Basketball is a game that can be enjoyed by everyone. People of all ages can enjoy playing this exciting game. Get your friends together so you can show them with your new moves. What new skills do you want to learn? Read on to find some great tips that will help you can do to improve your game.
When dribbling, make sure that you look forward and keep your head up. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet. Carry your basketball everywhere. Practice in your home and wherever you walk. Always look ahead when you are dribbling the ball.
Learn the mechanics of a free throws. Practice a lot with the following technique. Begin by holding the ball up to eye level. Keep looking at the goal and visualize the ball going into the hoop. Then shoot the ball in the trajectory that you imagined.
Zone Defense
A good way to get your basketball game up to speed is to start trying to see how the pros are playing. Watch pro games on TV, or attend games in person. You’ll see that every great player has specific skills that cause them to be great and you have the opportunity to practice what you’re watching them do.
Do not practice by playing against zone defense. While you might see a zone defense mostly, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you. If you haven’t trained yourself to counter this, you could run afoul of the scoreboard very fast.
Hand signals will help you from turning the ball over. Hand signals can tell you communicate with your teammate on the court.
There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. Back passes can give your team the opportunity to score while the other team is still wondering what happened. To start, grab the ball using your good hand. Then, put the ball around your back. Finally your wrist should be flicked towards where you want the ball to go. This should trick the opposing team.
Never turn away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for anything in a basketball game. This will make you aware of the court and you aren’t surprised. Keep your eyes open for easy shots.
Understanding the opponent is a good way to shut him down on defense. Watch tapes of their games and be sure you’re paying attention to scouting reports. When you know some of the other player’s moves, you will play a better defense. A defender is someone who is good at what they do.
Your defensive game will be more successful if you know your opponents. Watch taped games, and keep current with scouting reports. Know the dominant hand of every player. Once you have a solid idea of your opponent, you can dial in on the best way to defend. Knowledge is power, even in basketball.
Pay close attention closely to the shoulders if you’re starting to slump when you shoot. When your shoulders are positioned improperly, your shot is unlikely to succeed. Be sure shoulders squared up to the hoop. The shoulder that is dominant should be perfectly aligned with the rim perfectly.
Always know where you’re placing your feet so you’re aware of what they’re doing.
Always be aware of where you have your feet and what you are going to do with them next. You will be called out of bounds if even one toe is touching the baseline as you hold the ball. In addition, if you move your feet and you don’t dribble, you will be called for walking. Moving either of your feet when setting a pick, screen, or even take a charge will result in a foul.
When doing a layup, push off from your weaker foot and lead with your shooting hand. This will keep your body and allows you to use yourself as a barrier between the defender and yourself.
Practice dribbling with your weak hand when it comes to dribbling. Tie your dominant hand to the rear of your back to ensure you only use your weaker hand. You will quickly strengthen your non-dominant hand soon enough.
Try practicing looking in the opposite direction when you pass. This is a great way to fake out your opponents. You give your teammate a better chance to make the shot because the opposing player is moving the wrong direction when you pass the ball. It’s a powerful play when done right.
Changing pace is key to keeping the offense on their toes. As you are heading towards the net, plant your front foot and begin to straighten up. The guard will think you are slowing down and will do the same. When they do this, push ahead hard and outrun them.
To boost your ability with the weaker hand, use it for everything from opening jars to brushing your teeth. This will begin to spill over into your next match.
You need to take charge when the opportunity presents itself. This strategy can result in your opponent taking a foul and your team getting a defensive stop and taking possession of the ball. This can hurt the other team’s players psychologically and can also be powerful when you’re creating plays.
Use the hand you aren’t dribbling with to keep the ball. You never want to push the opponent with your hand, but try using your non-dribbling arm like a separator for keeping the ball safe. Keep it slightly up a little bit while you dribble with your other hand.
Now you can show your stuff off on the court. With the advice from this article on your side, your game is sure to improve. Don’t forget, the game should always be fun or it’s not worth playing. Winning or losing, you’ll have a great time.
In order to better your shooting skills, you must practice shooting hundreds of times each day from various position on the court. Try dribbling a little and pull up for your shot. Make eye contact with the target as you are off the ground, but not a moment sooner. This can help to improve your accuracy by simulating actual game conditions.