Mastering Finesse Basketball: A 10-Step Guide to Improve Your Touch and Scoring

Let’s be honest, a lot of basketball coaching focuses on the obvious: the explosive first step, the high-flying dunk, the deep three-pointer. While those are spectacular, I’ve always believed the true separator, the mark of a truly advanced player, isn’t power—it’s touch. That subtle, almost artistic ability to finish around the rim with a soft floater, a crafty up-and-under, or a perfectly spun layoff off the glass. This is what we call “finesse basketball,” and mastering it can transform you from a scorer into a true artist on the court. Think of it this way: everyone trains for the 100-meter dash, but the players with the best touch are the ones running the intricate obstacle course with grace. It’s why I was so intrigued reading about the Creamline Cool Smashers’ recent roster moves for the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League. Reports say they’re bringing in two foreign reinforcements: Kazakh middle blocker Anastassiya Kolomoyets and Russian winger Anastasiya Kudryashova. Now, you might wonder what volleyball has to do with basketball finesse. Everything. Volleyball at that elite level is a masterclass in touch, angles, and spatial awareness—skills that translate directly to finishing in traffic. A volleyball player’s soft hands for a tip over the block are not so different from a guard’s soft release on a floater over a 7-foot center. So, how do you develop this? Based on my years playing and coaching, here’s a 10-step guide to truly improve your touch and become a more complete scorer.

First, you have to rewire your relationship with the backboard. I see too many players, even at decently high levels, treat the glass as a last resort. It should be your best friend. Spend 20 minutes a day, just you and the board, from every conceivable angle. Start five feet out at a 45-degree angle. Don’t just throw it up; aim for a specific square. I tell my players to visualize a six-inch square about two feet above the front of the rim. Hit that spot with the right pace, and it’s almost always going in. The goal is to make 50 bank shots from each side without missing two in a row. It’s monotonous, but this muscle memory is non-negotiable. Second, embrace the floater. This is your weapon against shot-blockers. The key isn’t heaving it; it’s a one-motion push from your chest or a soft flick of the wrist off the dribble. Practice it off one foot and off two, from 8 to 12 feet. A drill I love is the “runner’s lane” drill: start at the three-point line, take two hard dribbles toward the elbow, and release a floater before you hit the paint. Do ten from each side. The third step is all about extension with your off-hand. When you drive left, your right arm and shoulder should be shielding the ball, and you finish with your left hand extended away from the defender. This isn’t just about protection; it’s about creating better angles on the glass. Fourth, develop a go-to “wrong-foot” finish. Most defenders expect you to jump off your inside foot on a layup. Practice taking off from your outside foot—the foot closer to the baseline if you’re driving from the wing. It throws the defender’s timing completely off and allows for a more controlled, up-and-under move. I probably scored 30% of my high school points using this simple, under-taught technique.

Now, let’s talk about the mental side, which is steps five through seven. Fifth, watch film—but not just highlights. Watch players known for their finesse. Old clips of George Gervin, Tony Parker, or currently, Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry around the rim. Don’t just watch; analyze their footwork, their gather, how they use their body to create an inch of space. Sixth, practice at game speed with contact. Touch isn’t just for open shots. Have a teammate or coach lightly bump you with a pad as you go up. You need to learn to absorb contact and still maintain that soft release. Seventh, work on your ambidexterity relentlessly. Your weak hand shouldn’t be weak. I mandate that for every ten layups with your strong hand, you do fifteen with your weak hand. It’s frustrating, but within a month, you’ll see a dramatic difference in your finishing versatility. This is where that volleyball analogy comes back. A player like Kudryashova attacking from the wing has to be able to tool the block with either hand, finding the open spot on the court. It’s the same geometry on a basketball court; you’re just using a different ball.

For the final steps, we integrate everything. Eighth, master the “high off the glass” finish. On drives from the baseline, especially against taller defenders, sometimes a straight bank is too flat. Learn to shoot the ball higher on the square, almost like a short, arcing shot that uses the glass to kill its momentum. It’s a devastating move. Ninth, incorporate misdirection. A simple head fake or a slight pause in your gather can freeze a defender for a split second, giving you that extra bit of room to execute your finesse move. And tenth, perhaps the most important: play. Play in pick-up games against bigger, older, more physical opponents. Finesse isn’t developed in an empty gym; it’s forged in the fire of real competition where you have to adapt and create. You’ll miss a lot at first, but that’s the point. You learn which moves work, which angles are true, and how your touch holds up under fatigue.

In conclusion, building a reliable finesse game is a long-term investment that pays dividends throughout your basketball life. When your athleticism peaks or on nights your jumper isn’t falling, your touch around the rim will keep you productive. It’s the hallmark of a high basketball IQ. Look at teams like Creamline looking to volleyball for that blend of power and delicate skill; they understand that at the highest levels, the difference is often in the details, in the soft hands and creative angles. Power can be intimidating, but finesse is demoralizing. It tells your defender, “I have an answer for everything you do.” So start with the backboard, embrace the grind of weak-hand drills, and never stop experimenting. Your scoring average will thank you, but more importantly, you’ll find a deeper, more satisfying connection to the game itself. After all, anyone can crash into the paint. It takes an artist to dance through it.