Pick-and-Roll Read Drill
Decision Making
Legend
- player
- defender
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Make the correct read from a ball-screen action: score, hit the roller, or kick to a spacer.
What you need
- basketball
- hoop
- defenders
Your focus
Pick-and-roll is the most-used action in basketball at every level above youth. Ball handlers who read and react correctly to defensive coverages consistently generate high-quality shots for themselves and teammates. Mastering the 3-way read (pull-up, roll, kick) makes a player unguardable from ball screens.
Set up ball-screen action at the top with a roller and two corner spacers.
Defense plays one of three coverages: hedge (roller is open), switch (kick to spacer), drop (pull-up is open).
Ball handler reads the coverage and makes the correct decision immediately after using the screen.
Run 15 possessions. Coach grades decision accuracy on each, not just outcome.
Goal
You're there when you make the correct read, score, roll, or kick, before the defense fully commits. Early read means better shot for someone.
Helpful cues
- Coverage tells you the answer, trust your read
- Eyes on the hedge, that's where the information is
- Patience: let the coverage develop, then attack
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Run only one coverage type per session.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Defense mixes coverages mid-possession, requires re-reads.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.