Basketball season tends to be an exciting time of year for fans.Keeping fans happy is all about playing well enough to keep them something that they can cheer about. These tips help you become a better basketball player.
Know how to dribble the ball in the correct way. Finger tips, not palms, are the key to successful dribbling. When you do this you will have more control over the ball. Dribble the ball around the height of your waist, and over to one side. Do not look at the ground; look up at all times.
Learn how to maneuver a crossover if you have the ball often. This move entails transferring the ball back and forth from the right hand to the left hand.The action must be very swift if it is going to work. When executed properly, crossover dribbling is a great way to quickly switch direction or move around the court in an efficient manner.
Focus on your strengths to get better ball player. Your strengths might not make you a star player, but learning to play your best angle will help you contribute more to the team. Know the things you’re great at and keep practicing until you have perfected them.
Practice shooting free throws. These shots look easy on television, but are actually hard when you are doing the shooting. Make sure that you’re applying the following technique when practicing. Start by holding your basketball right in the front of your own face. Picture yourself going through the shot in your mind, with the ball sinking through the net. Bend your knees to control the arc of the ball.
Learn the way to throw a proper bounce passes. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player near their waist.A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the recipient. There are other factors you have to think about too, though.
Make sure to practice includes catching of passes. You can do the rest of your team a favor by practicing how you (and they) are more versatile.
Free throws are as much mental as they are physical. Of course, you can show your body how to make free throws. However, if you’re not in the right state of mind, you won’t succeed. Stay focused and vigilant to improve your ability to make free throws.
You can improve your passing skills if you forgo dribbling during practice. It is quite challenging to play the game without dribbling, but it will help your team make great passes.
Play basketball against yourself in and out of season. Even though basketball is usually played with teams, practicing alone can be helpful. You can still accomplish a lot on your own. Work on your free throws or practice pivot moves. There is no shortage of things that can do.
You want to be prepared for any type of defense the other team plays. Learn how to play a man-to-man defense and a zone defense to get the best understanding of how the game works. If you haven’t prepared yourself for that, you might lose your game very quickly.
This includes their abs, the lower back, and hips. A well developed core lets a center of force that can be tapped through the legs while running and jumping during games.
The key to ball control is to spread your fingers. That makes sure that it doesn’t get away from you as you hold it. Don’t let your palm touching the ball either.
Don’t bulk up if you want to be good as a jump shooter. Muscle strength is great for any position in basketball, you can have too much when it comes to perimeter play. Some professional shooting guards made their arms so big that it started decreasing their field goal percentage.
To get better at shooting free throws, use the same routine prior to every shot. This could mean two dribbles before taking your free throw, how you position your feet, or some other thing you do to get into a rhythm before shooting. This consistency will get your body in tune to do the same thing every time, but make the routine a quick one.
Practice passing while not looking in the other way when passing. This can go a long way to fake out your opponents. If you do it right, then the receiver of the pass should have an advantage and a great look at the goal. It’s a great play when done right.
It is best to take a break if you sustain an injury while playing. Basketball is physically demanding, and it is easy to get hurt. Trying to tough it out and keep playing, even if you are experiencing discomfort, can exacerbate an injury even more. Don’t hesitate to see the doctor if you feel the injury warrants it.
Dribble hard if you don’t want the ball being stolen. If an opposing player is guarding you to the point where you can’t dribble well, you should cease dribbling and pass the ball to an open member of your team.
Try some drills that require you to move the basketball from one side of the court to the other in about five dribbles. This can seem impossible, but if you achieve it, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with. This drill can help you accomplish great layups on those fast breaks.
Watch your shoulders if you obtain a shooting slump. If your shoulders aren’t correct, you may not be able to make the shots. Your shoulders should always be squared towards the hoop. Also, allow your dominant shoulder to line up with the rim.
Always attempt to remain low when playing defense. This will aid you be quicker on the jump or react quickly. Remain in a good defensive pose always. When you must break from your stance in order to block shots, get back into form as quickly as possible.
You will have better ball control by bending your knees just a bit.
Using a weaker hand helps improve overall dribbling skills. By being able to easily dribble with two hands rather than one, you have a huge advantage over your defenders. You can actually force yourself to utilize your weak hand by tying your other hand behind you. Your weak hand won’t be that for long!
You can practice these ideas to make the most of your basketball game. Better players create better teams, which means lots of happier and larger cheering sections and fan clubs. Everyone at the game has to play their role. Players have to work hard to better their game. Just keep these concepts close at hand, and you can be transformed into a truly valuable player.