How to Beat Face Guarding Defenses with the Zipper Series
Great Trigger for Drive and Kick teams
Hey Coaches,
Are you struggling to get your best shooter a clean touch when the defense is face guarding and denying every entry?
I’ve been there—your drive and kick options just aren’t freeing them up, and suddenly your offense stalls.
That’s exactly why I’m excited to talk with you about the Zipper Series, a simple but effective way to keep your offense humming and your shooters a constant threat.
What is the Zipper Series?
In this breakdown, I lay out the core zipper action that’s worked for me over the years.
Whether you’ve got two guards out front, a post, or anyone working out of the elbow, the action starts with a solid pin-down screen. When your shooter curls off that screen, it’s tough for defenders to keep denying — now you’ve set a potent trigger for:
a clean shot
a downhill drive
or a seamless flow into your drive-and-kick game.
Why it works
What’s great is how flexible the Zipper Series can be:
If the defense switches a lot, I’ll show you ways to counter that as well.
These looks can be run to either side of the floor, keeping the defense guessing.
Real game film and details
We even dive into real game film to show exactly how these options play out, including:
What happens if the initial gap drive isn’t there
How to reset, react, and get right back into attacking mode.
It’s all about creating those big triple gaps and putting the defense in dominoes.
Want to see more?
I ran a full clinic inside the System Basketball community, where we go deeper into:
Multiple options
Diagrams
Counters for every defensive adjustment
Tons of film breakdowns
If you want to expand your offensive toolbox and keep your shooters in the game, check out the full version.
👉 Watch the full Zipper Series breakdown at System Basketball!
Talk Soon,
Marc Hart - System Basketball
PS. Here are four ways I can help you and or your program.
Join our Dribble Drive Motion Facebook Group, a place to discuss the offense daily with other coaches.
My YouTube channel is my playlist of videos on the Dribble Drive Motion Offense.
Schedule a 15-minute consult to discuss how I can help you or your program with the Dribble Drive Motion.
The Dribble Drive Motion A to Z Course—This course features 13 instructional videos, hundreds of diagrams, and a 540-page downloadable PDF with diagrams and notes.