Practice is of the best way to build your skills. You should use your practice time wisely, though. Keep reading for some great basketball pointers that will have you hoop ready in no time.
A lot of novice players mostly focus on their offensive skills, but developing good defensive skills will help you become a better player. Basketball games are won because of good defense. Offense gets more attention, but the team is going to lose without a strong defense.
Make sure to practice catching of passes. You can do the rest of your team mates will be happier if you (and they) are more versatile.
A great way to practice sound passing is to drill without dribbling. It is tough to play when not dribbling, but it will ensure the accuracy of your team’s passes.
You need to learn the correct way to dribble the ball. Avoid using your palm while dribbling. Instead, use your fingertips. You retain much more ball control this way. Dribble off to the side waist high. Always look up and never look down at the ground.
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. After grabbing the position, make sure that you are secure. Both skills rely on solid footwork.
The key for controlling the ball well is to spread your fingers out. This gives you better grip on the ball. Don’t let your palm touching the ball either.
Crossovers are key for ball handlers. A crossover happens when you switch hands the ball is in. This action most be quick to work out. Once you’ve learned how to use it, the crossover dribble makes it easy to navigate the court in a more effective way.
Understanding the opponent is key in beating a good way to shut him down on defense. Review videotapes and keep up with scouting reports. Once you understand the opposition, you can do a lot better when you’re on defense. A knowledgeable defender that has knowledge will be a strong one.
Pay close attention to your shoulders if you’re starting to slump when you shoot. If they’re in a poor position, no matter how good you are, you won’t make the shot. Keep your shoulders squared with the basket. Your shooting arm’s shoulder should also needs to be exactly lined up with the rim.
Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. Good bounce passes need to hit the other player waist length when they receive it. It’s smart to get the ball to bounce about 75% to the receiving player. It does depend on a variety of other factors, however.
Speed is a key attribute in basketball. Try to play faster than the opponents for a better advantage. You have to do a lot of drilling to play faster. Don’t play more quickly than your skills allow. Playing beyond your speed cause the game to get out of control with various turnovers and excessive turnovers.
Always be sure of where your feet so you’re aware of what they are doing.
Connecting on your free throws is as much mental as it is physical. Your body can be trained to make free throws, but your mind has to be focused on success if you want to make the basket. Relax yourself and concentrate on your shot.
Ask a video of you can see how yourself in action. You can see where you can improve and notice things you missed in the game. Be honest with yourself but not overly critical.
You must disrupt your opponent’s head. Force opposing players into an uncomfortable zone.Be aggressive as you execute.Do not let them choose the shots.
If you’re posting up, good footwork is the key to getting open and getting a good shot. Securing a good location is critical when playing basketball. Having found a good spot, you must secure it. These will both require powerful footwork.
Try some drills that require you to move the basketball from one end of the court to the other in about five dribbles.This may not seem feasible, but if you achieve it, you’ll have great speed and stride length. This drill can help you to have success with lay-ups during a fast breaks.
You need to take charge anytime you can.
You must know your opponent in order to be tough on defense. Watch taped games, and keep current with scouting reports. Pay attention to dominant hands. If you know their game, you can defend against it. One of the most important keys to being a solid defender is an understanding of your opponent.
Keep your feet from crossing to make it hard for your opponent in order to ensure the best possible defense.
Always stay low when you are playing defensively. This will help you as you jump quicker and let you react to the man in front of you easier. Remain in a good defensive pose always. When you need to block, make sure to return to form right away.
Build a consistent routine for your free throws. If you don’t have one, your accuracy may suffer. A great way to get better at free throws is to practice, practice and then practice the same routine some more. You are likely to miss your shot if you’re not settled into your routine.
Then your defending guards should run to the point guard to trap him in place. Your forwards can sprint to block the wing players. The point guard will make a pass that forwards can easily steal.
You should be have ways to alter the path of your opponent is planning on taking. Whether you are playing offense or defense, controlling the movements of your opponents is vital. This allows you to get to the spot that you need to go and does not let them determine your opponents control you.
To improve your dribbling skills, practice dribbling with your weaker hand. Dribbling with both hands helps you gain the upper one. Tie your strong hand to the rear of your back to ensure you only use your weaker hand. In no time, the weak hand will also be useful for dribbling.
If you are assigned to defend someone bigger than you are, try staying between the person with the ball and them. This will make them not available for a pass and stop them from shooting the ball and shoot over you.
No matter how frequently you play, these tips improve your game. Try one tip at a time and you are sure to see improvement in your game. Improve your shooting, passing, and overall game control.
You can prevent other players from stealing the ball from you by dribbling hard. The ball returns more quickly to your hand when you do this, giving the opponents fewer opportunities to steal it from you. If you have an opponent who is guarding you relentlessly, it is time to pass the ball.