Basic information about the hedge
General definition
The hedge is a basketball tactic consisting of a defender who moves slightly above or at the level of an on-ball screen set by an offensive player, ultimately to obstruct the dribbling route of another offensive player who would utilize the on-ball screen.
Alternative names
The hedge is sometimes referred to as hedge and recover because the defender who lifts slightly above or remains parallel with the screen, also referred to as the screener’s defender, will typically recover to the offensive player who set the screen, also known as the screener, after executing the initial hedge action.
Moreover, the hedge is also known as show because the screener’s defender will briefly show themselves to the screen receiver with the ball while limiting or preventing that screen receiver’s planned dribbling destination.
Related: “Show” – The Basketball Dictionary
Basic examples
This section contains a basic diagram example that demonstrate the defensive hedge action as well as another example that does not feature the hedge action.
It should be mentioned as well that each of the offensive and/or defensive players on any diagrams below are generally represented by the standard basketball positions, unless otherwise noted.
In essence, 1 and X1 are the offensive and defensive point guards, respectively.
2 and X2 are the offensive and defensive shooting guards, respectively.
3 and X3 are the offensive and defensive small forwards, respectively.
4 and X4 are the offensive and defensive power forwards, respectively.
5 and X5 represent the offensive and defensive center positions, respectively.
Hedge vs. pick and roll
This is an example of the hedge vs. basic pick and roll action, particularly a high screen near the top.
The general idea is to showcase the potential effectiveness of the hedge primarily by neutralizing dribble penetration as well as the overall screening action.
Initially, 5 lifts up to set the on-ball screen while X5 pursues as well. Next, 1 desires to use that screen with the intention of dribbling towards the basket.
However, before 1 is able to fully utilize the screen, X5 moves slightly above it with the hedge, which then impedes the dribble route of 1.
As a result, 1 dribbles away from the screen as well as away from the basket, represented by the wavy arrow.
At the same time, X1 slides over the top of the screen and under the hedge of X5 as well. Meanwhile, 1 re-routes the dribble towards the right side wing area.
Moreover, 5 rolls to the basket after setting the screen. However, as that occurs, X4, who is initially on the weak side of the ball, can step into the lane near the rim to impede the roll of 5 while X5 recovers, represented by the gray arrow.
It should also be noted that within this screening action, X4 is sometimes referred to as the tag or low man with the task of slowing down the speed of the offensive player rolling to the basket as shown on the diagram.
No hedge vs. pick and roll
This is an example in which the screener’s defender does not execute the hedge but remains near the basket.
It should also be mentioned that in most cases, a defender who is guarding the screener would probably not stay that far away but this diagram is being displayed for demonstrative purposes.
The general idea here is to showcase what could potentially happen as it relates to the offensive player in possession of the ball utilizing the screen if there was no hedge action at all.
In essence, as 5 moves up the court to set the on-ball screen, X1 could fight over or go under the screens, as shown via the gray arrows. However, that would still give 1 an advantage to one degree or another.
Basically, if X1 fights over the top, then 1 could take advantage by using speed to blow by X1 and attack the rim.
That could lead to a possible close-range shot such as a floater in the lane. Alternatively, 1 could also simply raise up for a mid-range jump shot.
Conversely, if X1 goes under the screen, then 1 could simply counter by taking the open three-point shot by way of the space given when X1 releases their defensive pressure.
The overall point is that those offensive potential scoring options for 1 could be mitigated or totally prevented with the hedge alongside the opportunity for 5 to receive the ball from 1 during the roll action.
Additional insights
General instructions to execute hedge defense
Step 1: See the on-ball screen
Initially, the defender who is guarding the screener has to see the on-ball screen before it happens. Next, the screener’s defender has to call it out to the on-ball defender, and then quickly move above the screen or get parallel to it, right before or during the moment of the potential dribble penetration.
Step 2: Stay as close to the screener as possible
The screener’s defender should try to stay as close to the screener as possible upon moving above or parallel with the screen.
This is important to consider because if the offensive recipient of the screen in possession of the ball is savvy enough, then that same player could initially take one or two dribbles, particularly away from the basket, as if to concede to the hedging action.
Following that, the offensive player who would use the screen could split into the gap that would be created between the player setting the screen as well as the defender assigned to them.
Therefore, to close the potential gap and subsequent split dribble action, the screener’s defender should typically hedge while keeping their inside arm and leg adjacent to the outside arm and leg of the screener.
Step 3: Slide in front of the dribbling pathway
The screener’s defender should slide in front of the screen receiver’s planned dribbling pathway with a proper defensive stance while remaining as close as possible to the screener as previously mentioned.
This allows the screener’s defender to implement at least a moderate amount of defensive pressure against the offensive player who would be the recipient of the on-ball screen.
When that occurs, that same offensive player would be effectively forced to slow down or completely stop their dribble penetration and/or re-route their dribbling path to another location that is generally away from the basket.
Step 4: Recover to assignment
After hedging action occurs, the screener’s defender should recover to the original assignment, particularly the screener, or to another assignment if necessary such as in the event of a defensive switch.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the screener’s defender should typically keep their hands high and active during the process of the recovery.
High and active hands essentially forces the player in possession of the ball to execute a high arching lob pass over the screener’s defender during recovery if the player rolling to the basket were to receive the ball altogether.
