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

No one would attempt to fix a problem with their car’s transmission without knowing how to do it. Why would you expect to become a great basketball player if they didn’t do some research the game? The tips have helped pros become the players they are.

Learn what a crossover is and how to do it. Being able to dribble the ball with both hands and crossover between the two will make you a better player. You need to perform crossovers very quickly to get good results. Crossovers can help you get out of a tight spot.

TIP! Making free throws are almost as much a mental part of the game as they are a physical part. It is possible to practice the physical movements needed to make such a shot, but when your mental focus is lacking, you are likely to miss.

Make sure that you’re dribbling the right way. When you dribble, use your fingertips rather than the palm of your hand. Using your fingers allows you to have better control when dribbling the ball.

Learn the mechanics of a free throw shot. Practice often using the following method.Start out by holding the ball positioned right before your face. Keep your eyes on the goal and visualize the ball going into the hoop. Then shoot the ball in the trajectory you visualized.

Want to become a better basketball player? Watch the pros! Go to actual games or watch on TV. You’ll notice that each player has a skill that they are great at. Choose a move that you like and start practicing it.

TIP! Make sure that your regular practice includes catching of passes. Make sure you get used to catching less than perfect passes smoothly.

Don’t just practice your game against a zone defense. While a good chunk of the game will most likely be played in zone, your rivals could opt to go to man-to-man covering to keep you guessing. If your practice did not include this, you might lose your game very quickly.

Good footwork remains a shot when you are posting up.You always want to beat the open spot. Once you get into your position, you’ll have to then secure your spot. Both of those skills rely on some solid footwork.

Lifting weights too much can actually take away from your jump shot. Being weighed down by too much bulky muscle can have a negative impact on your jump shot. Shooting guards that end up with bulked up arms sometimes find that it affects field goal percentages.

TIP! Basketball players of all ages benefit from exercises that strengthen their core. The core muscles are the hips, lower back muscles and the abdominal muscles.

Ask fellow team members what they admire about your skills on the court.Do you are really good at something? Perhaps you are great backup or maybe your footwork is enviable.

The key to ball well is to spread your fingers. This will help prevent the ball from getting away from you to be sure that it won’t escape your grasp when trying to hold it. Your palm should not be touching the ball as little as possible.

When posting up, solid footwork is essential to getting yourself into position to shoot. Getting a great position under the goal is the most important. Once you’re in position, you also need to secure your spot. Practicing your footwork is important to master these skills.

TIP! Don’t let the ball go behind your back. This will give you court awareness and keep you from being surprised by quick passes or turnover potentials.

Build your core strength and work on your legwork when you train for basketball.Your body will retain balance and move more quickly when your core muscles are strong. Focus on your hip, abdomen, and hip muscle groups. Jump rope can be used to speed up your footwork speed.

Pay attention closely to the shoulders if you’ve suddenly developed a shooting slump. When they are out of alignment, then it is almost impossible to perform at your best. Your shoulders should always be square towards the hoop. You want your dominant shoulder in perfect alignment with the rim.

Focus on your footwork and core strength when working out. By developing strong core muscles, you will be able to recover quickly and keep your balance. Work the muscles in your abdomen, back, buttocks and hips. Jumping rope is a favorite amongst professionals when practicing. By jumping rope, you improve speed and footwork.

TIP! Passing between your legs can be helpful when the other team is riding you hard. You can practice this technique by stepping forward or backward and bouncing the ball with force between your legs.

You need to be quick to play good at basketball.Try to play faster than your opponents for a better advantage. You have to do a lot of drilling to play faster.Don’t attempt to play too fast and risk your skills allow. Playing beyond your capabilities will lead to bad passes and excessive turnovers.

Practice passing while looking in the opposite direction when you make a pass. You can really confuse opponents with this technique. When done right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. It’s quite a play if done properly.

The trick to grabbing a rebound on a teammate’s missed free-throw is to plan your footwork in advance. Your defender will move towards you, so figure out how to slither past him and grab the ball. This allows you to secure the rebound without finding yourself penalized.

TIP! Practice moving the ball from one courtside to the other in just 5 dribbles of the ball. This may not seem feasible, but once you master it, your speed and stride will be truly impressive.

Practice with your weak hand as much as possible. Tie your dominant hand behind your back to ensure you only to use your weak hand. You will quickly strengthen your weak hand.

Good footwork will help you to get rebounds off your teammates’ foul shots. The defender in your path will be moving at you, so try to slip by them to obtain the ball. This allows you to grab the rebound without finding yourself penalized.

Practice noticing what is in your peripheral vision. You don’t need great vision just to keep score. Great peripheral vision is an asset. If you scan the entire court instead of keeping your eye on the basketball, you will be aware of oncoming defensive pressure as well as the positions of your open teammates.

TIP! To improve three-point shooting, do it from NBA distance at the very least. High school lines, International standard lines, and college lines are closer.

Learning to fix your own car would bring you a great sense of accomplishment. Reading and learning as much as you can and transferring that knowledge onto the court will better your game. This will allow you to win the games you play, along with making sure your teammates are impressed.