The second dribble is illegal only after the first one has ended.

How the call is made

1. Confirm that the player had control and was dribbling a live ball.
2. Decide whether the dribble ended: two hands on the ball, a held ball, a pass, a shot, the ball coming to rest, lost control, or the ball becoming dead can all change the play.
3. If the player starts another dribble after voluntarily ending the first one, it is a double dribble unless a rulebook exception applies.
4. If the player puts the hand under the ball, carries it, pauses it, or otherwise lets it rest before continuing the dribble, it is carrying or palming.
5. If the player merely changes pace, height, direction, or hand position while the ball keeps moving legally, play continues.

What double dribble means

A double dribble happens when a player dribbles, voluntarily ends that dribble, and then dribbles again before another event makes a new dribble legal. The usual example is simple: a player dribbles, picks up the ball with one or two hands, pauses, and then bounces it again.

The key word is voluntarily. If the player clearly ended the dribble by holding the ball, touching it with both hands, passing, shooting, or otherwise gathering it, the next bounce by that same player is normally illegal. If the player simply bobbled the ball or lost control because of pressure, the analysis can be different.

What carrying or palming means

Carrying, often called palming, happens when the dribbler allows the ball to come to rest in one hand and then continues the dribble. The classic sign is the hand moving under the ball while the ball pauses or is carried from one point to another instead of being pushed or tapped as part of a continuous bounce.

Having the hand on the side of the ball is not automatically a violation. A crossover, hesitation, in-and-out dribble, or high bounce can be legal if the ball never comes to rest and the dribbler does not put the hand underneath to control a pause. Officials look for the end of the dribble, not just an awkward-looking hand angle.

Exceptions and resets

• Lost control is different from ending a dribble: a fumble or loose ball may be recovered without treating every touch as a new illegal dribble.
• A defender's touch can matter: if an opponent knocks, tips, or dislodges the ball, many rulebooks allow the original player to recover and dribble again.
• A shot attempt can change possession logic: after a legal try that hits the backboard, ring, or another required target under the active rulebook, the player may be allowed to regain the ball and dribble.
• A pass that touches another player is not the same as picking the ball up: once another player legally touches the ball, the original dribbler may get a new opportunity depending on control and location.
• Dead-ball plays stop the question: after a whistle, out-of-bounds violation, foul, timeout, or made basket restart, the next live play is judged under the restart rules.

Common arguments

• "He dribbled too high" is not enough. A high dribble can be legal if the player keeps control through a continuous bounce and does not carry the ball.
• "His hand went to the side" is also not enough. The question is whether the hand got under the ball and the ball came to rest.
• "Two hands always means double dribble right away" skips a step. Two hands usually end the dribble; the violation comes if the player then starts another dribble illegally.
• "A bobble is always a double dribble" is wrong. A fumble is not the same as a controlled second dribble, though the player's footwork after recovery may create a separate traveling issue.
• "Every league calls it the same way" is too broad. The core principle is similar, but wording, interpretations, and emphasis can vary by NBA, WNBA, FIBA, NCAA, NFHS, youth, and local rules.

What officials look for

Officials watch the ball and the dribbler's hand together. For double dribble, they look for the moment the first dribble ended and then whether the same player started a second one without a legal intervening event. For carrying, they look for the ball resting or pausing in the hand, especially when the palm turns upward or the hand slides underneath before the next bounce.

Advantage can affect whether borderline action gets noticed, but it does not rewrite the rule. A slight hand rotation on a fast dribble may be ignored if the ball keeps moving normally. A clear pause that lets the dribbler freeze a defender, change direction, or restart momentum is much more likely to be called.

What happens after the whistle

Double dribble and carrying are violations, not personal fouls. The ball becomes dead, any shot or pass after the whistle normally does not count as live play, and the opposing team receives the ball for a throw-in at the spot required by the competition's restart rules.

Source material

• NBA Rule 4 definitions
• NBA Rule 10 violations and penalties
• FIBA Official Basketball Rules
• Official Rules of the WNBA
• NCAA Basketball Rules
• NFHS Basketball Rules