Do you dream of being as skilled at basketball star? Don’t just aspire to be great; learn the things that will help you great. Keep reading here and you’ll figure out what can become reality in the near future.
You need to keep your balance if you’re shooting. Sometimes you’ll see professional players fall out of bounds while making a shot from afar, but this doesn’t work at all times. They are merely making up the play on the spot. Non-professionals should focus on having good balance to ensure good shots. As time passes, you will make more and more baskets with this method.
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. Bring your ball along when you go. Dribble the ball when you’re walking the dog. If you are looking at the ball, you can’t see the court.
Don’t bulk up if you wish to become a jump shooter. Muscle strength can be great for basketball players, but you can have too much. Some guards that play professionally have such big arms that their field goal percentage.
If you’re a jump shooter, don’t lift weights too often. Muscle strength is great for any position in basketball, you can have too much when it comes to perimeter play. You will notice that most basketball players have well-defined muscles that are not overdeveloped.
Always be sure of where your feet are and what they’re doing.
To become a better free throw shooter, make sure to keep a consistent pre-shot routine. This may mean you want to dribble three times, bend your knees, bend at the knees, or do anything else. As you adopt this routine, using a consistent routine can help your body retain the memory to make those shots after your “ritual.”
To keep passes under control, make use of hand signals. It’s frustrating to pass to your teammate at the very moment they’re heading toward the basket. Players should use hand signals often when available for a pass. Without a signal, players shouldn’t attempt to pass.
Try to get the basketball from one end of the court to the other in about five dribbles. This may be difficult in the beginning, but if you achieve it, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with. This will help you accomplish great layups on fast break opportunities.
Be certain that your vision is unobstructed. This isn’t just for reading the scoreboard and be able to make shots and catch passes. You want your peripheral vision is at its best.
Remember to spread your fingers when handling the ball. The ball will not get away if you always keep your fingers spread when handling the ball. Avoid putting your palm on the ball, too. When shooting or passing the ball, only your fingers should contact the ball.
Changing pace is key to keeping the offense on their toes. When you running towards the basket, straighten up while planting the front foot. The guard will think you’ve slowed down and may try to straighten themselves. When that happens, push yourself forward and take the chance to run by them.
To boost your ability with the weaker hand, use it for everything from opening jars to brushing your teeth. This will help you a force to be reckoned with on the court.
If you’re quick on the basketball court, you have a built in advantage. You need to be faster than the opposing team if you want the advantage. To increase your quickness, you must practice playing fast while running drills. Avoid playing faster than your abilities allow. Doing so can cause the game to spin out of control as turnovers and faulty passes are made.
Practice dribbling as you sway your body’s momentum from one side to the other. This will happen during all different kinds of situations. You will have many opponents ready to swarm you. You must dribble effectively by leaning your body lean in various directions. This allows you find your way out of jams.
This makes it difficult for the opponent to take the ball. You will need to bend somewhat for this to happen, but you will be able to traverse the court rapidly while keeping opponents at bay.
When you want consistently good free throws, repeat your routine. Whatever you do, from bending your knees to dribbling three times, do every time. If you make your routine consistent, your body will eventually know how to make the shot every time.
Use the hand you aren’t dribbling with to keep the ball as a block. You never want to push the opponent with your hand, but you can use that non-dribbling arm as a separator to keep the ball safe. Keep it up when you dribble.
Be sure your exercise off the court that will truly help you on the court. Running for long distances will increase your stamina, and long-distance running is better for improving your game stamina. Lifting weights can build the muscle you get more muscle. The resulting confidence helps you more reliable shooting.
Use small weights and resistance training to build the muscles in both forearms and hands. Wrist curls are great for working wrist muscles and improving your dribbling. Do not remain in one place. It’s not likely that you will be able to successfully catch and shoot without moving. You have to be ready to move fast and change directions on a dime.
If you are a basketball player you should be serious about your diet. When playing regularly, you are going to need lots of carbs for serious energy, along with protein and fats. You should eat more lean sources of protein, nuts and whole grain bread. Try to avoid overuse of salt or sugar.
Now that you have read the information here, you can now jump in. Practice consistently to build confidence. Keep these tips in mind and show everyone your skills!
Practice drills where you strive to make it across the full court within 5 dribbles. While this is a challenging goal, working toward it will make you a much better player. You will find that it becomes easier to score and make layups.