Basketball is pretty easy to play and quite a few people play it worldwide. Everyone that plays it has specific skills that they can do to boost their team’s chances of winning. If you’d like to figure out what you can do to get better at basketball, keep reading this article.
A lot of novice players mostly focus on their offensive skills, but developing good defensive skills will help you become a better player. Basketball games are often won by the defense. Offense may score points but defense keeps the other team from scoring points that your team will have to match.
In order to be a great shooter, good balance is key. Everyone has seen professional basketball players make a shot from 20 feet away as they are falling. These are not practiced skills, they are just flukes. By focusing on balance in your shot, you will develop the consistency needed to be a great scorer.
Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. If you start staring at the ball while you dribble, you know you need to practice more. Take the basketball to all the places that you go. Dribble the ball when you’re walking to the shops. If you look at the ball, you’re unable to see what’s going on down the court before you.
Hitting free throws is a mental challenge as well as a physical one. Training your body is important, but you also have to be mentally ready for the shot. Relax yourself and concentrate on your shot.
Learn the way to throw proper bounce passes. Proper bounce passes ought to hit the recipient at the level of their waist. One good rule of thumb is to bounce the ball around three quarters of the way to the other player. There are other things to keep in mind, though.
Bad Passes
Watch professionals play to learn from their techniques. Watch pro games on TV, or attend games in person. You will notice great skills from different players that you can practice.
Practice your pass catching often. When practicing, try catching great passes as well as really bad passes. When the pressure is on, not every pass will come straight to you. Help your team by learning to catch those bad passes, as well as those perfect passes.
Don’t just practice playing against a zone defense. Learn how to play a man-to-man defense and a zone defense to get the best understanding of how the game works. You might lose your control of the court if the other team use this technique, unless you are ready for this possibility.
In order to get a good shot, you must use good footwork. You must beat the opposing playing to an open spot. When you are in position, you must secure your spot. Strong footwork is key.
A great way to stay prepared at all times is to always face the ball. This helps you become aware of the court and lowers chances for surprises from turnovers and quick passes. Always scout the court for areas that will open up and allow you to make a clear shot.
Practice your footwork and control the position of your feet at all times. Just touching the baseline is going to get you called out of bounds. If you take several steps while holding the ball, you could be called for traveling. You can’t move a foot when you take a charge, pick or screen either, or it’s a foul.
Spreading out your fingers is key to handling the ball correctly. This gives you better control of the ball. Your palm should touch the ball as little as possible. Whether you are passing or shooting the ball, your fingers are the only part of your hand that should be touching the ball.
Practice looking in a different direction when you pass. This throws your opponents off. This will give the person that you passed the ball to a chance to make their move before your opponent can correct from their mix up. You must practice this move with your teammates so that everyone on your team understands what is going on.
Study you opponent well to give yourself an edge. Review tapes and keep up with scouting reports. Pay attention to dominant hands. Your defensive game will be a lot more effective after you get to know your opponent. A knowledgeable defender is a strong defender.
Launch your layup jumps from the foot that is opposite the hand you shoot with. Practice shooting using your right hand, then jump off your left foot. Your body will be better balanced and moving in the direction of the basket. Your body will also be kept between the defender and yourself.
When exercise, concentrate on perfecting footwork and strengthening your core muscles. Your balance will improve if you strengthen your core. Give your hips, buttocks, back and stomach a workout. Jumping rope is a favorite amongst professionals when practicing. By jumping rope, you improve speed and footwork.
Practice drills where you strive to make it across the full court within 5 dribbles. This may not seem feasible, but once you master it, your speed and stride will be truly impressive. Being able to do this lets you lead your team on a fast break and gets you to the rim that much quicker.
Give your layouts the most by launching from the foot that opposes the hand you are shooting with. Use your left foot when shooting with the right hand. This gives you better balance, while keeping you poised toward the basket.
Playing basketball well means developing good court “eyesight.” You don’t just want to be able to pass and shoot well. Your peripheral vision should be the best it can be. You need to know the location of other players on the court in order to make good passes and avoid turnovers.
