A double dribble in basketball is a violation called in two specific situations: (1) a player dribbles the ball with both hands simultaneously, or (2) a player stops their dribble, holds the ball, then starts dribbling again. Either action results in a turnover — the ball is handed to the opposing team.

The double dribble is one of the foundational rules of basketball. It exists to prevent players from gaining unfair movement advantages by restarting their dribble after gaining information about the defence, or by using two hands to push the ball forward with greater force and control.

The Two Types of Double Dribble

Type 1: Two Hands on the Ball
A player dribbles with both hands touching the ball at the same time. This includes placing one hand on the side and one on the top of the ball simultaneously. The official rule is that only one hand may contact the ball during a dribble at any given moment.

This is distinct from a carry or palming violation — where a player places their hand under the ball and lifts it rather than pushing it down. Both are ball-handling violations, but they have different hand signals and are called for different technical reasons.

Type 2: Stopping and Restarting
A player dribbles, picks up the ball (stops dribbling), then starts dribbling again. Once a player has ended their dribble by holding the ball with one or both hands, they cannot start dribbling again. Their only legal options at that point are to pass or shoot.

This is the more commonly called of the two types at the elite level — ball-handling skills at the NBA level make simultaneous two-hand dribbles extremely rare, but players do occasionally pick up their dribble, read the defence, and attempt to dribble out of trouble.

The Official NBA Rule

NBA Rule 10, Section II defines a dribble as: "A dribble is movement of the ball, caused by a player in control, who throws or taps the ball to the floor."

A dribble ends when: the player touches the ball with both hands simultaneously, or when the player permits the ball to come to rest while in control.

Once the dribble has ended, the player must pass or shoot. Attempting to dribble again is an immediate violation.

Double Dribble: Penalty

The penalty for a double dribble is a turnover — the opposing team receives possession of the ball. There is no free throw awarded. The ball is typically inbounded by the opposing team from the nearest out-of-bounds point to where the violation occurred.

This makes double dribble less costly than a foul (which can give the opponent free throws) but still a meaningful penalty — turnovers directly reduce a team's scoring opportunities and, when studied across full seasons, are one of the strongest predictors of win/loss outcomes.

What Is NOT a Double Dribble?

Several situations look like double dribbles but are not violations:

Tipping the ball after losing control
If a player fumbles the ball — meaning they lose control of it without deliberately holding it — they may tap or tip the ball to regain control before dribbling. A fumble is not the end of a dribble.

Juggling during a catch
If a player receives a pass and momentarily juggles the ball (touches it with one hand, then the other in quick succession while it is still moving) before securing control, this is not a double dribble. The dribble has not yet started.

Catching a pass after dribbling
A player can dribble, pick up the ball, catch it cleanly, and remain stationary. This is not a double dribble — it is the end of a dribble and the beginning of a legal held-ball situation. The player simply cannot dribble again.

Batting the ball away from another player
Knocking the ball out of someone else's hand and then dribbling it is not a double dribble — this is a normal possession change.

Double Dribble vs Carrying: What's the Difference?

These two violations are often confused by newer fans because both involve illegal ball handling, but they are distinct calls with different signals:

In practice, carrying violations are called more frequently at elite levels than strict double dribbles — because the mechanics of modern ball handling, particularly behind-the-back and between-the-legs dribbles at full speed, often involve brief hand positions that could technically be called carries but are not, because of the speed and the intent standard officials apply.

Double Dribble in Youth Basketball

Double dribble is one of the first rules taught to young players, and it is called frequently in youth games because it is common while players are developing dribbling muscle memory. Young players often:

• Stop their dribble to look around, then try to dribble again when they feel pressure
• Use two hands instinctively when the ball feels difficult to control
• Lose control of the ball and try to resume the dribble

Coaches working with younger players focus heavily on keeping the dribble alive, learning to read the defence before picking up the ball, and developing single-hand dribble mechanics that minimise the risk of the two-hand violation.

Is Double Dribble Called in the NBA?

Yes, but rarely at the elite level. NBA players have exceptionally polished ball-handling skills and rarely make the two-hand mistake. The more common version — stopping and restarting — happens occasionally under heavy pressure but is also infrequent because NBA players are trained to keep their dribble alive or make a decision before they are trapped.

The most common ball-handling violation called in NBA games is travelling — taking too many steps. Double dribble and carrying are called less frequently but do appear in game logs every season.