Back Screen Basketball: How to Set, Use and Defend It

Back screen basketball guide: what a back or rip screen is, setting it legally, the cutter's and screener's reads, the UCLA cut, chained actions and defending it.

A back screen is an off-ball screen set behind a defender, where he cannot see it, so the cutter can go to the rim, and this page covers how to set and use it, the screener's reads, the named actions built on it, the blind-screen rules by level and how defenses switch it.

A back screen in basketball is an off-ball screen set behind a defender, on the side away from the ball, so the player he is guarding can cut to the rim. Because the screen comes from behind, the screened defender cannot see it. That is what makes the back screen work against a defender who is denying or playing high, and it is also why the rules on blind screens apply to it. It is also called a rip or a rip screen. This page goes deeper than the back screen section on the basketball screens hub: how to set it, how to use it, the reads for both players, the actions built on it and how defenses take it away.

A back screen and a flare are both set where the defender cannot see them. The difference is where the cutter goes: off a back screen the cut goes to the rim, off a flare it goes out wide, away from the ball.

What a Back Screen Is

The screener comes up behind a defender, with his back toward the basket side of the floor, and the cutter goes off his shoulder toward the rim. The names vary:

Back screen, back pick or rip. The same screen. FIBA's terminology lists back and rip as one off-ball screen.
A narrower use of rip. One narrower usage keeps "rip" for an angled back screen a guard sets for a big near the block, and call the same shape set higher, usually by a big for a perimeter player, a shuffle screen.
Up screen or UCLA screen. The back screen at the high post or elbow for a guard cutting to the basket. The UCLA cut is its best-known use, covered on the UCLA offense.

The back screen is one of a family. A down screen faces the baseline and frees a cutter coming away from the rim. A flare screen is also set out of the defender's sight, but the cut goes out wide.

How to Set a Back Screen

Every off-ball screen has three jobs, the screener, the cutter and the passer, and each is a technique. The screener's part on a back screen:

Leave room. One version sets every screen an arm's length from the defender, another gives him one step of space. The rules on that distance are below.
Set up the screen. Start with a step the other way, and if the defense does not react, the screener can take a give-and-go cut himself.
Be legal and still. Jump stop with a wide base, arms tucked, eyes on the ball, both feet on the floor, no leaning and no extended limb. Screens are loud, low and legal, perpendicular to the defender's path.
Hold it. One rule is to hold every screen for a two count.
Then become a threat. A good screen often leaves the screener open, so after the cut he looks for the ball (the reads are below).

The cutter's part matters as much. The receiver, not the screener, is responsible for running his defender into the screen. Screening technique in full is on basketball screening technique and setting screens in basketball.

Using the Back Screen as the Cutter

The back screen beats a defender who is playing high or denying. Don Meyer beats pressure defense with back or down screens, and saves pin and flare screens for sagging or pack defenses. He also never sets a screen so low that a back cut becomes impossible.

Set your man up. Run him into the screen and change speed and direction as you use it.
Cut shoulder to shoulder off the screener.
Read before the ball arrives. The cutter's reads off any off-ball screen are a straight cut, a curl, a flare away from the ball or a back cut, chosen by what the defender does.

The passer has a clock. A late pass loses the advantage, and an extra dribble lets the defender recover.

Back screen basketball diagram of a post player screening behind a wing defender who is denying, with the wing cutting to the rim for a lob

Back screen against a deny. X3 denies 3 on the left wing. 4 steps up from the left block and sets the screen behind X3, where X3 cannot see it. 3 cuts to the rim and 1 lobs the ball to him.

Back Screen Basketball Actions

The UCLA cut

A guard passes to the wing and cuts off a back screen at the high post or elbow to the ball-side block. It is the base of the UCLA offense.

UCLA cut. 1 passes from the right slot to 2 on the right wing. 5 steps up from the right elbow and screens X1, and 1 cuts off 5's shoulder to the right block. 2 looks for him inside.

Back screen into a ball screen

Tom Izzo chains a UCLA back screen for the entry player into a ball screen by the same screener, who then rolls. Continuity rules use the same idea: after a back screen, follow the pass and set a ball screen.

Back screen basketball diagram of the screener turning to set a ball screen for the wing after the UCLA cut, with the cutter clearing to the corner

Back screen into a ball screen. After the UCLA cut, 1 clears from the right block to the right corner. 5 turns and screens X2, 2 dribbles toward the middle and 5 rolls to the rim.

Back screen, then a down screen (Ricky)

The screener sets a back screen and then comes off a down screen himself. FIBA's terminology calls the pair a Ricky. It is the plain form of screen the screener.

Spain action

A ball screen, then a back screen on the rolling big's defender. Ball screens are covered on pick and roll.

The shuffle cut

A back screen at the high post on the weak side for a cutter going to the basket. See shuffle offense.

Back screen lobs from out of bounds

With the ball close to the rim on a baseline or sideline inbound, a back screen for a lob is a common first look. In Jay Wright's late-game sideline play, 4 sprints to the elbow and back-screens 3 for the lob. See baseline out of bounds plays and sideline out of bounds plays.

