Want To Improve Your Basketball Game? Try These Tips!

Practice is the best way to build your game. You shouldn’t be practicing things you do wrong, and follow good advice from experienced teachers. Keep reading for some basketball pointers that will have you improve your game.

You need to learn the correct way to dribble the ball. Avoid using your palm while dribbling. Instead, use your fingertips. You’ll have a lot more control over the ball this way. Bounce only at the level of your waist at the side and not in front. Keep your eyes up, not on the ground.

TIP! Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. If you need to look at the ball while dribbling, you’ll need to practice more.

Crossovers are very important if you’re a ball handlers. This move entails transferring the hand to the left hand. You have to do this quickly to be good results. When done properly, the crossover dribble helps you alter directions and go down the court faster.

Focus on your strengths to get better ball player.Your best talent may not make you the star of every game, but knowing how to make the most of your skills will make you a more valuable player. Know your strengths and practice them until there is no one better than you.

If you want to improve your game, concentrate on your strengths. You might not have star ability, but you can be an outstanding team player. Find you best position and then refine it until you are unbeatable.

TIP! One of the keys to becoming a great basketball player is developing core muscles. This is the hip area, the lower back, and the abs.

Core muscles are comprised of the hips, lower back, and lower back. A strong core provides a player generate force with their legs to be applied to faster running and jumping during games.

Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a vital part of basketball. You always want to beat your opponent to the opposing playing to an open spot. After grabbing the position, make sure that you are secure. These will both require solid footwork.

Hand signals can help you to stay away from making bad passes. Passing is tough, especially if you and your teammate are not in sync with one another. Hand signals help ensure that the player is ready to take the ball. If you don’t see a signal, you shouldn’t pass the ball.

TIP! Figuring out the opponent is a great way to do well against a tight defense. Follow the scouting reports and watch tapes of their games.

Pay attention to your shoulders if you’re starting to slump when you shoot. If you do not have your shoulders positioned properly, your shot is not going to go in. Your shoulders need to be squared towards where you’re shooting. The shoulder that is dominant should be perfectly aligned with the rim.

Ask someone to take a friend to record your games so that you can see how yourself in action. Are you able to see missed or ways in which you could improve on? Be honest in your assessment but don’t be too harsh.

When you work out, try focusing on building core strength and bettering your footwork. You will stay balanced if your core is strong. Concentrate your efforts on the back, abdomen, buttocks and hips. Similar to boxers, jump rope to help increase speed and better your footwork.

TIP! Your forearms and hands should be strengthened if you wish to handle the ball better. For example, you can improve dribbling skills by adding wrist curls to your routine.

To get better at shooting free throws, always go through the same routine before each shot. Whatever you do before each shot, from dribbles to body motions, do every time. As long as it’s quick, you won’t have any trouble having your body memorize what you’re doing.

To generate consistency with layups, jump off the foot opposite the hand you shoot with. This will keep your body properly balanced and going towards the basket.

Be certain that your vision is the best it can be. While it will allow you to catch passes and read the score, there is more to it than that. Peripheral vision must be razor-honed. 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! Take charge when the opportunity presents itself. Taking charges gives you an opportunity to get defensive stops, get the ball and lay the groundwork for fouls.

Practice dribbling with your weak hand when it comes to dribbling. Tie your dominant hand to the rear of your back and force yourself only to use your weaker hand. You will get new dribbling skills with your non-dominant hand for dribbling.

Dribble hard if you want the ball taken from you. If someone is guarding you closely, it’s time to pass to an open teammate.

Remember that your diet has a great affect on your basketball performance. If you’re playing regularly, you need energy-loaded carbs as well as some fat and protein. Adding nuts, chicken, peanut butter and whole grain breads to your diet can help. Try to reduce your salt and sugar intake, though.

TIP! When someone misses a corner shot, you can bet the ball bounces across the court. If that happens, you can guess the place where it will go and manage to get the rebound.

Changing pace is something you keep the offense is paying attention. When you are getting closer to the net, act like you’re going to straighten up. The guard may think you’re starting to slow and may try to straighten up too. As they do, plow forward and run by him.

Always stay low when playing defense. This will let you be quicker on the jump and react to the front man. Stay in a defensive stance all the time. If you need to block someone’s shot, resume your stance as soon as you can.

Try to alter the path of your opponent. No matter what side of the ball you’re on, being able to direct your opponents movements is key to winning. This will allow you to determine the outcome of the game.

TIP! Your should have good position both before and after a rebound to assure you keep the ball. Use both feet to jump and then get the ball using both hands.

To get better at three-point shots, try using NBA distance as the minimum. The international line in every other league is closer. If you make your shots from where the NBA players shoot, you can get open looks at a deeper range than a defense is probably going to mind you (until you start hitting).

Whether you simply enjoy basket or live, breath, and eat the sport, you are sure to find value in what you’ve read. Use one tip and you’ll see your game get better. Once you have practiced enough, each and every shot will make a positive impact for the team. This is what separates the professionals from the rookies.

Try always focusing on the location the ball goes after it exits your teams’ hands or the opponents’ hands. Rebounds are terribly important to the game. It doesn’t matter if you defend an opponent greatly when they shoot and miss if you can’t get the ball once again.