Twirl Set
Circle Entry Near the Volleyball Lines

Twirl begins with a guard-to-wing pass and a circle action. Player 5 fills the top of the key, about three feet above the three-point line. The guards cut into the paint, then return high off downscreens set by the wings.

The circle entry and spacing

1. Player 1 passes to 3 on the wing. The guards cut toward the paint.
2. Player 5 fills the high position at the top. Player 3 passes to 5.
3. Players 3 and 4 set downscreens for the guards returning to the guard spots beside 5.
4. If a defender overplays a guard returning high, that guard can backcut for a pass from 5.

Keep two landmarks separate. Player 5 catches above the arc. The wings set their downscreens no lower than the free-throw line extended. That screening rule does not place the post at the mid-post or describe a midcourt catch.

Twirl into Low

If neither guard has the backdoor pass, 5 can pass to a guard returning high. In the illustrated option, 5 passes to 1 and sprints to the block on the same side. Player 1 passes to 3 on the wing, then cuts through the strongside elbow to the corner.

The other guard fills the top and 4 stays on the opposite wing. A feed from the wing into the post begins Low and the chosen post-entry option. This is the Twirl-Low connection on printed page 25.

The wing dribble-up connects to Chin

If 3 has no passing option, 3 dribbles up to the guard spot. The other players fill the guard and wing positions and the offense phases into Chin. This is a specific response at the wing, not an automatic change to Chin after every circle cut.

Circle into Point

Printed page 26 shows another connection. After 1 passes to 2 at the top, 1 cuts through the elbow to the corner. Player 5 follows the tail of that cut into the elbow position, and 3 drops to the corner. Player 2 can now feed 5 and select an OUA route.

In this entry, 5 follows 1's cut directly. Do not send 5 to the opposite block first. The Point reads use the new passer and the spacing shown in this particular diagram.

The high-screen entry

The playbook also provides a high ball screen as a change of pace or a response to backcourt pressure. Player 5 screens in the middle and stays high rather than rolling. Player 2 sets up a backcut. Player 1 attacks if the lane is open or passes to 4 on the wing. A later pass to 5 restores the circle options.

Twirl Over and Twirl Reverse are separate quick hitters

In Twirl Over, 2 cuts over 5 toward a screen for 3. Player 3 rejects it and backcuts, then can fill the high post for a pass from 5. Players 5 and 4 prepare a double downscreen for 1. The next passer can read the backdoor and the shooter coming off that double screen.

Twirl Reverse uses a handoff to 2 and a second handoff to 3 while 5 and 4 prepare the double downscreen for 1. After 1 catches, 3 cuts to the rim and 2 replaces at the guard spot. A dribble up by 1 can return the group to Chin.

Teach these from their own diagrams on printed pages 27 and 28. They contain different passes and screens. Calling one an over cut and the other a simple reversal backdoor leaves out the actions that make each quick hitter work.

Build from the base circle

Establish the high catch, legal wing screens and returning guard reads first. Add one continuation and finish every player's movement. Use Low, Point and Chin as the named destinations once players recognize the triggering pass or dribble.

Source: Lee DeForest's Princeton Offense Blueprint, printed pages 25-28.