PC Controls - Practical Basketball Wiki
The complete keyboard input reference for Practical Basketball on PC.
Overview
This page is the definitive keyboard reference for Practical Basketball on PC, listing the exact default inputs for every category from basic passing up to advanced dribble combos. Use the tables to drill a single move at a time, then reinforce what you learn with our keybinds breakdown for the multi-key chains.
Full Keyboard Tutorial Video
Watch the full keyboard tutorial to see the lob and jelly lay inputs performed live, then cross-check each move against the tables on this page. Pair it with the beginner guide if you are still learning the absolute basics of player movement and shooting on a keyboard setup right now.
Basic, Passing & Movement
These are your foundation inputs: shooting, passing, screening, and sprinting around the court during a match. Memorize this table cold before you ever attempt the dribble tutorial combos, since almost every advanced move builds directly on top of these exact same base keys and foundational movement patterns.
| Action | Input | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shoot | Hold E | Release at peak for green release |
| Pumpfake | Tap E | Baits defenders into jumping |
| Self Alley Oop | F | Throws the self lob pass |
| Alley Oop to Teammate | T + Number | Number = teammate slot |
| Screen | Hold T | Sets an on-ball screen |
| Fake Pass | Hold Q + 1/2/3/4 | Fakes a pass to a slot |
| Switch Hands | H | Swaps dribble hand |
Shooting Inputs
Shooting inputs combine directional modifiers with the shoot key, letting you fire off fadeaways, off-dribble pull-ups, and hesitation jumpers from anywhere. Match each input to the right animations so your jumper actually matches your player's signature style on every single shot you take during a game.
| Shot Type | Input |
|---|---|
| Moving Shot [Right] | Shift + D + Hold E |
| Moving Shot [Left] | Shift + A + Hold E |
| Fadeaway | Shift + S + Hold E |
| Off Dribble [Right] | D + Hold E |
| Off Dribble [Left] | A + Hold E |
| Shot Hesi | Shift + Tap E |
| Hesi Pull | Tap E while moving |
Finishing & Gathers
Finishing covers layups, dunks, and the gathers you trigger near the rim for easy points. Press Q or F right after timing a layup or dunk to add jelly or double clutch flair, exactly as shown in the euro step guide for gather timing that actually works in live games against real defenders.
Core finishing inputs include Hold E while running for a layup, Shift plus Double Tap E for a floater or euro step, and Double Tap E for a spin gather. Pair these with the how to dunk guide to convert driving and standing dunks into easy points every single time.
Stationary Dribble Moves
Stationary dribble moves trigger from a standstill and form the backbone of every combo in the game. Master the single-key hesi and crossover here, then graduate to the explosive escapes on the keybinds page for breaking down live defenders with fast chains that actually create real open space.
| Move | Input |
|---|---|
| Hesi [Right] | C |
| Hesi [Left] | Z |
| Crossover [R to L] | Z |
| Crossover [L to R] | C |
| Stepback | X |
| Snatchback | X X |
| Behind the Back [R to L] | C X |
| Tween [R to L] | Z Z |
| Half Spin [R & L] | V |
| Spin [R to L] | C X Z |
| Shammgod [R & L] | V V |
PC Key Areas at a Glance
Group the keyboard into mental zones so your fingers always know exactly where to land during a match. This grouping pairs naturally with a tuned guard build built around ball handling and quick combo execution for players who want to actually win games on a keyboard.
Core Keys
E, F, T, Q handle shooting, self lob, screen, and fake pass.
Directional Modifiers
A, S, D steer shots, fades, and moving layups left or right.
Dribble Keys
Z, X, C, V chain into crossovers, stepbacks, spins, and shammgods.
Passing Numbers
1 to 4 target each teammate slot for overhead and bounce passes.
Common PC Mistakes to Avoid
Most PC inputs fail because of small execution errors, not bad memory or slow hands. Watch for these patterns and lean on the how to play guide if you keep misfiring your shot timing or dropping combo chains in live online matches against real defensive pressure every single game.
- Releasing E too early turns a clean jumper into a contested brick.
- Forgetting to hold Shift turns a driving dunk into a weak standing layup.
- Pausing between combo keys breaks CXZ spins into two separate crossovers.
- Pressing the wrong teammate number throws the ball to a defender.
- Tapping Spacebar instead of holding it cancels a standing dunk gather.
- Skipping drill practice leaves your hands too slow for live defenders.