Basketball Footwork Series - JAB STEP

The Jab Step is the first footwork technique to learn for everyone mainly because it works as the precursor to any other footwork technique. The reason is because the Jab Step is really about gauging the defender and deciding which of the three options to use.

The Jab Step is performed in the Triple Threat because it is a fake step to the basket. It cannot be performed in the Full Stop because there is no possibility of driving after picking up the dribble. The Jab Step essentially looks like a quick one step as if it were the beginning of driving to the basket. It is meant to see how the defender would react towards a sudden movement. This would tell how the defender is likely to behave towards one of the three options and provide the player with the best choice given the circumstance.

The Jab Step works by quickly taking a step forward as if to drive to the basket yet it is not as simple to perform. The Jab Step has to appear like it is really the first step towards a drive to the basket. At the same time it also cannot be an actual step towards the basket because the player will have developed momentum, making transition slower into one of the three options. For example, if the defender steps back due to the Jab Step an open shoot is viable but the momentum would have to be stopped and balance regained before shooting. The time taken to regain balance would have given the defender the opportunity to readjust.

The trick behind the Jab Step is body control. While taking that step forward to gauge the defender, the body weight must be maintained on the other leg. Basically, the Jab Step is quick and limp. An advantage to taking a quick limp step forward is the recovery time. It serves the same purpose as a hard step forward to gauge the defenders reaction but it does not involve momentum. A limp step allows for quickly gathering both feet for a shot because the body is still balanced. The best aspect of a limp step is it allows all the weight to be pushed off the hind leg at once, making it an explosive first step to the basket.

Next time I will discuss not just using the Jab Step correctly, but knowing the best ways to use it.