Overhead Pass In Basketball

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. Read on to learn more about overhead passes, including when and how to throw an overhead pass.

When to Throw an Overhead Pass

Knowing how to throw overhead passes can be an extremely useful skill to have in your basketball repertoire. They are most useful when a player is being defended and needs to pass the ball to another player, over the top of their defender. Since it puts a higher arc on the ball in the air, it is much more difficult to intercept than a chest or bounce pass.

Overhead passes are also extremely useful in a situation where you need to pass the ball far down the court, like for a breakaway or inbounding situation. Since overhead passes require a wind-up by bringing the ball over the head, they can have much more power than a regular pass.

How to Throw an Overhead Pass

Throwing overhead passes can be very intuitive to some players, but can be difficult to master for others. To throw a perfect overhead pass, a player should start stepping toward the teammate they are going to pass it to. As they step, they should begin bringing the ball back over the head so that it is perfectly in-line with the back of their head. As they pick up their second foot, they should bring the ball forward and release, so that they end up with their arms pointing toward their target.

FAQ