Whether you are going to try out for the team or you are just going to ride the bleachers, there’s stuff you need to know about basketball. Know nothing about the game? Don’t give up! Basketball is easy to learn, and quite fun. Read on for some basketball tips that will have you calling all the shots and making the slam-dunks for your team.
Make sure to dribble properly. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm. This helps you to control the ball better. Dribble along the side of the body, not immediately in front of it, and keep the bounce to the waist level or below. Instead of focusing on the ground, gaze upward.
While focusing on offense is fun, you must also make sure you focus on defense. Basketball games are won more often by defense than offense. The offense gets lots of attention, but if the defense is lacking no basketball team will ever win a game.
Free throw practice is vitally important. The execution of a free throw is not as simple as it may appear. Use this technique to better your game. Hold the ball level to your face. Keep looking at the goal while visualizing the basketball going through the hoop. Then, use the trajectory you just visualized and shoot the ball.
Know how to dribble the ball in the correct way. Proper dribbling technique involves use of the fingertips, not the palm of the hand. You retain much more ball control this way. Keep the ball by your side as you dribble instead of right in front your body. Always look upwards, never at the ground.
Start out with proper balance before attempting to take a shot. Your knees should be bent with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders. This kind of improvisation is the result of years of practice and loads of ability. Keep your balance so you can consistently win points.
Learn to crossover if you get the ball often. Moving the ball from hand to hand is a crossover. Crossovers must be done quickly to keep defenders at bay. If done correctly, a good crossover helps you get past your opponent and to the rim.
Are you interested in being able to fool the other team? Consider the back pass. To start, grab the ball using your good hand. Next, pull the ball behind your back. Then, quickly snap your wrist toward the location where you want the ball to end up. It’s a great way to trick your opposing team.
It is important that you practice layups. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game. When you practice, run toward the net, and then get a high jump in so you can smoothly shoot. Knowing how to run and jump quickly and smoothly will assist you in knowing how to leap and shoot more effectively while playing.
Play solo basketball in the months leading up to the season, as well as during the season itself. You may not always be able to find someone to play with you. That is okay. You can still do a lot on your own. Practice pivoting and free throw shooting. There is no shortage of things you can do.
Tricking the other team is a good way to win a game. Try a pass back! To properly perform this pass you will need to have the ball in your dominant hand. Next, pull the ball behind your back. Flip your wrist towards the site where you want the ball to go. This will trick your opponents.
Building core muscle is key to playing great basketball. The core muscles are the hips, lower back muscles and the abdominal muscles. The core muscles link lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they won’t have strong athletic performances. Building a solid core helps maintain the leg strength that lies at the core of a strong game.
Play basketball against yourself even during the off-season. Even though basketball is usually played with teams, it is sometimes the case that there just isn’t anyone around to play with. This is perfectly acceptable. You’ll still be able to get a lot done when playing solo. Practice pivoting and free throw shooting. There is always something to practice.
If you become injured when playing basketball, stop immediately. Basketball is challenging physical sport and you can get injured. Continuing to play when you are in pain can make an injury worse. If the injury feels too bad then seek medical attention right away.
When injuries occur on the court, it is unwise to keep on playing. It is possible to receive an injury when playing basketball because it is a sport that is physically challenging. Being tough is one thing, but playing through injury can only harm you even further and make the problem much worse. Serious injuries may require medical attention.
Ask your teammates what they like about how you play. They will probably notice the things you do best. Perhaps you have good dribbling skills or maybe your footwork is enviable. Find out how your game appears to others and develop your skills accordingly.
Ask your fellow teammates if they have an opinion of your skills in the game. Are you skilled at something? It may be that you are quick on your feet or that you are always there to back them up. You can learn a lot about your skills by knowing how others see you on the court.
Have someone taper your games and then watch it to see how you look on the court. You’ll likely see ways that you can improve. Be honest in your assessment but not overly critical. Sometimes you have to face reality about your skills and just not dream about how you want to be.
You must know your opponent in order to be tough on defense. Follow the scouting reports and watch tapes of their games. One simple thing to know before the game is if your opponent shoots with their right or left hand. The more you understand what you are up against, the more likely you are to develop an effective strategy during games. A defender that is knowledgeable is an effective defender.
To rebound off your fellow player’s free throws, use sly feet. Defenders will start to move at you, so you need to get around them to grab the ball. This will allow you to score a rebound without getting penalized for a foul.
When you’re working out, concentrate on core strength building and your footwork. Your balance will improve if you strengthen your core. Give your hips, buttocks, back and stomach a workout. Just like with boxing, you can do a little speed and footwork training with a jump rope.
Dribble hard to avoid ball stealing. This makes the ball come back to you faster so the people on defense aren’t able to steal it as easily. If you are being guarded closely, halt your dribble and pass to an open teammate.
Basketball players must be fast. You need to be faster than the opposing team if you want the advantage. Fast play is a result of heavy drilling. Don’t attempt to play more quickly than your skills allow. You will not be able to control your moves if you play faster than you are able to.
Maintain a lower position as you play defense. Doing this allows you to have quick reactions, especially to your opponent. Keep yourself in proper defensive stance at all times. If you break form in an attempt to shot block, return to the proper form as soon as you can.
Always be sure of where you’re placing your feet so you’re aware of what they’re doing. If you slide onto the baseline, you will lose the ball for being out of bounds. Taking too many steps without dribbling means a walking call and another turnover situation. You may need to keep your feet planted to avoid getting called for charging.
Using your weak hand to brush your teeth can help you build skills with that hand. If you can train yourself to be ambidextrous, you will gain complete control of that hand. This will show in your next match.
Free Throw
Bend your knees when dribbling the basketball. When you are rigid, the ball is not only hard to control, it is also an easier target for a rival to steal. Your ball control will improve dramatically by simply bending a little at the knees.
Create a routine to improve your free throw success. When you stay consistent, you get better success. Free throw shooting is best improved by lengthy sessions of repetitive practice. If the routine is off in any way, then you’ll miss the shot.
To make your three-point shot better, practice it from the minimum NBA approved distance. The established International standard line is closer, as are the high school and college lines. By practicing at the NBA line, you will be used to getting a look a little further than what most defenses will cover.
You need to take charge when the opportunity presents itself. A charge leads to a turnover by the opposing team and gives you the ball back. That can be psychologically disturbing, and is a power play.
Keep dribbling until you want to shoot or pass. Once you stop dribbling, you are extremely limited in your options. If you don’t shoot or pass, you are going to be pivoting with your back foot. You leave the ball vulnerable to possible steal attempts and yourself open to being double teamed.
Be sure to keep your knees bent while you dribble. If you are standing straight, you will have a harder time controlling the ball and your opponent will be able to steal it more easily. To help out your ball control, try bending the knees.
You should make sure when practicing dribbling that you shift from one hand to the other. Expect to encounter many different situations in a game. You will have many opponents swarming you. You’ll need to learn how to dribble while your body is leaning in different directions. This will help you in bad situations.
Wasn’t that easy? With all that you’ve now read about basketball, you really can see that it’s an amazing sport. Use the information above to help you become a better ball player.
Keep calm while shooting the ball. The basket should be the your main focus. Try training your eyes to go back towards the rim when shooting. If you are not doing a lay-up, it is best to look at the area from which the ball should bank off.
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