Skip to Content

V-Cut in Basketball

What is the V-cut in basketball?

  • The V-cut occurs when an offensive player moves from one area of the court to another via a path that is in the shape of the letter V.
  • The V-cut can be utilized to get open, receive the basketball, and create a potential scoring or playmaking opportunity.
    • Essentially, once a player gain possession of the ball following the V-cut, this can lead to a triple threat action such as passing, shooting, or driving.
    • The V-cut could be performed by any of the standard basketball positions during a game.
      • However, in most cases, it is typically used by perimeter players, particularly the point guard, shooting guard, or small forward.

What are example demonstrations of the V-cut?

  • The examples below demonstrate the V-cut initiated from the wing or low post areas and then back towards a perimeter area.
    • These are shown via diagrams with key actions in bold text.

Understanding the diagrams and player roles via a brief legend

In reference to any diagrams below, each of the offensive players are generally represented by the standard basketball positions in number format, unless otherwise noted.

  • 1 through 5: 1 through 5 represents the offensive point guard (1), shooting guard (2), small forward (3), power forward (4), and center (5), respectively.
  • X1 through X5: X1 through X5 represents the defensive point guard (X1), shooting guard (X2), small forward (X3), power forward (X4), and center (X5), respectively.
  • Black Dot or Small Circle: The black dot or small circle represents the basketball.
  • Solid Arrow: The solid arrow indicates movement or a cut on the basketball court.
  • Dotted Arrow: The dotted arrow represents a basketball pass.
  • Wavy Arrow: The wavy arrow indicates dribbling.
  • T-Shaped Symbol: The T-shaped symbol signifies a screen, also known as a pick.
  • Double Pipe Symbol: The double pipe symbol denotes handoff action.

Example 1

An example of a V-cut initiated from the wing area.
  • Move towards low post: 2 moves towards the right side low post at an angle from the right side wing area.
  • Defense follows: The defender X2 sticks with 2 and follows them taking a similar path, particularly on the side closest to the ball.
  • Sprint towards high post: 2 plants their right foot and immediately sprints back towards the high post elbow area with hands ready to receive the ball.
  • V-cut completion: At this point, 2 has completed the V-cut and receives the ball from 1.
  • General effectiveness of V-cut:
    • It should be noted that in this instance, 2 could have possibly received the ball earlier near the wing since X2 was not denying the potential pass.
    • However, if 2 would have received the ball on the wing at that point, then it would have been a lot easier for X2 to defend against a scoring or playmaking opportunity.
    • By performing the V-cut though, 2 essentially forces X2 to move so that X2 would not be prepared to immediately guard the ball if 2 received it.
    • In essence, once 2 initially moves toward the low post area, X2 is forced to move in that direction as well because 2 would be open otherwise.
    • Nonetheless, once 2 sprints back towards the high post, X2 won’t be able to immediately shift their momentum from one direction (moving towards the low post) to another direction (moving towards the high post area).
    • This is even more of a factor once 2 changes direction at an angle to form the letter V.
    • All of this ultimately shows the general effectiveness of the V-cut.

Example 2

An example of a V-cut initiated from the wing area followed by a drive to the basket.
  • V-cut action: 2 moves towards the right side low post and pops back towards the ball near the high post.
  • Drive action: 1 passes the ball to 2. After that, 2 drives the ball to the basket and scores via a layup.

Example 3

An example of a V-cut initiated from the low post area and then towards the free throw line extended inside of the three-point line.
  • V-cut: 2 cuts into the lane right under the basket and then pops out near the free throw line extended just inside of the three-point line.
  • Scoring or playmaking opportunity: 2 receives the ball from 1 and has the opportunity to take a jump shot, drive to the basket, or pass back to 1.

Example 4

An example of a V-cut alongside a shuffle cut.
  • Pass to top: 1 passes the ball from the extended left slot to 2 at the top.
  • V-cut: As that happens, 3 gets open near the extended right slot area by way of a V-cut and receives the ball from 2.
  • Shuffle cut: 1 performs a shuffle cut to the basket via a back screen set by 5.
    • Scoring opportunity: 3 passes the ball inside to 1 who scores via a layup.
    • Cut towards short corner: 1 can cut towards the short corner if the scoring opportunity was not there.
      • Afterwards, the team could continue into other actions, particularly within the shuffle offense in this case.