The sport of basketball can be a world within itself. You learned how to dribble the ball and make a shot. You might feel like you’ve mastered the game right about now. The tips you’ll find below will teach you there is still a lot to learn.
Perfect your bounce pass. Bouncing the pass to the receiver should be at their waist. Letting the ball bounce close to the other person will help the accuracy of your pass. There can be other factors in play to keep in mind, as well.
Learn the mechanics of a free throw shot. Practice a lot with the following technique. Begin by bringing the ball directly in front of your face. Keep looking at the goal and visualize the basketball going into the goal. Then shoot the ball in the trajectory that you visualized.
Make sure to practice your layups frequently. Layups sometimes wind up to 80 percent of the shots taken during a game. When practicing this technique, then jump and shoot smoothly. This will teach you in perfecting your jumps and then shoot.
If you want to be a master of the jump shot, do not make weight lifting a priority. Though muscle strength is great to have with any sport, it is very possible to be too buff for serious game play. You might see a decrease in your goal percentages if your biceps become too large.
Free Throws
Free throws are as much mental as physical. Stay calm and just focus on the goal and you will increase your free throws.
You can play a great defensive game if you know the opposition well. Watch tapes and be sure you’re paying attention to scouting reports. Keep track of which players are right hand dominant and which are left hand dominant. Knowing your opponent well helps you be much more effective. Knowledge can make you a strong defender.
Want to trick the other team not know what’s going on? Try doing a back pass. Hold the basketball with your dominant hand. This will confuse the opposing team.
Play basketball against yourself even during the season and before it. Even though you play on a team, it is sometimes the case that there just isn’t anyone around to play with. You can accomplish a lot accomplished with solo games. Work on your free throws or practice pivot moves. There are always things you can do.
Do your free throw shooting the same way every time. For example, you might tug your ear, dribble three times, or flex your wrists. Following the same routine gives your body will maintain muscle memory for more consistent free throw shooting.
Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a vital part of basketball.You must be certain to get the opposing playing to an open spot. Once there, it is important that your feet are firmly planted there. These will both require solid footwork.
Never turn away from the ball so that you’re ready for anything in a basketball game. This will help you stay on top of the court and lowers chances for surprises from turnovers and quick passes. Keep an eye open for areas that are open.
Workout to increase flexibility and strength in your hands and forearms. Wrist curls are great for bettering your ball handling in basketball to the point where you could practically do it sleepwalking. Basketball requires its players to move quickly, shoot accurately and pass well. You must move the ball to have things happen.
To become a reliable free throw shooter, practice and develop a routine you will use during each shot. This might mean that you dribble the ball twice, bend your knees, bend at the knees, or any other movement. As you adopt this routine, you won’t have any trouble having your body memorize what you’re doing.
Passing between the legs is something that helps when you are being closely guarded. Practice this by bouncing the ball between your legs. Mastering this move can give you a significant advantage.
To trap the opposing players in a 2-3 zone, have the defending guards hold back till the opposing point guard has moved beyond the midcourt line by about ten feet. They can then run toward the point guard to trap him. Simultaneously, make sure you own forwards are free to sprint to the opposing players who are out on the wings. A pass should be thrown by the point guard for forwards to steal.
You need to put a damper in your opponent’s head. Force opposing players into an uncomfortable zone.Be aggressive in the moves you execute your moves. Do not let them call the plays to make.
Good footwork can really help you get those rebounds. The more quickly you get under the basket, so its important to slip away from him and get the ball. This allows you to secure the rebound without getting penalized for a foul.
If a shooter is located at a corner, their missed attempt is likely to waft to the opposite side. This knowledge will help you get more rebounds.
Changing up your pace can help you keep the offense guessing. When you approach the goal, plant your leading foot and start to straighten up. The guard will think you are reducing speed and will do the same. When they do this, try pushing forward hard and running right past them.
Use the non-dribbling hand that doesn’t have the ball as a block. You don’t need to push any opponents since that’s a foul, but you can use that non-dribbling arm as a separator to keep the ball safe. Keep this hand up when you dribble with your other hand.
If you notice that a player is weaker with one hand, put them in a situation where they will have to use that hand. If they happen to be right-hand dominant, step at them using your left foot to make them change hands. Be prepared to grab the ball by keeping your body low and your head parallel to their torso.
Keep your dribbling in a rhythm until the time you want to confuse your opponent off guard. Changing your pace can take the other player by surprise and give you an advantage.
Make a strong team environments off and on the basketball court. Basketball is a great game that can be elevated when the whole team blends cohesively. If you get to know and trust your teammates, your game will be seriously enhanced.
Understand your own personal weaknesses. Don’t lie to yourself. If you are repeatedly missing foul shots then focus your practice time on those, as opposed to the three pointer shots. The same goes for your inside game, as practicing jump shots will not help you improve your game at the boards. In order to improve your overall play, work on whatever weaknesses you have.
With all the advice you have now, there is no limit to where you can go. Set reasonable goals and practice regularly to become the best player possible. Combining your strategy with these tips can really have you improving very quickly!