Basic information about overhead pass
General definition
The overhead pass consists of action that occurs when a player in current possession of the basketball places it over their head before throwing it with two hands towards a teammate who is able to receive it.
Potential advantage
Generally speaking, since the overhead pass is thrown over the head, as the name suggests, it will typically have an above average amount of speed, velocity, and power, especially when compared to other types of passes such as the chest pass or bounce pass.
That extra speed, velocity, and power could help the ball reach its recipient at a faster pace, which could give the offensive team a potential advantage to one degree or another.
This is even more of a possible factor if the defensive team is not able to hinder the ball’s momentum or recover in enough time to efficiently guard against the recipient of the pass.
Example situations of overhead pass general usage
This section showcases example situations when the overhead pass could be utilized, especially during a basketball game.
Additionally, 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.
Transition fast break
The overhead pass could be utilized during transition offense, mainly to get the ball down the court quickly, which could then lead to a fast break scoring opportunity.
The example diagram in the subsection below demonstrates this concept.
Example: Overhead pass from backcourt to frontcourt
First, for this example, let’s assume that the opposing team (not shown) has just took a field goal attempt and missed the shot.
Second, let’s also assume that the missed shot was then collected as a defensive rebound by 5, who initially has possession of the ball, represented by the black dot.
As that happens, the offensive team is currently in their backcourt and ready to start their transition scoring opportunity.
So, 1 initially executes a v-cut to get open and receive the ball from 5.
However, as that happens, 2 leaks out towards the offensive team’s frontcourt looking to receive the ball as well.
From there, let’s say that 2 receives the ball from 5 via a long-distance overhead pass, which is also an outlet pass in this instance as well.
Moreover, as that occurs, the other offensive players begin to sprint down the court too.
Afterwards, 2 dribbles the ball (represented by the wavy arrow) toward the lane and scores via a layup at the basket.
Skip pass counter against off-ball help defense
The overhead pass could be used to quickly move the ball from one side of the court to the other side, particularly as a counter to off-ball help defense action.
In other words, an offensive player can place the ball over their head and then throw it as a skip pass to a non-adjacent target, preferably before defensive players are able to guard the ball effectively in its new location.
The example diagram in the subsection below demonstrates this concept.
Example: Overhead skip pass from wing to opposite corner
In terms of the initial setup: 1 is at the top; 2 operates at the right side wing area with possession of the ball; 3 occupies the left side wing area; 4 fills the left side corner; 5 occupies the right side low post area.
In relation to the defensive players; X1, X3, and X4 are in off-ball helping positions. X1 is near the nail in the middle of the high post. X3 is near the high post elbow on the left side. X4 is near the left side low post area.
Additionally, X2 is guarding 2 with on-ball defense while X5 guards 5 off the ball as well. Moreover, both of those defenders are currently on the strong side of the court.
What’s more, in this instance, the help defense action by X4 could be thought of as secondary basket protection in addition to pressure relief as a fallback for X5.
In essence, X4 slides over towards the left side low post area to help protect the basket in the possible event that 2 is able to blow by and beat X2 off the dribble while attacking the rim.
Moreover, if offensive players 1, 3, or 4 were to perform a basketball cut towards the rim, then X4 also has the potential capability to hinder or totally prevent those players from either receiving the ball or scoring it around the basket.
However, since X4 is further away from 4, this gives 2 an opportunity to throw an overhead skip pass to 4, particularly if the hands of X2 are down near their sides or simply too low in general.
This also means that X4 has to closeout back towards 4, represented by the solid black arrow, ultimately to prevent a potentially wide open three-point shot opportunity.
Furthermore, it is not shown on the diagram but even on a closeout, 4 could still possibly fake and drive towards the rim, which would then put more pressure on X5, who would have to try to guard both 4 and 5, a challenging task.
The main point of this particular example though is to show how the overhead pass, especially as the skipping variation, could be utilized to keep the defense on their toes and preferably uncomfortable to one degree or another.
General instructions for executing the overhead pass
Generally speaking, to execute the basic overhead pass, a player should initially be in a proper stance, put both hands on the ball slightly over their head, step towards the receiver of the pass, and finally release the ball by throwing it to that same receiver.
Proper stance
In terms of the proper stance for executing the overhead pass, a player should have both feet about shoulder width apart, knees bent slightly, eyes looking forward, and back straightened.
Both hands on the ball
The player should have both hands on the sides of the ball with a firm grip that is not too tight. Basically, the player should grip the ball with the finger pads and have the fingers slightly bent while holding the ball.
Moreover, the player’s palms should not touch the ball while the player is holding it. In other words, there should be a small pocket of space between the palms of the player and the ball itself.