Playing basketball well means developing good court “eyesight.” You will need it for more than checking the scoreboard or passing and shooting. Your peripheral vision needs to be as strong as possible. If you scan the entire court, not just the location of the ball, it is possible to anticipate defense moves in advance and see which teammates are open.
Altering your own pace is a good way to disrupt the opposition. Sprint towards the hoop then quickly plant your foot, then straighten up. The guard may think you’ve slowed down and may try to straighten themselves. Push forward and blast by them.
Take every charge you can. This allows you to get the ball back for your team, setting up a foul. This is a great way to take control of the court and intimidate the other team.
Be sure that off-court exercises are proper for playing on-court. Sprinting will help you develop speed, while running long distances will help you develop great stamina. Lifting weights can build the muscle you need for shots and the hustle of the game. The confidence and aggression that result also help you more than anything when shooting.
Increase your weak hand’s capabilities by using it for everything you normally would not. Using both hands when playing is an important skill if you can develop it when you’re not playing. Soon enough you will see great improvements on the court.
Understanding your teammates is a vital part of basketball. You are sure to understand that it takes teamwork to play basketball. Offense and defense are not one-on-one. This knowledge makes it easier for you to assist each other. Be vocal on the court to form better communication with your teammates for play.
If you wish to shoot on the outside better you should work on shooting hundreds of times every day from a lot of places on the court. If you wish to get even better at this, try dribbling and then stopping to make a quick shot. Only lift your head up to check out the target once you are in the air. You can improve your accuracy to help you when the game is live.
You have to learn to get your opponent to alter their path. No matter what position you play, the ability to control other players is essential. This lets you figure out where you’re needing to go while not letting them set your path for you.
Switching up your dribbling rhythm can really throw the defense off. The opposing player expects you to maintain that rhythm, so when you switch things up you create an element of surprise. Perfecting this can make you nearly unstoppable on the court.
Try to remain calm when shooting. The basket should be the your main focus. In particular, train your eyes to move to the back of the rim when you are shooting. If you are not doing a lay-up, it is best to look at the area from which the ball should bank off.
It is important to take your diet seriously if you want to be the best player you can be. Basketball uses a lot of energy; therefore, it is important to fuel your body with lean protein and whole grains. You want to make sure that your body has enough energy to keep going; think about eating chicken, nuts and whole grain bread. Try not to use too much salt or sugar.
It is important to know what to do when the ball comes to you. Should you shoot it or pass it? It is better to be part of a winning shot than to be the sole player in a shot that cost the game.
Many shots from the court corner end up sailing right over the basket. Anticipating this can help you score a quick rebound.
Try to always know the location of the ball once it leaves someone’s hands. Rebounds are an essential component of basketball. You need to be able to get the ball if your opponent misses the shot.
The position you take just before and just after getting a rebound will play a large role in whether you can retain possession. Use both feet to jump up to create more force and quickly snatch the ball, grabbing it with two hands. Following a rebound, land with feet spread wider apart than shoulder width. In this way, you can stay balanced and hold the ball close.
Being a good passer is key to being a good basketball player. Passing helps confuse the opponent. Not only will it teach you how to play as team, you become well-liked by your teammates. The time will come for you to share your individual abilities. Have patience until your time comes and assist teammates.
If you are assigned to defend someone bigger than you are, try staying in the passing lane between your man and the current ball handler. Keeping your body in position will prevent them from getting a pass or being in position to shoot.
If you are a basketball player, you know how important it is to be a well-rounded athlete. After going through the article above it shouldn’t be hard to know what needs to be done if you want to be better at basketball. Read the article again if you have to, but never stop practicing these tips in order to get better.
You don’t want to get in an argument with the game officials. You may have a problem with the calls that are made, and you can ask the official why. However, confronting them in front of their face is not the proper way conduct in sports. Their job isn’t easy, so don’t make it harder.
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