A Basketball Guide For Players And Fans

Basketball is one of the most popular sport in the world. Whether you enjoy watching games, playing for a team or simply playing in the yard, basketball is definitely here to stay. The following tips that will show you take your basketball to a whole new level.

Dribble the ball correctly. When you dribble, use the fingertips, not the palm. This will give you better control of the basketball. Dribble off to the side waist high. Always look up and never look down at the ground.

TIP! Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. If you have to keep your eye on the ball when you’re dribbling, practice can remedy that.

Make sure that you practice your layups whenever possible.Layups sometimes wind up being 4 out of every 5 shots taken during a game. When practicing this technique, then jump and shoot smoothly. This method will teach you in perfecting your ability to jump and shots throughout the game.

Learn how a proper bounce pass is thrown. A bounce pass will hit the receiving player at waist level. A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance to the recipient.There can be other factors in play to keep in mind, though.

When using the ball a lot, you must relearn a crossover. Crossovers involve moving the ball from hand to hand. This action most be quick to work out. When done correctly, the crossover dribble help you to change direction in order to move down the court efficiently.

Free throws are as mental element to them. Stay calm and just focus on the goal and you will increase your ability to make free throw percentage.

A good tip about passing is to drill without dribbling the ball. It is a challenge not to dribble while playing, but it will help you to be sure that everyone is passing accurately.

Watching the pros can help you pick up on certain skills for improving your game. Watch professionals play or go check out talented local teams to see who has the moves that you want to learn. Every player has skills that make them good, and you can work on the skills they use.

TIP! Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. Usually, a big part of the game is probably going to be in zone; however, the opposing team can suddenly switch to man-to-man to catch you off guard.

Would you like to fool the other team? Back passes can give your team the opportunity to score while the other players. Use the dominant hand whenever trying a behind the basketball when trying this pass. This is a very useful trick the opposing team.

This is the hip area, lower back, and the abs. A well developed core lets a center of force that can be tapped through the legs to be applied to faster running and jumping higher.

To learn how to pass well, drill without dribbling. It’s tough to play basketball minus the dribbling, and it causes you to pass accurately. Don’t get upset if it seems hard, this will improve your team’s passes over time.

TIP! Lay off the weights if you are trying to become a jump shooter. Muscle flexibility is more important than muscle mass.

Good footwork remains a shot when you are posting up. You must beat the good spot ahead of your opponent. Once you’re in position, it is important that your feet are firmly planted there. These skills require powerful footwork.

Understanding your opponent is a tough defense. Watch tapes of their games and stay up on scouting reports. When you know your opponent, you will play a better defense. A defender that is knowledgeable is an education will be good at what they do.

Seek advice from your teammates about how you play the game. Are you really good at any one thing? It may be that you are quick on your feet or that you are always there to back them up. Find out what others think your natural abilities are, and be certain to keep developing those skills.

TIP! If you are being heavily guarded, a pass between your legs might help. Step forward and back while dribbling the ball between your legs hard.

Build your core strength and focus on your footwork. Your body will be more stable and easier to move when you strengthen your core. Focus on the back, abdomen, and hip muscle groups. Jump rope can be used to speed up your footwork speed.

Speed is everything in the game of basketball. Try to play faster than your opponents by being fast to win the game. You have to do a lot of drilling to play faster. Don’t attempt to play more quickly than your chances. Playing beyond your speed can result in bad passes and errant passes.

To get more out of layups, take off using the foot that;s the opposite of your shooting hand. Thus, if you tend to shoot with the right hand, make sure to jump off with the left. This balances your body when moving towards your basket. It keeps your body in between you and the defender.

TIP! One good way to play good defense is to stay in the defensive stance at all times. Slide sideways and use your back foot to push off in order to maintain the defensive stance in stride.

There are lots of ways to become a better basketball player. Many of them are as simple as learning a technique and then practicing repeatedly. Practice skills, run drills and play whenever you get the chance. Whether you are practicing to play competitively or just for fun, the information in this article will improve your game.