Curl Cut Overview
What is a Curl Cut?
A curl cut is an offensive move where a player uses a screen to curl tightly around it, heading toward the basket or another open area. It’s designed to create separation from the defender, especially when the defender trails closely behind, and is highly effective for setting up scoring opportunities.
To demonstrate the versatility of a curl cut, we will provide two example scenarios run from a 3-In 2-Out formation:
- A post curl cut where a player in the low post curls up and around a screening perimeter player who drops in from the wing.
- A wing curl cut where a perimeter player cuts over and around a pick set by the point guard coming over from the top as part of a pass and screen away play.
Curl Cut Coaching Points
- Timing is Essential: The curl must be synchronized with the screener and ball handler to ensure the pass arrives at the right time.
- Stay Tight to the Screen: Minimize the space between you and the screener to make it harder for the defender to recover.
- Change Speeds: Use a controlled pace when setting up the cut, then accelerate explosively around the screen.
- Be Aware of Defensive Positioning: Recognize if the defender is trailing, going over the screen, or switching, and react accordingly. You must also be mindful of help defenders coming off the screen.
- Read the Screener’s Defender: If the screener’s defender helps on the curl, be ready to pass back to the screener or kick out to an open teammate.
Curl Cut Benefits
- Creates Separation: Effectively loses defenders who trail too closely or go over the screen.
- Leads to High-Percentage Shots: Often results in open layups, mid-range shots, or catch-and-shoot opportunities.
- Keeps the Offense Dynamic: Maintains player and ball movement, preventing the defense from settling into position.
- Exploits Defensive Overplays: Punishes aggressive defenders who overcommit to denying passes.
- Flexible Application: Can be used in various offensive sets, including motion offenses, pick-and-rolls, and off-ball screens.

Curl Cut
Post Curl Cut

Curl Cut
Wing Curl Cut
Performing a Post Curl Cut
1
Wing Player Moves In To Set Pick
The small forward/swing player (3) moves downhill and gets into position outside the left elbow to set the pick, dragging their defender down with them.

Curl Cut
Post Curl Cut Step 1
2
Post Player Explodes Up Around Wing Player's Screen
When the (3) has their feet set, the power forward (4) explodes up from near the block and cuts tightly around the screen, hopefully picking off their defender.
The cutting player (4) needs to be mindful of the screener’s help defender while making their curl cut, and aim to cut outside the help defender if one is present so they are in front of them and well positioned to receive a quick, crisp pass from the point guard (1) in the key.
As the cutting player (4) comes around and clears the screen and help defender, they should have their target hand extended, ready and signaling to receive the pass from the (1).
Once the pass is caught, the (4) should have a good layout or pull up shot. There may also be an opportunity to feed the center (5) down low for an easy layup if the defender covering the (5) comes in to help.

Curl Cut
Post Curl Cut Step 2
Performing a Wing Curl Cut
1
Point Guard Kicks Off the Pass-and-Screen-Away
For our example scenario, we start in a 3-Out 2-In formation and the small forward/swing player (3) will execute a curl cut as part of a pass-and-screen-away play.
The point guard (1) makes a quick, crisp pass to the shooting guard (2) positioned in the right wing to kick off the action.

Curl Cut
Wing Curl Cut Step 1
2
Point Guard Slides to the Wing to Set a Pick
As soon as the ball leaves (1)’s hands, he quickly shift over to the opposite wing slot area and gets set to perform a back screen for the (3).
Ideally (1) will drag their defender over with them and away from the top, clearing space and creating a passing lane for the eventual pass to the (3) from the (2) after the curl cut is executed.

Curl Cut
Wing Curl Cut Step 2
3
Wing Player Explodes Over and Around Around Screen
As soon as the (1) has established position to set the back screen on (3)’s defender, (3) explodes around the pick and curls in towards the basket with target hand up and out in front, signaling for the ball.
The (2) is alert and ready, looking to get into an idea position to make the pass down to the (3) as they execute the curl cut.
Since the (1)’s defender was hopefully pulled out of the top area when the (1) shifted over to the wing to set the pick, the (2) should have space to pass immediately.
If necessary, the (2) should have room to dribble 1-2 times towards the top to reposition for a better passing angle if necessary.
Once the pass has been made to the (3), several offensive opportunities become possible depending on the outcome, including:
- (3) continues the drive to the basket for a layup.
- (3) breaks momentum and sets up for a short range jumper.
- If the defenders covering (4) or (5) come up to help, (3) can make a quick pass around and down that defender to the now-open post player.
- If a perimeter defender covering (1) or (2) come down to help, it sets up a potential penetrate-and-kick situation for (3) where he can get the ball back out to the open perimeter player for a 3 point shot or long range jumper.

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Wing Curl Cut Step 3