Basketball training equipment can help, but you do not need a pile of gadgets to become a better player.
Some training tools solve a clear problem. Dribbling goggles can stop you staring at the ball. A blocking pad lets you practise finishing through contact. A rebounder can save you from chasing the ball after every shot.
Other products cost a lot without adding much that you could not get from cones, court lines, a wall, or another person.
This guide focuses on basketball training equipment that has a clear purpose, while pointing out cheaper options where they make more sense.
Best Basketball Training Equipment at a Glance
- Best basic training tool: Basketball training cones
- Best for keeping your eyes up: SKLZ Court Vision
- Best weighted basketball: Baden Skilcoach Heavy Trainer
- Best for contact finishing: GoSports Blocking Pad
- Best premium solo shooting trainer: Dr. Dish iC3
- Best for guide-hand problems: HoopsKing Perfect Jump Shot Strap
- Best for solo catch-and-shoot practice: SKLZ Solo Assist
Basketball Training Cones: Best Basic Training Equipment
If you are starting from scratch, cones are one of the easiest pieces of basketball training equipment to recommend.
You can use them to prepare drills for ball control, defense, footwork, quickness, and finishing.
- dribbling routes
- crossover points
- change-of-direction drills
- finishing angles
- defensive footwork
- shooting positions
- warmups
You also do not need an expensive brand.
Basic mini or disc cones can usually do the job. SKLZ currently sells Mini Cones for around $19.99, but there is no strong reason to believe one branded cone will improve your basketball training more than another cheap set.
If money is tight, you can even use chalk, tape, or existing court markings.
The important part is the drill. The cone just gives you a position or target.
SKLZ Court Vision: Best for Dribbling Without Looking Down
The SKLZ Court Vision is a simple pair of dribbling goggles that blocks part of your downward view.
That means you cannot easily watch the ball while you dribble.
This can be useful for younger players or beginners who constantly look down during ball-control drills. The tool does not automatically teach you to read defenders or make better decisions, but it can remove the habit of staring at the basketball.
Court Vision has recently sold for around $20, although current US availability is not always consistent.
A free alternative is to dribble while a coach, friend, or parent holds up fingers, calls out numbers, or gives random instructions.
That forces you to keep your eyes up without buying anything.
Baden Skilcoach Heavy Trainer: Best Weighted Basketball
The Baden Skilcoach Heavy Trainer is a weighted basketball designed for training.
The current Size 7 version is 29.5 inches and weighs around 40 to 44 ounces. Baden also sells a Size 6 version. The ball has a rubber cover and is designed for indoor and outdoor use. The current official price is $39.99.
A heavier basketball can make ball-control and passing drills harder, but that does not mean heavier is always better.
There is not strong evidence that this particular ball will automatically create rapid improvements in handles. In fact, altered ball weight can change how players perform the skill itself.
I would treat it as an optional training tool.
Use it for short ball-handling or passing drills, then return to a regulation basketball for most of your practice.
You can also get plenty of ball-control work from hard pound dribbles, two-ball drills, and normal passing without buying a weighted ball.
GoSports Blocking Pad: Best for Contact Finishing
Basketball is a physical game, especially around the basket.
A blocking pad lets another person give you controlled contact while you practise layups, finishes and body control.
The standard GoSports Blocking Pad measures 24 x 16 x 5 inches, weighs about 4 pounds, and has several handles so a coach or training partner can control the contact. Current pricing is around $59.
It is a useful training tool if you practise with somebody else.
The obvious problem is that it is almost useless for its main purpose when you are training alone.
A large firm cushion can work for light contact at home, although a proper blocking pad is easier for the person holding it to control.
Dr. Dish iC3: Best Premium Solo Shooting Trainer
The Dr. Dish iC3 is the expensive option on this list.
It currently costs $499.99, weighs 35 pounds, and attaches around the hoop to collect makes and many misses before returning the ball through a manually adjustable ramp.
That solves a real problem for solo shooters: chasing rebounds.
Cheap ball-return chutes normally only help after the shot goes through the rim.
Dr. Dish says the system can allow up to 800 shots per hour when using two basketballs, but that is a manufacturer claim rather than an independently proven result.
The downsides are obvious:
- it costs about $500
- it weighs 35 pounds
- it needs storage space
- setup and maintenance can take some effort
- it does not automatically fire passes like a full shooting machine
For a beginner who shoots occasionally, it is overkill.
For somebody with a home hoop who spends a lot of time shooting alone, it is one of the few expensive basketball training tools here that solves a difficult problem.
