leg and that will cause a foul.

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If you bounce the ball just under your knees, there is less chance of the ball being stolen from you.

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When you hesitate, stretch the ball handling hand a bit so that you can change directions causing an ankle break.

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