The first time playing basketball was probably very exciting. You learned how to dribble the ball around from player to basket. You might feel like you’ve mastered the game right about now. The advice contained in this article will show you that you still have a ways to go.
It is easy to be focused on offense when you are learning how to play basketball, but you really should focus your practice on defense. Many times, defense actually wins the game. Offense is flashier, so it draws the attention of fans and journalists, but a team that can’t defend well won’t win any games.
Always keep your head up and looking forward. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while dribbling.Take the basketball around off-court wherever you go. Dribble as you walk to the street. If you look your ball, there is no way you can know what else is happening on the court.
Crossover Dribble
Practice shooting free throws. That’s a shot that appears simple but is actually difficult in reality. Practice a lot with the following method. Place the ball right in line with your face. Keep looking at the goal while visualizing the basketball going through the hoop. Then shoot the ball with the trajectory that you visualized.
Learn to crossover if you have the ball fairly often.This technique passes the hand to your right hand and back again. The action must be done quickly if it is to be successful. Once you master the art of the crossover dribble, the crossover dribble makes it easy to navigate the court in a more effective way.
You need to keep your balance when you shoot. While the all-time greats have shown time and time again how they can shoot while off-kilter, this is not appropriate for most people. You should have proper balance when making your shots, which is sure to produce greater consistency.
Focus on your strong point to help you become a better ball player. Your talents might not make you a star, but when you make the most of your strengths, you might better contribute to your team. Figure out what you do well at and then you can practice that until you perfect it.
Learn how to throw a bounce pass. A useful bounce pass will hit the other player near their waist. A useful tip is to have the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the recipient. There are other things to keep in mind, as well.
Want to make the other team? Try doing what is known as a back pass! Use the dominant hand to hold onto the back pass.This is a very useful trick to confuse the other team into wondering where the ball went.
If you are good at shooting the ball then the last thing you want to do is lift weights. Muscle flexibility is more important than muscle mass. There have been instances where great shooters bulk up so much that it adversely affects their shooting percentage.
Ask teammates what they like about your skills on the court.Do they feel you do something really good at something? Maybe you are quick like lightening or you are a strong defender.
Done Properly
Prior to basketball season, and even during it, you can play solo games. While it’s a team sport, you may not be able to find others that will play. Don’t worry! There is much that can be accomplished when playing on your own. Whether focusing on foul shots or how to pivot with the ball, you can look for ways to improve. There is no shortage of things you can do.
Try practicing how to pass while looking in the opposite direction when you pass. This will make your actions very confusing the opposition. When it’s done properly, this technique distracts the opposition and gives your pass recipient a chance to focus on the basket. It’s quite a great play when done properly.
To generate consistency with layups, take off with the foot that opposes your shooting hand. Your body remains balanced while you keep your defender at a distance.
If you have student that wants to play basketball for their high school team, they will need to spend some time training their core muscles. The core muscles include the lower back, hips and abdonimals. The core is the muscle group that links the arms and legs together. If their core strength is poor, then so will their athletic performance be. A core that’s solid and strong will allow you to use force that comes from your legs so you can jump higher and run faster.
Your forearms and hands should be strengthened in order for you wish to handle the ball better.Wrist curls are great for working wrist muscles and improving your ball handling in basketball to the point where you could practically do it sleepwalking. You will not be able to stand in one place and shoot for the whole game. You need to be able to move the ball if you want something to happen.
Dribble with force to prevent the ball from you. When someone is right on top of you, cease dribbling and pass it to another play on your team that’s open.
In order to get a good shot, good footwork is essential when posting up. You do, of course, need to be near the basket, but finding the right spot without getting blocked is essential. Once you’re in position, you also need to secure your spot. Strong footwork skills help to build both types of skills.
Try some drills that require you to move the basketball from one side of the court to the other in no more than five dribbles. This can seem impossible, but if you do it, you’ll have great speed and stride length. This drill can help you accomplish great layups on those fast breaks.
With all the advice you have now, there is no limit to where you can go. Practice makes perfect and use it to attain all your goals. Use the tips here when you are creating your strategy and you will see big improvements in your game.
If you find yourself unable to shoot well, consider your shoulders. You won’t be able to make a shot if your shoulders aren’t in the right position. Your shoulders should be facing the hoop. Line up your shooting shoulder with the rim as well.