9 Low Post Moves you should know

The process is simple, effective, and can be used by all players In today’s game, it’s rare to find players who can score from post moves. The majority of points have come from the lower post in the past.

Guards would bring the basketball up the court, throw the ball inside to the team’s post players, and then these ‘bigs’ would then use their power and strength to score in the paint. But the guard has taken over in this era of basketball as the dominant position.

Shooting in today’s game relies mostly on long-range shots and dribble penetration. Most players would then rely on their strength and power for baskets in the paint as guards brought the ball up the court and toss it to the team’s post players.

Only rarely is the basketball passed into the low post. When it happens, very few players are good enough to score consistently from the post up. The skill to defend the low post has become just as obscure as the skill to post up.

For anyone who is willing to put in the time to improve in the low post, he or she has a great opportunity to become one of the few dominant low post players.

These skills are especially important in youth basketball, where distance shooting is poor and points are often scored near the basket.

In this blog, I’ll share with you 9 post moves all players should have in their arsenal.

There are 9 Low Post Moves

1. The Jump Hook

Jump hooks are among the most effective post moves that every player should have in their arsenal. Whenever the ball is in the paint, then you should be able to use this post maneuver.

Once you have knocked down your opponent, or caught the basketball down low inside, sideways toward the basket (left or right), pick up the basketball, and then flick the ball into the basket.

Examples of ‘Jump Hooks’ in detail:

1. A low, wide stance is the best way to catch the basketball off of the left block.
2. Make a quick fake to the right with your back to the basket before taking one or two dribbles towards the middle.
3. As long as your chest faces the sideline and inside shoulder lines up parallel with the hoop, you should come to a two-foot jump stop.
4. You gather up the ball vertically with two hands along the outside of your shoulder for control.
5. When the ball is above the level of your head, your non-shooting hand is used so that the shot doesn’t get blocked.
6. Finally, a quick snap of the wrist should see the basketball sail over the defender and drop in the hoop. Quickly flicking your wrist should send the basketball sailing over the defender and into the hoop.

2. Under and Up

McHale’s Kevin the Post Moves Master special. Post moves like the up and under offer a great counter after you’ve launched several hook shots. Defenders are going to try and block shots before they happen, such as with a jumping hook.

However, they are unaware of what is coming. By stepping through instead of taking the shot defender floats in the air wondering if he saw you or not as you fake the shot and finish a wide-open layup.

Details of an ‘Up and Under’ Example:

1. A low, wide stance is the best way to catch the basketball off of the left block.
2. When you face the basket, give a fake and throw the ball then dribble towards the middle.
3. The jump hook is the same as the two-foot hook. As you jump, your chest should be parallel to the sideline, and your inside shoulders parallel to the hoops.
4. However, instead of shooting, you can trick your opponent by doing a shot fake to lift him off the ground.
5. Step through with your right foot, pivot with your left foot, and finish with a wide-open left-handed layup at the rim.

3. Do the Drop Step

In your post move arsenal, the drop step can be a deadly weapon.

You can easily execute this move, but you have to read the position of your defender quickly and execute it at the exact right time. The defender can only recover and block the shot if it is executed correctly, but then he goes over your back, which results in a foul.

To do the drop step, you must get the defender to commit to one side of your body, extend your foot backward as you dribble backward, and then shield the basketball with your body.

If executed correctly, the only way for the defender to recover and block the shot will be to go over your back leading to a foul.

Example of a ‘Drop Step’ in detail:

1. A low, wide stance is the best way to catch the basketball off of the left block.
2. To close space between you and the defender, turn towards the middle and take a few dribbles.
3. Your pivot foot should be extended outside the baseline as you take the final dribble.
4. Swing your left leg and your body towards your defender to steal the ball.
5. Protect the basketball with your body as quickly finish at the rim.

4. The Fadeaway

The basketball was received in the low post area by both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant using this move. You can take your game to the next level by mastering this advanced post-move.

In order to take an open jump shot, you have to create enough separation from the defender on a fadeaway. The hoop is jumped away from by jumping.

This advanced shot requires strength in order to shoot while fading away, be able to judge shot distance perfectly and control their body. It is not an easy task.

A detailed example of ‘fading away’

1. A low, wide stance is the best way to catch the basketball off of the left block.
2. Get your opponent to back you down with a few dribbles.
3. Make it appear as though you’re about to turn inside the lane, while your back is turned to the defender.
4. Then, swing your right leg around using your left as a pivot, jump up in the air and fade away from the basket as you get ready to shoot.
5. When you square off to the hoop and shoot the basketball, you should allow your body to turn.