Other Basketball Training Tools Worth Considering
HoopsKing Perfect Jump Shot Strap
This strap is designed for players whose guide hand interferes with the shot, especially through a thumb flick or push.
It currently costs about $19.97. The underlying idea of restricting guide-hand interference has some research support, although there is much less independent evidence for this exact HoopsKing product.
It only makes sense if you actually have that shooting problem.
If your guide hand is already fine, there is little reason to use it.
SKLZ Solo Assist
The Solo Assist is a rebound net that sends your pass back toward you so you can practise catching, setting your feet and shooting.
Its current price is $179.99.
The idea is useful, especially for a player training alone, but the price is harder to justify. Owner feedback also includes complaints about netting, cords, and assembly.
A solid wall or controlled self-toss can cover some of the same training without costing nearly $180.
SKLZ Reaction Ball
The SKLZ Reaction Ball costs $11.99 and has an irregular shape that makes it bounce in unpredictable directions.
It can be a fun warm-up for reaction and coordination, but it is not basketball-specific and should not replace dribbling, passing, or defensive drills.
SKLZ Kick Out
The Kick Out is a cheaper ball-return option at around $44.95.
It rotates to send made shots in different directions.
It can work well for free throws and spot shooting.
The catch is simple: you still have to chase your misses.
BlazePod
BlazePod reaction lights are real training equipment, not just a gimmick. Research has found improvements in some measured reaction and agility tasks.
The problem for most players is value.
A set can cost hundreds of dollars, while a coach or training partner can create random visual and verbal cues for almost nothing.
Basketball Training Equipment You Probably Don’t Need
Some products are not necessarily bad. They are just difficult to recommend for the money.
The SKLZ Quick Ladder Pro is well designed and avoids the tangling problem of cheap ladders, but its current $72.99 price is high when a basic ladder, tape, or chalk can create the same drill layout.
Ball Hog weighted training gloves currently cost $59.99 and make strong performance claims, but there is not enough independent evidence to justify making them a main beginner recommendation.
The SKLZ Dribble Stick is another product I would skip for now. Its current US product status is unclear, and cones or other simple obstacles can create similar dribbling drills much more cheaply.
What Basketball Training Equipment Should a Beginner Buy First?
Keep it simple.
A beginner needs:
- A basketball
- A hoop or access to a court
- A few cones or markers
After that, buy a training tool only when you know what problem you are trying to solve.
If you constantly watch the ball while dribbling, Court Vision may help.
If you practise finishing with another person, a blocking pad makes sense.
If you shoot alone several times every week and have a big budget, a rebounder like the iC3 could save a huge amount of ball chasing.
If you want harder ball-control drills, you could experiment with a weighted basketball.
Do not buy equipment first and then try to invent a reason to use it.
Expensive Basketball Gear vs Simple Alternatives
More expensive basketball gear is not automatically better.
A $73 agility ladder does not create better footwork by itself.
A $180 rebound net is not always better than a suitable wall.
Reaction lights are not automatically better than reacting to a real person’s movement or instructions.
The best reason to pay more is when the equipment removes a genuine limit from your practice.
That is why the iC3 makes more sense for a serious solo shooter than an expensive ladder does for a beginner.
FAQ
What equipment is needed for basketball?
At the most basic level, you need a basketball, a hoop, and a suitable place to play. Cones or markers are useful for structured practice, but most specialist basketball training equipment is optional.
If you need to adjust your ball’s air pressure, see our guide on how to deflate a basketball safely.
What is the best basketball training equipment for beginners?
Basic cones are one of the best places to start because they can be used for dribbling, footwork, shooting, and finishing drills.
Are weighted basketballs good for training?
They can add resistance to ball-handling and passing drills, but they should be used as a supplement rather than replacing practice with a normal basketball.
Do dribbling goggles work?
They physically stop you from easily looking down at the basketball, which can be useful if that is one of your bad habits. They do not automatically teach full-court vision.
Are basketball shooting trainers worth it?
They can be if you shoot alone regularly. Premium systems such as the Dr. Dish iC3 remove a lot of rebound chasing, but the price makes them unnecessary for casual players.
Can you train without special basketball equipment?
Yes. A basketball, hoop, court lines, a wall, and another person can cover a large amount of basketball training.
Final Takeaway
Good basketball training equipment should solve a problem.
Cones help organise drills. Dribbling goggles stop you looking down. A blocking pad lets you practise contact. A rebounder saves time when you shoot alone.
If a cheap or free alternative does the same job, use it.
You will get more from equipment you actually need and use than from filling your gym bag with training tools just because they look useful.