This is essential to understand because if the player grips the ball too tightly and/or the ball rests on the player’s palms, then the overall speed, velocity, and power of the overhead pass would most likely be affected in a negative or unintended manner.
Put another way, the overhead pass would more than likely be thrown inaccurately if the player grips the ball too tightly or not tightly enough.
Next, after gripping the ball properly, the player should hold it slightly over their head, but not directly behind their head, near the back of the neck area.
The player shouldn’t hold the ball directly behind their head because that would almost certainly have a negative impact on the speed, velocity, and/or power of the overhead pass as well.
Furthermore, the player’s elbows should be bent and pointing towards the targeted receiver while the ball is over their head.
The player’s elbows should not be pointing outward away from the receiver as that would also affect the speed, velocity, and/or power of the pass negatively.
Step towards the targeted receiver
After the player is in the proper stance while holding the ball over their head, that same player should then step towards the targeted receiver of the pass.
As far as which foot to step towards the receiver with, the player with the ball could technically always use the dominant foot, assuming there is not much on-ball pressure to hinder them.
Nevertheless, it is generally better to use whichever foot is adjacent to the direction of the pass.
For example, let’s say that there are three offensive players available, denoted simply as players 1, 2, and 3.
Let’s also say that 1 is at the top, 2 occupies the right side wing while 3 fills the opposite left side wing.
Additionally, 1 currently has possession of the ball and could pass it to either wing.
Let’s also say that 1 is right-handed and therefore, this same player’s dominant foot would typically be the right foot.
Following that, if 1 decides to throw an overhead pass towards 2, then 1 could simply step in that direction with the dominant foot, which also happens to be the right foot, in this specific case.
Conversely, if 1 decides to throw a overhead pass to 3, then 1 could step towards 3 with the dominant foot, which again, is the right foot in this case.
However, since 3 is on the left side of 1, it would usually be more effective and efficient if 1 were to step with the non-dominant foot, which is the left foot, in this instance.
The reason this is important to consider is because it is slightly quicker for 1 to step towards 3 (who is on the left side wing) with the left foot.
In other words, if 1 steps towards 3 with the dominant (i.e. right) foot, then that takes a little bit longer because 1 would have to turn their hips in the direction towards 3.
Release the ball
The player in possession of the ball should release it (i.e. throw it) towards the targeted receiver who should be ready to catch it, preferably near their chest area.
Also, when releasing the ball, the player should snap their wrists while generally pointing their fingers on both hands down towards the floor.
Furthermore, during the release, the player should extend their arms towards the receiver and straighten out their elbows from the initial bent position.
This basically verifies that the player in possession of the ball will throw it utilizing enough speed, velocity, and power so that the overhead pass could reach the receiver quickly and efficiently.
Additional concepts and insights about the overhead pass
One of the basic passes
The overhead pass is one of the basic passes alongside the chest pass and the bounce pass that players should typically learn before executing additional more advanced types of passes.
A type of air pass
The overhead pass is also a type of air pass because it is thrown via the air from its source (i.e. the player in possession of the ball) to a destination (i.e. a receiver of the pass).
Consider at certain times
Generally speaking, a player in possession of the ball can consider using the overhead skip pass, especially if the targeted receiver of the ball is a significant distance from the passer.
A simple example of this would be something like an offensive player with possession of the ball near a wing throws an overhead skip pass to a teammate on the opposite wing or opposite corner.
In that particular case, the recipient would be more than one pass away, which could be a great opportunity to throw the overhead skip pass.
Putting it another way, when a targeted receiver is more than one pass away, this generally means that, outside of a skip pass, the ball would have to go through at least one other person before reaching the targeted receiver.
Using another example similar to the previous one, let’s say that the ball is near a wing and the targeted receiver occupies the opposite wing.
In that instance, outside of a skip pass (preferably overhead), the ball would have to be received first by at least one offensive player at the top or within one of the slots before reaching the opposite wing.
This particular action, while technically feasible, works more to the benefit of the defense, especially if the general objective of the offensive team is to score points via high percentage open shots and/or take advantage of possible gaps while the defense is shifting from one area to another.
However, it should be noted though that the basic overhead pass itself does not always have to be thrown when the target is a long distance.
Instead, as mentioned, the overhead skip pass is probably best for that type of situation. As for the basic overhead pass, that can be thrown in a wide variety of different situations, even if the target is not too far away.
Simple practice drill
A player can practice and improve the overhead pass with a simple drill.
Basically, the player would stand about four to six feet away from a wall. Next, the player would execute the overhead pass by throwing the ball with both hands to an area of the wall that is slightly above the player’s head.
Afterwards, the player would then catch the ball with both hands as it bounces off the wall.
This basic wall passing drill could be completed over and over until the player is comfortable executing the overhead pass with high confidence.