Do you daydream of being the next Michael Jordan when you’re out on the basketball court? Do you want to play better? Keep reading here and you’ll figure out what can be done to accomplish this.
Look forward when dribbling. If you have to keep your eye on the ball when you’re dribbling, practice can remedy that. Carry your basketball everywhere. Whenever you are walking and it is appropriate, dribble there. Maintaining unbroken visual contact with the ball makes it difficult to be aware of your surroundings.
Figure out how to perfect your free throw. The execution of a free throw is not as simple as it may appear. Try using this technique in practicing. Start with the ball positioned right before your face. Keep looking at the goal while visualizing the basketball going through the hoop. Next, shoot with just the trajectory you saw.
It is important to keep your balance when you shoot. While some NBA players are able to launch a ball to the net mid-fall, this is not appropriate for most people. They are not doing it right. If you have correct balance when you are making a shot, you will make more consistent baskets over time.
Practice Dribbling
You should learn the best way to throw a great bounce pass. A good bounce pass should hit the player on the receiving end at waist level. Bounce the ball so that it lands near your teammate. But, a series of other considerations can require you to make adjustments.
Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. If you start staring at the ball while you dribble, you know you need to practice more. You can practice dribbling almost anywhere. You can practice dribbling when you have to walk to the store. You will not be able to see what’s happening before you on the court while beholding the ball.
Successful free throwing requires as much mental skill as it does physical skill. Training your body is important, but you also have to be mentally ready for the shot. Stay calm and collected to increase your free throw percentage.
A bounce pass is an important technique to learn. Good bounce passes need to hit the other player waist length when they receive it. If it helps to measure it out, consider aiming for a mark on the floor about three-fourths of the way between you and your teammate. There are many factors which come into play, though.
If you want to be a master of the jump shot, do not make weight lifting a priority. Muscle strength is beneficial for playing any basketball position, but there is such a thing as too much. Some shooting guards that play professionally have such big arms that their field goal rate went down.
Do not wait for any special season to play some basketball. You may not always be able to find someone to play with you. No problem. Solo games also help. Work on free throws or three pointers. You can always find things to work on.
Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a shot when you are posting up. While physical positioning is important, it is even more essential to move quicker than an opponent. Once you’re in the proper position, you’ll have to then secure your spot. Practicing your footwork is important to master these skills.
Try using hand signals to prevent passes in error. One thing that can frustrate you when playing basketball is to try and pass while a player is trying to run to the basket. Hand signals help ensure that the player is ready to take the ball. If the signal is absent, do not pass to that player.
Never play through an injury when playing basketball. This is an aggressive sport, and injuries happen often. You can quickly turn a strain into a debilitating medical issue if you do not take a break from the action. See a physician if you think your injury is serious.
Playing Basketball
Videotape your games to see what you do right and wrong. Looking at tapes can help you identify strengths and weaknesses. Assess yourself honestly, but don’t be a harsh critic. It is prudent that you look at yourself as others do and not as how you would like to be.
If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. It’s easy to be hurt when playing basketball. Trying to continue playing even if you’ve got discomfort can make the injury worse. If the injury feels too bad then seek medical attention right away.
You must disrupt your opponent’s game when you’re playing defense. Don’t let them get comfortable. When making a move, be aggressive. Never allow them to decide what plays will be made. If you allow this, they will run over you. Try to interrupt their game plan by taking charge and controlling the tempo.
Ask fellow team members what they like about your skills on the court. Do you do something particularly well? Perhaps you are great backup or fast on your feet. It’s great to get an idea of how your teammates think of your skills, this way you know what areas of the game to focus on.
An excellent way to have proper defensive posture is to remain in the correct stance. To do this, avoid lurching or stepping across the floor; instead use smaller, shuffling steps to move with your opponent. Remember not to let yourself get crossed up with your feet, which will throw off your balance, making it easier to get around you.
Practice passing while looking another way. This is a great way to fake out your opponents. If you can pull it off, it’s effective to draw your opponents away from the shooter. That way the shooter gets a great look before shooting. This can be a great play if it is done correctly.
If you want to build the dexterity of your weaker hand, start using it for everyday tasks like shining your shoes or opening doors. You will have more control as you use it to do daily activities that require dexterity. This also can significantly help your basketball game.
Perform exercises to strengthen the muscles in your forearms and hands in order to maximize your ability to handle the ball. Wrist curls are great for bettering your ball handling in basketball to the point where you could practically do it sleepwalking. Don’t think you can just go somewhere on the court, catch a ball and then make a successful shot. Strength and flexibility in your hands will allow you to move the ball more gracefully and swiftly.
To improve three-point shooting, do it from NBA distance at the very least. All the other lines are closer. If you’re able to get the shot from where the NBA shoots, then you can start working from a range further than the defense expects.
You want to strive in practice to bring the ball all the way up the court in no more than five dribbles. You will need to learn how to push the basketball in front of you while making long strides. It can mean easier lay-ups when dealing with fast breaks and it can help your teammates for just a moment.
If someone is shooting from a corner of the court, a missed shot will likely bounce right over the net and to the other side of the court. Pay attention to this as you prepare for a rebound.
In order to confuse the offense, try changing your pace. When you’re going towards the net you should plant the foot in front and start straightening up. The guard may think you’ve slowed down and may try to straighten themselves. When they do, push ahead hard and outrun them.
Double dribbling is a huge no-no. This occurs when you have stopped dribbling, held the ball for a few seconds, and then start dribbling again. You only have two options once you stop dribbling, to shoot or pass. You cannot return to dribbling again. If you do, you are committing a turnover, and the other team will get the ball.
To turn a normal 2-3 zone into a trapping machine, have your top two defenders (your guards) wait until the point guard has come about ten feet past the time line (midcourt). Then, they ought to trap the point guard. Your forwards can sprint to block the player on both sides. By doing this, you increase the chances for your big men to steal the pass from the point guard.
You should try to remain calm while you are shooting. Maintain focus on the basket. The rim’s back should be a focus when shooting. When shooting layups, be sure you are using the backboard.
Switch your body’s weight from side to side while practicing your dribbling. When you’re playing a game, you have to dribble when you’re in a lot of different situations. You’ll have people guarding you on all sides. Practice dribbling while leaning in many different directions. Not being able to do this leaves you open for the ball to be stolen.
If you’re trying to guard a person that’s bigger than you are, try keeping between that person and the one in possession of the ball. In this position you prevent them from receiving a pass and shooting it over your head.
Your workout routine can help you do well in the game. Sprints helps with individual plays, and long-distance running gives you stamina. Lifting weights can help you get more muscle. The resulting sense of confidence and power will help when you shoot.
Always focus on where the ball is going after it leaves your teammates hands or the opposing players hands. Rebounds represent a crucial component of any basketball game. No matter how hard you work to perfect your defensive technique, if you can’t retrieve the ball then you can’t score.
After having read this article, you now have a few things that you can go practice. You must practice every day and be confident that you can win. Learn from the advice in this article to become the best player you can be.
Passing must be a crucial element in your game. Passing keeps your opponent guessing and on their toes. Plus, this allows other to see that you enjoy teamwork, which helps your teammates to appreciate you more. You have to wait for the right time to showcase your talents. Don’t worry, that moment will come.
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