Back screens also run inside chains of off-ball screens, such as a zipper, a pin-down, a back screen and a baseline exit in a row, reading each defender until there is a good shot. Pro sets that use them are broken down on the Clippers slice back screen and pin-down and the Providence transition back screen and diagonal screen.

The Screener's Reads

After a good screen, the screener is often the most open player on the floor. If his defender helps on the cut, the screener is free. Coaches teach several options:

Read	When
Pop out	A big who can shoot sets the back screen and steps out for the shot when his man helps on the cut
Re-screen or post	A big who cannot shoot re-screens, or the offense moves a smaller player into the post
Turn and re-screen	Bob Knight back-screens a shooter, then turns and screens for him again
Slip	The screener's defender jumps out early, so the screener slips to the open space
Seal	The defense switches, so the screener seals the smaller defender for inside position

One spacing rule applies to all of them: never send the back-screen cutter and the screener's slip to the same spot.

Back screen basketball diagram of the screener stepping out to the left slot for a pass after his defender helps on the cut

The screener pops. 3 cuts to the rim off 4's back screen and X4 helps on the cut. 4 steps out to the left slot and 1 passes to him.

The Blind Screen Rule by Level

A back screen is a blind screen, set outside the defender's field of vision, so the NCAA, NBA and FIBA books all ask the screener to give space.

Level	Screen behind a stationary defender	Screen on a moving defender
NCAA men	No contact from a screen outside the visual field that does not allow a normal step (Rule 4 Sec. 35 Art. 3). The officiating guidelines call a foul on a blind screen that does not allow a stationary defender a normal step	Ample time, usually one to two strides (Appendix III)
NCAA women	The same screening rule (Rule 10 Sec. 5). The visual field includes forward and peripheral vision	Enough time and distance to stop or change direction, set by the defender's speed
NBA	No closer than a normal step from a stationary opponent who is unaware of the screener (Rule 12B Sec. III)	One to two normal steps or strides, depending on speed
FIBA	The opponent must be able to take one normal step toward the screen (Art. 33.7)	Never less than one and never more than two normal steps
High school	Check your state association rulebook

Once a legal screen is set, the screened player is responsible for contact with the screener (FIBA Art. 33.7). Moving into the defender after setting up, or setting up too close, is an illegal screen. The full screening rules are on illegal screen basketball.

Back screen basketball diagram of a screener stopping a normal step behind a stationary wing defender who cannot see him

A legal blind screen. X3 stands still and cannot see 4 coming from behind, so 4 stops a normal step away from him. In the NCAA, NBA and FIBA books, screening closer than that and causing contact is a foul on the screener.

Defending the Back Screen

The screened defender cannot see the screen coming, so the defender guarding the screener carries the warning. Defenses answer it two main ways.

Automatic switch. The screener's defender calls the screen and jumps into the cutter's path to the basket. The screened defender steps over the screener into a denial position to take away the roll. The ball defender pressures the passer into dribbling. When a big starts high, invert (switch early) before the screen to keep the bigs inside.
Switch by screen type. Some teams switch back screens, flare screens and inside post screens but chase down screens.

Three things to avoid on a back screen. Chasing under it gives up a lob or a layup. Showing and recovering lets the screener fake the screen or slip it. Cheating over it early lets the cutter pop back out for a shot or back-cut. Off-ball position also helps. Ettore Messina's defenders play up the line, between their man and the ball, partly because from there they see the back screen earlier and recover on the ball side. More is on defending screens in basketball.

Back screen basketball diagram of the screener's defender switching onto the cutter while the wing defender steps over to deny the screener

Automatic switch. 4 comes up to back-screen X3. X4 calls it and jumps into 3's path to the rim, X3 steps over and takes 4, and X1 keeps pressure on 1.

Drills

Two-ball screen shooting. Jay Wright pairs a down screener and a cutter with two balls so both shoot every rep. Its backcut version teaches the cutter to look back for the screener, the same look a back-screen cutter needs.
Down screen and back pick shooting, then 2-on-0 and 2-on-2, in short 5 to 7 minute blocks.
Defensive progressions that end with down screens and back screens, with a defender guarding the rim against the lob.

More are on drills to teach off-ball screens.

Questions Coaches Ask

What is a back screen in basketball?

An off-ball screen set behind a defender, out of his sight, so the player he is guarding can cut to the basket. It is also called a back pick or a rip screen.

What is the difference between a back screen and a down screen?

A back screen frees a cutter going toward the rim, behind a defender who is playing high. A down screen faces the baseline and frees a cutter coming away from the rim to catch on the perimeter.

Is a back screen legal?

Yes. In the NCAA, NBA and FIBA books the screener must give a stationary defender room for a normal step, and a moving defender time to stop or change direction (one to two steps in the NBA and FIBA books, depending on speed). Contact inside that space is an illegal screen. For high school, check your state association.

What is a rip screen in basketball?

Another name for a back screen. One narrower usage keeps the word for an angled back screen a guard sets for a big near the block.

How do you defend a back screen?

The screener's defender has to warn his teammate, who cannot see the screen. Some teams switch it automatically: the screener's defender takes the cutter, and the screened defender takes the screener.

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