Hammer Action (Weak-Side Baseline Pin)

What it is

• A hammer action is an off-ball play where, as a teammate drives the baseline, a weak-side player sets a baseline back/flare screen ("hammer") for a corner shooter, freeing them.
• The defense collapses to stop the rim, and the hammer punishes the weak-side low man or corner defender who helps at the rim.
• It generates a corner three, the most efficient three-point shot on the floor (shortest distance, often wide open).

Why it matters

• It weaponizes baseline penetration: the defense collapses to stop the rim, and the hammer punishes the weak-side low man or corner defender who helps at the rim.
• It generates a corner three, the most efficient three-point shot on the floor (shortest distance, often wide open).
• It is a staple modern NBA action because it forces a long skip pass and a closeout the defense almost never wins.

How it works

• As the driver attacks baseline, the weak-side screener turns and sets a back/flare screen aimed away from the ball, "hammering" the corner shooter's defender.
• The shooter sets up the screen, then flares to the corner as the defender is pinned.
• The driver, under the rim or along the baseline, throws a one-handed skip pass across the floor to the corner for the catch-and-shoot three.

Reads and counters

• If the screen pins the defender, hit the corner skip pass for the three.
• If the low defender ignores the driver to chase the shooter, finish at the rim.
• If a third defender rotates to the corner, swing the ball one more pass to the next open shooter (extra-pass three).

Teaching cues

• Drive with purpose and draw two; a soft drive does not collapse the defense and the hammer dies.
• Screener must screen the man, not the air, and hold the angle until the shooter clears.
• Throw the skip on a line off the bounce or a one-hand push; a lazy lob lets the defense recover.

Bilingual terms

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