How Do You Toss the Ball (Opening Tip)?

[Luis]

Originally Posted by SmokeEater

The players should all know that when the official steps into the circle the jump is about to occur!

well.. some folks would hold the ball too long and the players just pre-jump, lol

[reffish]

One quick blast of whistle, step into circle use one hand like a jump shot, but more like a shot put into the air and as I toss, I am telling players, see you at halftime, I watch the ball go up (the one time I watch the ball in the air) and observe when the players tap the ball. After that, I turtle and hope that I don't get plowed over.

[tref]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Why do you feel the need to say this?

They gotta have some way to guage stealing the toss

[Rufus]

Quick whistle, let the whistle go and hold it in my non-throwing hand (that way I know it's not in my mouth - teaching from an instructor years ago), hold the ball in the other and place myself between jumpers and pause (don't want either trying to time the toss). One-handed push to an imaginary basket like has already been mentioned.

Never purchased a copy of this one, but here's a link of me last year just after a toss:

Middle School Basketball Championships | High School Sports | Gwinnett Daily Post

[JRutledge]

I use a two handed toss.

Peace

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Why do you feel the need to say this?

I say, "After the whistle I'm going up with the toss" so they know what's going on in spite of this somewhat different way of doing a jump ball.
Guess I don't have to, do I?
At least I don't say, "OK, everyone hold your spots."

[j51969]

I work out so I dont have to use my hands.....

[Jay R]

'Interestinging that many seem to use the one handed push which is what I use. But locally, I think I'm the only one who uses that technique. I've tried them all over the years and this is the one that is most consistent for me in terms of proper height and also it's usually straight (I'll probably toss it crooked tonight now that I've said that- CIS pre-season game).

[APG]

Originally Posted by j51969

I work out so I dont have to use my hands.....

What do you mean?

[Amesman]

Early on I was kind of chided by a few vets for using two hands, because I'm fairly tall. Especially around younger kids. Since then, I've done it with one hand, basically squeezing fingers and thumb together when my arm becomes fully extended (have to stop doing that). Always have to remember to get the right balance of thumb and finger pressure or, sure enough, that 45-degree-angle thing could take over.

Going to stand under a hoop and practice from now on.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I do it one-handed starting with the ball above my head. I give a little push from the elbow. I don't bounce the ball, I walk straight in with the ball pre-positioned. I'm also 6' 5".

That is my technique as well....

1. Whistle blown from outside the circle.
2. Step in with the ball up
3. Short shot-put.

The only difference is that I'm not 6'5"....but 6'.

I used to do an underhanded one-hand toss...did it that way for 15+ years. Then it started going a little goofy so I decided to change to a new technique. Not so much that the underhanded version was bad (it does have more movement so there is more chance for it to stray) but just to force me to re-concentrate on what I was doing.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by APG

That is how I've also been taught to practice jump balls.

I do that, more for a height reference than accuracy. Another technique is to practice the toss directly over the intersection of two lines on the court. Try to have the ball land exactly on the X. If you're within a few inches, the toss is very straight....even more so than tossing the ball up into the basket.

[Luis]

sometimes i saw some guys standing right in the middle of the two players which i anticipate a hit to the refs after the ball's been tapped by the players... the three men (two jumpers + ref) almost lined-up... the ref could toss pretty straight up though. however he gets more chances of being hit by the big dudes