Another name for the bent-elbow pass might be “the greatest pass in the world,” and yet few players use it. By using this pass, you can get the ball past a defender immediately, every time, without delay, without having to fake a lot or waste valuable time.The pass is begun by putting the ball at your side, just above the waist, and then leaning a bit to that side and stepping to that same side. Your arm is not extended but bent. And bent is the key. Because then all you have to do is check the defender’s hand on that side. If no hand is there even with the ball, you throw the bounce pass right past him. If the hand is there, you roll your wrist over and flip the ball just over your opponent’s ear. The pass, though it doesn’t sound like much, is like magic, because it works again and again. A defender simply can’t get his hand up to his ear in time. In fact, the motion of having a hand beside the ear is so unnatural that there is usually room to get the ball by his head, even if the defender has anticipated your pass.

The key is the bent elbow. If you extend your arm and cannot throw the bounce pass, you have to cock your arm for the pass over the ear, which gives the defender time to react. But if the fake is made with the elbow bent (with the arm in a cocked ready-to-throw position the whole time), the pass over the ear can be thrown immediately and won’t ever be blocked.

The usefulness of this pass can not be overemphasized. This is a weapon every player needs, but even most good players don’t have. Guards especially will find this pass magical for getting the ball to the big man inside at the split second it ought to arrive.

This pass can be learned in a few concentrated minutes and used against anyone over and over for a lifetime. This pass is a great, great weapon. Be attentive to the details—there aren’t many, -and learn to throw it and its value will prove itself a thousand times. This book has no more useful piece of advice. The world is filled with good players who have trouble passing a ball by a defender. With this pass, your troubles are over.

From Dick’s book Stuff