Ball SkillIntermediateAnimatable

Skip Pass

A long, cross-court pass that travels over or past multiple defenders to reach a teammate on the opposite side of the floor.

When It's Used

When the defense collapses on the ball handler's drive or roll man, opening the weak-side shooter. Also after a retreat dribble against a blitz.

What It Creates

Punishes over-helping, finds the open weak-side shooter, forces the defense to close out in scramble mode.

About This Action

The skip pass is a formidable offensive weapon, characterized by a long, diagonal trajectory that traverses a significant portion of the court, typically from the strong side (where the ball handler is operating) to the weak side. Its primary function is to bypass multiple layers of defensive over-commitment, reaching an open teammate, often a perimeter shooter, on the opposite side of the floor. This pass 'skips' over the strong-side defenders who have collapsed into the paint or committed to a ball-screen action, creating an immediate numerical advantage on the weak side. This high-value pass is frequently the result of an initial offensive action successfully drawing defensive help. For instance, a penetrating dribble-drive to the strong-side baseline or a roll man diving hard to the rim will often pull in the low-man defender, the strong-side wing defender, or even the weak-side forward. Once these defensive layers are compromised, the ball handler, with good court vision, can deliver a crisp, flat skip pass to the weak-side wing or corner, where a teammate has either relocated or drifted into an open shooting window. The timing is crucial: the pass must be delivered as the defense is reacting and before they can fully recover and reset their alignments. The strategic importance of the skip pass lies in its ability to dramatically shift the point of attack and exploit defensive imbalances. By forcing defenders into long, desperate close-outs from the strong side to the weak side, it generates high-percentage catch-and-shoot opportunities, particularly from three-point range. It's a critical component of modern offensive spacing principles, linking actions like dribble-drive penetration to perimeter shooting. Its execution demands not only arm strength and accuracy but also exceptional court vision and the ability to anticipate defensive rotations, transforming a potentially crowded strong-side play into a wide-open weak-side advantage.

Connections

Catch-and-Shoot, Relocate, Drift | Chain: Dribble-drive → Rotate → skip-Pass → Catch-and-Shoot

Defensive Counters

Rotate, X-Out, Close Out

Common Mistakes

One of the most prevalent execution mistakes with the skip pass is poor timing and vision. Players often hesitate, waiting too long to deliver the pass after the defense has committed. This delay allows the defense just enough time to recover and scramble back into position, negating the advantage and turning a potential wide-open shot into a contested one or even a turnover. This frequently stems from fixating on the primary action (e.g., the drive) for too long, rather than reading the help defender's immediate reaction and anticipating the open teammate. Correction: Develop peripheral vision to track the weak-side defender's movements while initiating the strong-side action. Make the pass decisive and early, as soon as the weak-side player is visibly open. Another common error is a lack of velocity and accuracy, often leading to under-thrown or lobbed passes. A skip pass that lacks pace hangs in the air for too long, making it susceptible to interception by a recovering defender or forcing the receiver to adjust significantly, eating up valuable shot clock time or allowing the defense to close out effectively. Players might also miss the shooting pocket, placing the pass above the receiver's head or at their feet, disrupting their rhythm for a quick catch-and-shoot. Correction: Players must use their entire body, stepping into the pass with power and aiming for the receiver's chest or hip pocket. Practice specific drills for long-distance passing accuracy and velocity. Defensively, the primary mistake that enables the skip pass is over-helping. When strong-side defenders over-commit to a drive, post-up, or roll action, they leave their assigned weak-side players completely uncovered. This often occurs due to a lack of trust in teammates to contain the strong-side action or poor communication regarding help responsibilities. Another defensive failure is a slow or uncontrolled close-out once the skip pass is thrown. Defenders caught out of position may sprint wildly, overshooting the receiver and giving up an open shot, or closing out too slowly, allowing an uncontested shot. Correction: Defensive schemes must emphasize disciplined help-side positioning, ensuring weak-side defenders 'see ball and man' and are prepared to rotate without completely abandoning their assignments. Communication is paramount: weak-side defenders must vocalize help and recovery calls. When a skip pass does occur, defenders must execute a proper sprint-and-chop close-out with high hands, contesting the shot without fouling and being prepared for a pump fake and drive.