Want To Be A Better Basketball Player? Read These Tips.

Basketball is something that tons of people all over the world love. You can play at your local park or even as a job. Read on to learn more about the ins and outs of basketball.

You should practice your crossovers a lot. A crossover is when you move the ball from one hand to the other. The action needs to be performed quickly in order to be successful. Once you master the art of the crossover dribble, you will be able to change directions quicker.

TIP! You should practice your crossovers a lot. In a crossover, you transfer the basketball from hand to hand.

Always dribble with your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball.You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while dribbling.Bring your ball no matter where you go. Dribble the ball when you’re walking the shops. If you are staring at the ball, you won’t be able to see what is coming at you.

Learn how a proper bounce pass. A useful bounce pass that’s good is going to end up hitting the other player at waist level. A useful tip is to have the ball to bounce roughly 3/4 of the distance to the recipient. There are other factors you have to think about too, though.

Making a free throw takes mental concentration as well as physical prowess. With everyone watching, it can be easy to allow the pressure to interfere with your game. Relax yourself and focus on the hoop.

Free throws require both mental as physical. Relax yourself and keep your concentration centered on the hoop.

Never play through pain after an injury. Basketball is very physical sport and there’s always a risk of injury.You can quickly turn a strain into a debilitating medical issue if you continue to play with an injury. See a doctor if you think your injury is serious enough.

You should practice pass catching regularly. When you practice, mix it up so that you can catch perfect passes and errant throws. In the middle of a heated game, not all attempted passes will go exactly where you want them to go. Help your team by learning to catch those bad passes, as well as those perfect passes.

TIP! Work on being able to receive a pass. You want to practice catching perfect passes and bad passes.

Never have your back to the ball so that you can always be prepared for what’s coming. This keeps you more aware of the court and you won’t be surprised when turnover potentials come up or quick passes. Keep an eye open for areas that are open.

Build your core strength and focus on your footwork. Your body will be more balanced and easier to move when you have strong core muscles. Focus on your hip, abdomen, and hip muscle groups. Jump rope like a boxer to improve your feet.

Do not practice solely against zone defense. While you might see a zone defense mostly, a team can switch defenses to man-to-man quickly in order to confuse you. If your practice did not include this, you can quickly lose control of the game.

TIP! Never practice only against the zone. While a great portion of a game will be concentrated in the zone, your rivals could opt to go to man-to-man covering to keep you guessing.

Ask a video of you playing and watch it. Can you see chances that you can improve your form? Are there things you might have done differently? Be honest with yourself but not overly critical.

Practice passing while not looking the direction of the pass. This is a great way toward confusing the opposition. When it’s done properly, the look draws your opponents to the wrong locale so that the person you passed to has a good long look at the basket before shooting. It’s a great play when done right.

There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. Try doing a back pass! To do a back pass, begin by grasping the basketball using your dominant hand. Next get the ball pulled up behind the back. The last step is to flick your wrist in the direction you want the ball to land. It is an effective means of confusing your opponents.

TIP! Would you like to pull one over on the other team? Try using a back pass! To accomplish this pass, grasp the ball using your dominant hand. Next, pull the ball behind your back.

Practice with your weaker hand.Tie your dominant hand to the rear of your back and force yourself only use your weak hand. You will improve dribbling with your weak hand.

Being a successful defensive player means disrupting the game of your opponent. Force opposing players into an uncomfortable zone.Be aggressive in the moves you execute your moves. Do not let them to decide which plays to make.

Good footwork is important when you’re posting up in the paint. You must be certain to get the good spot ahead of your opponent. Once there, you have to firmly claim the area as your own. Good footwork is key to a good basketball game.

TIP! If posting up is what you’re doing, you have to have good footwork to get open for a shot. You always want to beat your opponent to the open spot.

Dribble hard if you don’t want the ball from you. If you are being guarded closely, stop what you’re doing and quickly look to find and open teammate to pass the ball to.

Now you should know how to be a better basketball player. It’s not that hard, but it requires a bit of work and proper knowledge. After taking the court and actually playing, you will most likely want to get out there on a regular basis. Get out there and have a blast!

Never have your back to the ball so that you’re ready for anything in a basketball game. It’s all about court awareness, and always facing the ball will make it so you are less surprised by passes. That means less turnovers. Be vigilant to detect openings or weaknesses that make it easier to take the shot.