Dribbling In Circles? Use These Tips To Improve Your Basketball Skills!

Basketball isn’t a game you play in gym class or intramural competition. You could have fun playing at the park or right in your driveway. If you love basketball, then more information on the subject will help you improve your game play.

Free throw practice is vitally important. This kind of shot seems easy, but it really is not. Put this technique into practice as often as you can. Begin by bringing the ball up to eye level. Have your eyes on your goal and picture your ball going into it. You should then shoot and try following the trajectory you visualized.

TIP! Know your strengths and they’ll help you become a better player. Your skills may not turn you into the star player, but knowing how to make the most of your skills will make you a more valuable player.

Always dribble with your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball.You should never be looking at the basketball while you’re dribbling. Take the basketball to all the places that you are. Dribble the ball as you go about your day doing errands like walking to the shops. If you look your ball, you cannot see what is happening down the court in front of you.

Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a vital part of basketball.You must beat the open spot. Once you’re in the proper position, you also need to secure your spot. Both of those skills rely on some solid footwork.

Any good basketball player needs to know how to make a layup. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game. Don’t just walk through a layup drill. It is key to go at game tempo to practice the timing needed to maintain accuracy. This running and jumping technique will help you learn how to jump and shoot better during the game.

TIP! Don’t limit your practice to just playing against the zone defense. You can count on quite a bit of the game being played in zone; however, you should not be surprised if it becomes one-on-one coverage just for the sake of confusion.

The key to ball well is to spread your fingers. This will help you to be sure that it does not escape your grasp when trying to hold it. Don’t let your palms touch the ball either.

Understanding your opponent is a good way to win with defense. Review tapes and monitor scouting reports.When you know more about the opposing team, you will be better able to play an effective defensive game. A smart defender with an education will be good at his position.

If your kid is going to try out for the basketball team, they should be properly training their core muscles. Hips, abdomen and back must be worked on. The core links together all of the extremities and if it isn’t strong, they will be dealing with a limited athletic ability. A strong core helps you jump higher and run faster.

TIP! If you become injured when playing basketball, stop immediately. It’s a challenging sport that’s very physical, and you have the ability to get injured.

Ask a friend to record your games so that you playing and watch it. Are you able to see what you’ve missed or ways in which you could improve on? Be honest in your assessment but don’t be too harsh.

To become a reliable free throw shooter, use the same routine prior to every shot.This might mean that you dribble the ball twice, touch your forehead, touch your forehead, or any other movement. This consistency will get your body in tune to do the same thing every time, but make the routine a quick one.

To properly handle the ball, you have to spread your fingers out. This will keep the ball from getting away while you hold it. Try to keep your palm off of the ball as well. You should only let the fingers touch the ball during passing or shooting.

TIP! Quickness is a virtue in basketball. If you can play quicker than the opposing team can, then you will be at an advantage.

Passing between the legs is great when you have defense all over you.Practice this by bouncing the basketball between your legs as you take a step forward or back. Mastering this movement gives you a major advantage on the court.

Good footwork will help you to get those rebounds. The defender may be coming toward you, the better you chance of grabbing the rebound.This will get you a rebound without getting penalized for a foul.

Be aware of what your feet are doing and where they are. Stepping your toe in a baseline with a ball in your grip will mean that you’re out of bounds. Taking too many steps without dribbling means a walking call and another turnover situation. If you move either foot while trying to pick, take a charge or set a screen, it will result in a called foul.

TIP! In order to become a better free throw shooter you need to have a good practice routine. If you’re consistent, your shots will be too.

Try to get the basketball from one end of the court to the other in about five dribbles. This may not seem feasible, but once you master it, you will have remarkable stride length and speed. This drill can help you accomplish great layups on those fast break.

You need to take a charge when the opportunity presents itself.

When you have a chance, take a charge. This play gets your team possession of the ball and a foul against your opponent. This may lower the other team’s morale, and it gives you a chance to take the offensive when play resumes.

Keep your feet from crossing to make it hard for your opponent in order to ensure the best possible defense.

Then your defending guards should encircle the point guard and trap him. Your forwards should then go cover the player on both sides.The point guard will toss a pass that forwards can easily be stolen by your forwards.

Use whatever hand you aren’t dribbling with as a shield between the ball and your opponent. Don’t push your opponent because that is a foul; however, you may use your free arm to create a barrier that keeps your opponent away from the ball. Keep it slightly up when you dribble with your opposite hand.

TIP! Keep a rhythm while dribbling to throw your opponents off. Consistent dribbling followed by fast dribbling can confuse your opponent and put you in place for a shot.

To better three-point shooting, work on shooting from the NBA three-point line.The line and college lines are much closer.If you are able to make NBA-range three-point-shots, then you can start working from a range further than the defense expects.

You have to practice hard every day if you desire to step up your outside shooting skills by practicing with shots from different spots on the court. This will mimic game conditions and increase accuracy.

A missed shot from the corner of the basketball court will usually go to the opposite side. Attempt to catch the resulting rebound by watching the angle from which it was shot.

TIP! Avoid double dribbling. This occurs whenever you resume dribbling after a brief pause.

Do off court exercises that will assist you in becoming a better player. Running for long distances will increase your stamina, while long-distance running helps you make it through a game with good stamina. Lifting weights can help you need for shots and the hustle of the game. The confidence this gives you will help you become a better shooter.

Whether you’re playing competitions, H.O.R.S.E., or pick-up games, becoming better at basketball can help you enjoy it more. Now that you’ve read this information, take it to the next level by putting what you’ve learned into practice. The more knowledge you acquire, the better basketball you will play.

If you are aware that the person holding the ball has a weak hand, you should make them use it. If they’re usually strong with their right hand, step near them using the left foot so that they need to switch sides. Make your head parallel to their chest to be sure that you have your body low and get prepared to go for the ball.