In essence, a high arching lob type of pass is slower in terms of velocity and speed on the ball, especially when compared to other types of air passes such as the common chest pass or overhead pass.
That slower passing action could be generally beneficial because it gives the screener’s defender more time to recover towards their assignment.
General differences between hard hedge and a soft hedge
The difference between a hard hedge and a soft hedge is that during hard hedge action, the screener’s defender aggressively lifts above the screen for a second or two before recovering while at the time of soft hedge action, the screener’s defender will contain the ball immediately after the screening action for approximately a second prior to recovery.
It should also be mentioned as well that while the soft hedge could be useful in certain instances, the hard hedge is probably more effective in general because it is designed to prevent dribble penetration as well as limit scoring opportunities and/or multiple passing options for the player with the ball that receives the screen.
Hard hedge general description and explanation
Essentially, with the hard hedge, the screener’s defender will quickly get above the screen and implement as much defensive pressure as necessary in an attempt to prevent dribble penetration.
Afterwards, the defender who was initially guarding the screener will normally sprint back to their assignment during the recovery phase.
The hard hedge could be generally considered if the screener’s defender has above average footspeed and general athleticism and/or the screener only possesses moderate scoring abilities, particularly around the basket.
Soft hedge general description and explanation
Basically, with the soft hedge, the screener’s defender will stay level or parallel with the screen in an attempt to momentarily restrict dribble penetration of the player in possession of the ball.
Following that, the screener’s defender would then recover to the initial assignment after the on-ball defender fights through the screen, which would typically take no longer than a second.
In general, the soft hedge could be beneficial when the screener possesses above average scoring capability around the basket and at the same time, the offensive player, who would be the recipient of the on-ball screen, is fast and prefers to slash to the basket.
General situations when hedge could be considered
Defensive post players have above average footspeed
Generally speaking, when an offensive team implements the on-ball screen, they will do so by utilizing one of their best post players as the screener. Afterwards, that player will typically roll to the basket, receive the ball, and score near the rim.
Furthermore, in some instances, the post player could pop to certain areas near the perimeter, receive the ball, and shoot open jump shots if they possess that particular skill set.
Therefore, if the defensive team has one or more post players that are fast and have above average footspeed, then it could be possible to counter those offensive actions with the hedge defensive tactic.
The main reason is that a fast defensive post player can quickly get above the ball screen to limit its efficacy and recover to their original assignment or perhaps another assignment in certain situations.
Offensive team prefers to execute many ball screens
If the offensive team prefers to execute many ball screens such as via continuity pick and roll offense, then the defensive hedge could disrupt the effectiveness of that strategy.
From that point, the offensive team would have to figure out methods to counter the hedge if they want to continue their ball screen actions or they would have to implement one or more new strategies altogether.
This could be advantageous for the defensive team because in the time or process of the offensive team determining how to counter the hedge, there could be empty possessesions or poor execution in general, which may consist of shot selection that is of bad quality and/or turnovers in some cases.
Offensive team features guards with speed or guards that can score off the dribble
If the offensive team possesses guards with speed that can get to the basket quickly, particularly after receiving the on-ball screen, then the hedge could be utilized as a counter action.
Moreover, if the offensive team has guards, or simply perimeter players in general, that are able to shoot off the dribble, especially after receiving the ball screen, then the hedge defensive tactic could curtail that potential scoring opportunity.
Essentially, when the screener’s defender executes the hedge, it effectively slows down the player with the ball and mitigates, or completely neutralizes their potential dribble penetration towards the basket.
Also, if the player in possession of the ball has the ability to score off the dribble, particularly from the mid-range or beyond the three-point arc, then the hedge increases the difficulty in accomplishing that action with relative ease.
Potential offensive counter to hedge
A potential offensive counter to the hedge that could be considered is the short roll. In essence, during the hedge action, the screener will roll to an area of the court, usually around the perimeter such as the top or wing instead of rolling all the way to the basket.
Generally speaking, the short roll could be an effective offensive counter because the defender who is guarding the screen would most likely not have enough time to recover before the screener receives possession of the ball, especially by way of a swift jump pass or pocket pass.
Related pick and roll defensive tactics
Related pick and roll defensive tactics in reference to the hedge include the drop coverage tactic as well as ice defense.
Drop coverage
Drop coverage in basketball is a tactic utilized against pick and roll action that occurs when a defensive player, who initially guards the offensive player setting an on-ball screen, drops below that same screen, ultimately to limit scoring opportunities, especially near the basket.
Generally speaking, defensive teams could consider using the drop coverage when the two offensive players involved in the ball screen/pick and roll action possess below average jump shots or when the screener commonly prefers to roll to the basket as opposed to popping towards a perimeter area for a potential jump shot opportunity.
The drop coverage primarily mitigates the roll action of the screener. Yet, in a somewhat similar fashion to the hedge, the defender guarding the offensive player setting the screen can limit the dribble penetration as well. However, instead of being above or level with the screen, the screener’s defender will be dropped below it.
Ice defense
Ice defense primarily focuses on limiting scoring options generally from the side pick and roll action of the offensive player in possession of the ball as well as the screener who would typically roll to the basket after setting the screen.
In terms of the ice defense, the on-ball defender lifts above the screen to limit dribble penetration, particularly towards the middle, unlike the hedge where the screener lifts above it instead.