Curl / Fade Footwork
Come off a screen into curl and fade actions, squaring in the air. Reads the closeout.
Setup
A chair at the elbow or wing standing in for a screener. Shooter starts on the block or in the corner, passer at the top with a ball.
How to run it
- 1Set your defender up first
Take two steps AWAY from the screen before coming off it. Running straight at the chair gives a defender the easy path.
- 2Come off shoulder to shoulder
Brush the chair. Any gap between you and the screen is where a defender slides through.
- 3Curl if the defender trails
If they're chasing over the top behind you, curl tight into the paint and catch moving toward the rim.
- 4Fade if they shortcut it
If they cut under or cheat over the screen to beat you to the spot, fade away into the space they just left.
- 5Square in the air
Turn the shoulders to the rim as the pass arrives, so the feet land already facing the basket.
Coaching points
- Set the defender up first. Every player skips this, and it's what makes a screen actually work.
- Shoulder to shoulder. A gap means the screen didn't happen.
- Curl and fade are reads, not choices — the defender's route decides which one you run.
- Squaring in the air is what makes the shot quick. Land, turn, shoot is three beats where there should be one.
- Hands ready before the catch, or you waste the separation you just earned.
Common mistakes
- Running straight at the screen without setting the defender up.
- Leaving a gap between yourself and the screener.
- Deciding on curl or fade before reading the defender's route.
- Landing first, then turning, then shooting.
Make it harder or easier
- Easier: walk both reads through with no ball until the routes are clear.
- Harder: replace the chair with a live screener.
- Harder: add a defender who chooses their own route so the read is real.
- Hardest: full action — live screener, live defender, plus a slip option for the screener.
Coaching focus: Shooting & Finishing
Shooting drills build a repeatable release through high-rep, low-distraction reps before adding movement, defense, and game speed. Track makes, not just attempts, and keep form the priority until it's automatic.
Frequently asked questions
A chair at the elbow or wing standing in for a screener. Shooter starts on the block or in the corner, passer at the top with a ball. 1. Set your defender up first: Take two steps AWAY from the screen before coming off it. Running straight at the chair gives a defender the easy path. 2. Come off shoulder to shoulder: Brush the chair. Any gap between you and the screen is where a defender slides through. 3. Curl if the defender trails: If they're chasing over the top behind you, curl tight into the paint and catch moving toward the rim. 4. Fade if they shortcut it: If they cut under or cheat over the screen to beat you to the spot, fade away into the space they just left. 5. Square in the air: Turn the shoulders to the rim as the pass arrives, so the feet land already facing the basket.
Curl / Fade Footwork works well for players in Ages 16+, and can be scaled up or down in speed and complexity for other age groups.
Run Curl / Fade Footwork for about 12 minutes as part of a broader practice or individual workout — enough reps to build the habit without losing quality.
Running straight at the screen without setting the defender up. Leaving a gap between yourself and the screener. Deciding on curl or fade before reading the defender's route. Landing first, then turning, then shooting.
You'll need: ball, hoop, chair.
Coaching Curl / Fade Footwork?
Swap notes with coaches running this drill in the free community, or build Curl / Fade Footwork into a timed practice plan, assign it to your roster, and track who's completed it in the app.
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