The goal of Weak defense is straightforward: to force the ball handler toward their weaker hand.
Since the majority of players are right-handed, Weak defense typically means "forcing them left." To avoid confusion, many coaches simplify this by defining Weak as "left" and Strong as "right".
Weak Defense is almost always paired with Ice coverage being used for side screen actions.
Defender #1 jumps the screen to force the offensive player left to their weak hand.
The re-screening strategy isn’t limited to countering Weak defense—it’s a versatile tactic effective in many central screen actions. Coaches often purposefully set the initial screen on the ball handler’s off-hand side to force the defense to commit.
After the initial screen, quickly flip the screen for a re-screen, allowing the ball handler to attack downhill on their dominant side.
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