It’s impossible to repair a car engine without proper research. You shouldn’t think you can play basketball without learning about the game, either. This article has many great expert basketball tips in it.
While focusing on offense is fun, you must also make sure you focus on defense. Basketball games are often won by the defense. Offense may score points but defense keeps the other team from scoring points that your team will have to match.
You can easily focus on offense when learning to play basketball, however, you must really focus how playing defense. Defense can make or break a basketball game. Offense gets all the praise and attention, but without a good defense, any basketball team is destined to lose.
In order to be a great shooter, good balance is key. Everyone has watched a pro player drift out of bounds while still making their shot, but this isn’t something to emulate. Professional basketball players tend to improvise when need be. You need the right balance to shoot; it is the only way to eventually make consistent baskets.
Free throws are an excellent skill to practice in your spare time. This looks easy, but it is actually very hard to do. You should practice as often as possible with this technique. Start with the ball positioned right before your face. Look at the basket and imagine the ball going in it. Shoot the basketball exactly as you saw in your mind.
There is a lot of pressure when shooting free throws. You are able to train your hands and legs to free throw well, but if you think you will fail, you will. Relax yourself and focus on the hoop.
Your mind plays as big a part in making a free throw as your actual body does. With everyone watching, it can be easy to allow the pressure to interfere with your game. Relax yourself and focus on the hoop.
Keep your eye on the ball. It’s all about court awareness, and always facing the ball will make it so you are less surprised by passes. That means less turnovers. Also, you need to stay aware of areas which might open up and give you an easy basket.
If you want to be a jump shooter, avoid pumping iron excessively. Muscle flexibility is more important than muscle mass. Many guards in the pros have developed their arm muscles too big, which has really harmed their shooting percentage.
Keeping your fingers spread wide is important for holding onto the ball. This will help you keep a better grip on the ball. Your palm should not be touching the ball. Don’t let anything but your fingers touch the ball during passing or shooting.
Would you like to pull one over on the other team? Trick them using a back pass. Use the dominant hand whenever trying a behind the back pass. Then, bring the ball back behind you. Pass the ball from behind your back by flicking your wrist in the direction you want the ball to go. This should should thoroughly fool your opponent.
Being able to anticipate your opponent is a key skill. Review videotapes and monitor scouting reports. You should know if a player is right or left handed. Knowing an opponent’s dribbling, passing and shooting styles gives you a definite edge on defense. Knowledge is power, even in basketball.
Knowing your opponent is the best way to play a tough defensive game. Watch taped games, and keep current with scouting reports. For example, you should know which of the players are left-handed and which are right-handed. Knowing an opponent’s dribbling, passing and shooting styles gives you a definite edge on defense. The more knowledgeable a defender is, the stronger he is.
Sly feet will help you get the rebound of your team mates free throw. The defender may be coming toward you, so its important to slip away from him and get the ball. Then you gain the ball without the foul.
In order to become better at dribbling the ball you should learn how to practice using your weak hand. Using both hands to dribble makes you a more effective player, especially when you’re trying to get past your opponent. Exercise your non-dominant hand by securing your dominant hand at your side or behind your back. After a while, your weak hand will be able to dribble better.
When you have a chance, take a charge. By taking charge you can create a defensive stop so you can get the ball, and allows you to create setups so that the opponent will foul you. This is a great way to take control of the court and intimidate the other team.
A great way to stay in a correct defensive stance is to always stay in position no matter what. Shuffle your feet in a side to side motion, then use your opposite foot to push off and give you good leverage. Keep your body constantly facing toward your opponent in order to ensure the best possible defense.
To trap someone in a 2-3 zone, get your guards to wait for the point guard to get about 10 feet past midcourt. After he crosses the midcourt line, they should run and trap him. While this is going on your forwards can be sprinting to the players located on the wings. This will cause the point guard to throw a pass that will allow your forwards to steal.
AS you dribble the basketball down the court, keep your knees bent. If you don’t bend your knees, you are more susceptible to having the ball stolen by the other team. You will have better ball control with bent knees.
Use wrist curls to increase the strength in your weaker arm. By improving your weaker hand’s dexterity, your control over the hand will significantly improve. This will start to appear in the game of basketball, too.
Only stop dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass the ball. The instant you stop the dribble, your options become limited. You can’t do anything but pivot if you don’t shoot or pass. That will allow your opponents to double team you and potentially steal the ball.
Practice dribbling while switching the momentum of your body from side to side. You will dribble during different situations. You’ll have people guarding you on all sides. You must know how to dribble effectively by leaning your body in both directions. This can help you find your way out of trouble.
Practice dribbling as you sway your body from side to side. Games require you to be able to dribble under all types of conditions. You may see an open court but there are opponents ready to swarm you. Learning to dribble effectively will help you in many different situations. Good dribbling skills will make getting out of a bad situation a lot easier.
Make sure your off-court exercise is appropriate to help your on-court game. Sprints helps with individual plays, and long-distance running gives you stamina. Strength training helps, too. The resulting sense of confidence and power will help when you shoot.
Always anticipate where a missed basket might go so you can grab the resulting rebound. Place yourself in position after this shot is made. You can get more rebounds by anticipating the ball trajectory.
Make sure you practice shooting all over the court. You need to practice your grip and balance. Off-balance shooting is possible but much less accurate. Get a better grip on the ball by using the valve. Spread the fingers on your writing hand, and cover the valve with your palm.
If you are playing opposite a much larger player, just keep your body between the ball and them. That way, they will never be open to receive a pass, and they will not be able to make an easy shot over your head.
You will be more balanced when landing after catching a rebound if you will land with legs spaced wider than shoulder-width apart. Place your hands on both sides of the basketball while holding it close against your chest. Keep your elbows in so that you do not hit an opponent and get a foul.
It is important to know when to make the shot and when to pass the ball to another player. By ignoring other teammates who are open to hog the ball yourself, you could end up costing your team the game.
Understand when a pass is a better choice or when a shot is open. You don’t want to be the player that cost your team the game due to your selfishness.
Passing is an important part of basketball. Good passing skills will help you baffle your opponent. Being a team player will get your team to appreciate you. The time will come for you to share your individual abilities. That time will come; just be patient and allow others to shine as well.
Putting pressure on your opponent, moving them towards the sideline, is a great defensive tactic. If you allow a player to go down the court’s middle, they have a lot more choices in what to do. If you push your opponent toward the sidelines, their options will be limited.
When playing defense, focus on forcing your opponent onto the sidelines. Letting them come down the middle leaves them with a lot of options. The closer to the sideline they are, the less options they will have.
High level basketball players know that dribbling is as much mental as it is physical. You have to be able to do the math in your head about how to control the ball. Change your speed and shift your body to keep defenders on their toes.
Gain pride and confidence by learning how to play the game with skill. To help improve your knowledge you should keep studying and remember to practice what you’ve learned. Learning to play effectively will help you win games and impress your teammates.
Do some practice with your footwork. Always know the best ways to move depending on where you are on the court. Being quick on your feet is key to being in the right spot and position. Feet have to move fast while keeping you balanced.
About The Author