5. The quick spin

Once the athlete has caught the basketball, he or she should immediately shoot the quick spin post-move.

Before receiving the ball, you must read the defender by noticing how closely he plays and maybe even favoring one side.

You should immediately spin the direction that you’re feeling has more space as soon as you make the catch. Depending on your distance from the basket, you may have to take a dribble.

Rolling off your opponent’s shoulder will lock them from behind when they recover, similar to the drop step.

Examples of ‘Quick Spins’

1. A defender attempting to deny the ball seems to play close to you on purpose, preferring the high side.
2. Protecting yourself, you throw the basketball using your right side and your left arm.
3. You immediately spin towards the baseline with your right foot using it as your pivot foot as you receive the ball.
4. There is no rule on how you finish from here, no matter where you are in the lanes when you caught the basketball.

6. The Back Down

This is a good basketball post-move to use when your strength advantage is nearly as big as your opponent’s.

By backing down the smaller, weaker defender, the ball will eventually go through the net. As a result, the offensive player is given the opportunity to finish with a jump hook or put the ball in the basket regardless of their height advantage.

This can be a great option when the opposing guard switches on a post player. However, there’s a warning.

Guards who are savvy will try to seize the initiative in this situation. It’s best to back down from the opposition by using your back instead of your shoulder.

The following is an example of ‘Bully Back Down’:

1. Take the ball in a low stance with a wide stance on the left block.
2. Back down closer and closer to the rim, keeping your rear towards your opponent.
3. Get as close to the rim as you can and shoot a jump hook or just turn around and shoot.

7. This is the Skyhook.

The skyhook is one of the most advanced post moves in basketball, made famous by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Kareem retired from the league in 1989, and since then no one has made a skyhook shot consistently.

The jump hook differs from the text below.

• A skyhook is shot from one leg only.
• And The skyhook is a shot from further.

What has kept the skyhook from being consistent since then?”

Here are a few possible reasons:

• Three-point shooting is now a more significant part of the game.
•  It is difficult for players to spend the time practicing skyhooks
• It’s not very ‘cool’ to learn the shot and use it.

It is quite likely that this move will add a lot of points to your game if you are willing to work hard at it

Skyhook details [Skyhook]:

1. Put the ball into the back of the opponent’s foot and take the first or second dribble.
2. Fake across the baseline with a quick ball and a shoulder fake if you wish to fade away or attack the basket.
3. Your right foot should be the pivot foot as you drive your right leg into the air from your left foot.
4. The inside of your shoulder should be parallel to the basket as you raise the ball and shoot a hook shot across the basket.

8. Get a jump shot by facing up

Let’s take a look outside of the low block. If you make mid-range jump shots frequently or are as fast as your opponent, facing up to your defender can be powerful.

The basketball should be received near the low block, one to two steps away. With a good jump shot, you can force your defender to step close to you to prevent an open look.

If they refuse, proceed immediately to kiss the ball off the glass and raise your arm.

Face Up, Jumpshot: Detailed Example

1. Step outside the low block an inch or two and take a wide, low stance to catch the basketball.
2. To start moving in the correct direction, use your left foot to pivot forward or use your right foot to pivot backward.
3. Get up and shoot the basketball if they give you the opportunity to shoot and you have the ability.

9. Face up and attack

There’s another strategy you can use: drive to the basket with only one dribble while facing your opponent. 

If the defender gets in between you and them, or bites on a shot fake or javelin step, you’ll get an opportunity to attack.

In order to harm the defender, the shot has to be challenged from such a close distance, so it will be very difficult not to foul.

By facing up and attacking the rim, you can quickly get your opponent in foul trouble with good footwork and smart decisions.

Detail Description of the ‘Face Up, Attack’ method:

1. Keeping your stance low, wide, and tall, close to the low block, court it from a couple of steps out.
2. With your left foot, you can pivot forward, or with your right foot, you can reverse pivot so you’re facing your opponent.
3. Make a quick shot fake to bring the defender out of his low defensive stance if he chooses to get close to prevent a shot.
4. This will allow you to quickly drive past them and finish with an open layup.

Conclusion

​All players have their own favorite post moves. In actuality, if you are an effective player you have to be able to play a variety of roles in order to not be on the losing side.

Even if you prefer taking the drop step, if a tall player chooses to take a step off, you might not need the drop step.

You must instead be able to step out and face up if you want to continue scoring in the post.

Being able to perform many different post moves during games is important. We need to bring back dominant post play in basketball.