Some Great Tips For Becoming A Better Basketball Player

Whether you’re someone who wishes to play basketball for a living or if you just like to watch it, there’s stuff you need to know about basketball. Do you do not know how to tell the score? Basketball is so much fun and easy to learn the basics. Read on and gather up some fun tips which will be a real slam dunk!

Many people only direct their attention to the offensive part of the game without realizing that defense is the key to winning. Many times, defense actually wins the game. Offense gets attention and praise, but when you lack good defense, any team can lose.

TIP! A lot of novice players mostly focus on their offensive skills, but developing good defensive skills will help you become a better player. Defense ultimately determines the winner of a game of basketball.

Make sure you are dribbling the ball correctly. When you dribble, use your fingertips rather than the palm of your hand. This method gives you much more control of the basketball.

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 no matter where you go. Dribble the ball as you go about your day doing errands like walking to the dog. If you look your ball, you cannot see what is happening down the court in front of you.

Practice your layups a lot. This will make up about eighty percent of shots during any basketball game. When you practice, run toward the net, and then get a high jump in so you can smoothly shoot. Drill the jumping technique regularly so you can do layups very smoothly and always stay in control of where the ball is going.

TIP! Practice your layups a lot. Four out of every five shots taken in a given game will be layups.

Focus on your strong point to help you become a better at basketball.You might not have star ability, but by contributing the best way you can you will win more games. Know the things you’re great at and keep practicing to get even better.

Would you like to learn how to fool the opposing team?Try doing what is known as a back pass! Use the dominant hand whenever trying a behind the basketball when trying this pass. This is a very useful trick your opponents.

Never practice only against the zone. Learn how to play a man-to-man defense and a zone defense to get the best understanding of how the game works. When you don’t know how to defeat it, you will lose.

TIP! Do not practice by playing against the zone defense. While much of the game is played in zone, the opponent can flip to man-to-man coverage, changing everything and surprising you.

Ask fellow team members what they admire about your playing skills? Do they feel you do something really good at something? Maybe you are quick like lightening or you are a strong defender.

Understanding your opponent is a good way to win with defense. Watch tapes of their games and see how others move on scouting reports. Once you understand the opposition, you can do a lot better when you’re on defense. A smart defensive player is a strong defender.

Spread your fingers out to handle the ball properly. This way, you won’t lose the ball when holding it. Try to keep your palm off of the ball as well. When you’re shooting or passing, the only place the ball should touch your hand is on your fingers.

TIP! In order to handle the ball correctly, spread your fingers out. This will help you keep a better grip on the ball.

Speed is everything in the game of basketball. Try to outplay your opponents for an advantage. You need to really drill to get to the point where you play quickly. Don’t attempt to play more quickly than your chances.Playing beyond your speed cause the game to get out of control with various turnovers and excessive turnovers.

Ask a friend to record your games so that you playing and watch it. You may see where you observe the game and notice things you missed. Be honest in your assessment but don’t be too harsh.

If you’re shooting isn’t what you’d like it to be, make sure that your shoulders are in the correct position. If they’re in a poor position, no matter your skill level, you will be unable to make the shot. To help improve your shot, focus on squaring up on each of your shots. If your right hand is your dominant hand, your right shoulder must be aligned with the rim. For left-handedness, the opposite is true.

TIP! If your shooting is in a slump, take a look at your shoulders. If you do not have your shoulders positioned properly, you will not make the shot.

Passing between the legs is something that helps when you are being closely guarded. You can practice this maneuver by stepping forward or backwards as you bounce the ball real hard in-between your legs.Mastering this move can help give you with a major advantage on the court.

Being a successful defensive player involves disrupting your opponent’s concentration. Force opposing players into an uncomfortable zone.Be aggressive as you execute.Do not allow them to decide which plays that they make.

You need to be quick to be good at basketball. If you want the advantage, you need to be quicker than your opponents. In order to play fast, you must practice drills. Never try though to get too fast that you can’t make any plays. If you play beyond your speed, the game gets out of control, with errant passes and turnovers.

TIP! Speed is everything in the sport of basketball. Gaining agility and speed will give you the upper hand when playing a game of basketball.

These tips are simple to understand and easy to put into use. Now that you know some things about basketball, you can see how much fun the sport is. The article above have just what you need to make your game even better.