Lost the handle

'lost the handle'- used often by basketball sportscasters when a player loses control of the ball while dribbling or passing.

SR

the metaphor of a handle is pervasive. How many times have you searched to find the handle to solve a problem? "I'm trying to get a handle on this issue"
In the western US, people have an additional handle -- their name. 'My handle is Truckee Bob'.