Basketball is more than a game for gym class. It is possible to play the game anywhere, including on your lawn or at a court at the park. If you enjoy shooting hoops, focus on improving your knowledge of the game with the advice contained here.
It is important to focus on both offense and defense when learning to play basketball. Basketball games are won more often by defense than offense. While offensive players sometimes seem like the stars of the show, it is the efforts of defensive players that allow them to shine.
Dribble the ball the right way. When you dribble, only use your fingertips instead of your palms. You retain much more ball control this way. When dribbling the basketball you should bounce it to your side instead of right in front. Look up, not down.
If you handle the ball often, you need to learn how to do a crossover. Switch from one side to the other while dribbling. The action needs to be performed quickly in order to be successful. A good crossover dribble can give you the opportunity to switch directions and progress on the court much faster.
Look forward and hold your head up while you dribble the ball. Lack of practice will manifest itself in looking down towards the ball when dribbling. Take your basketball everywhere. Walking to your mailbox? Dribble the ball. Don’t look while dribbling, because you won’t be able to see what’s going on.
If you want to excel, you have to play to your strengths. The best talent you have isn’t going to have you starring in every highlight reel, but having a good skill set can benefit your team. Knowing what you excel at and then practicing that can help you become perfect at it!
If you typically handle the ball a lot, it pays to learn the crossover. This is when you switch hands while dribbling. The action must be very swift if it is to be successful. When done correctly, a good crossover dribble assists you in being efficient and helping you change direction when you need to.
You should learn the best way to throw a great bounce pass. The bounce pass needs to reach the player at waist level. Letting the ball bounce close to the other person will help the accuracy of your pass. This all depends on many factors.
Watching the pros play is a great way to see how great basketball players use their skills in the game. Watch professionals play or go check out talented local teams to see who has the moves that you want to learn. Watch great players to learn the specific skills that make them exceptional.
Do not practice by playing against the 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 may lose control of the game if you aren’t prepared.
Lay off the weights if you are trying to become a jump shooter. Muscle strength is great for any position in basketball, you can have too much when it comes to perimeter play. Overdeveloped muscles could actually interfere with your score percentage.
When avoiding errant passes, use hand signals. Oftentimes frustration occurs when trying you aren’t on the same page with a teammate who cuts to the basketball when you try to pass him the ball. Hand signals help ensure that the player is ready to take the ball. No signal, no pass.
Interested in tricking your opponents? Make use of the back pass. Hold the ball using your dominant hand. The next step is pull the basketball behind the back. Flick your wrists in the direction that it must travel. It’s a great way to trick your opposing team.
When an injury occurs while you are playing ball, don’t keep playing with pain. Basketball is physically challenging, and injuries are not uncommon. Trying to be tough so you can keep going, even when you’re just a little uncomfortable, can make an injury worse. Anytime you have a serious injury, you should seek medical attention.
When playing basketball, it is important to always keep your eye on the ball. Always knowing where the ball is will make sure that you are ready if it quickly comes your way. Also, keep your eyes on areas that open up on the court for an easy basket.
Always know where your feet are and what they are doing. When you are in possession of the ball, touching the baseline will get you out of bounds. You will get called for walking if you take extra steps and are not dribbling. In addition, moving one foot while working on setting a screen or pick will produce a foul.
Your defensive game will be more successful if you know your opponents. Monitor scouting news and watch footage of other teams in action. For example, you should know which of the players are left-handed and which are right-handed. The more you understand what you are up against, the more likely you are to develop an effective strategy during games. A defender that is knowledgeable is an effective defender.
Practice passing while looking in other directions. This will easily confuse your opponents. When you do it right, the opponents are going to think you’re moving in one direction. That way, the person you’ve given the ball to has a bit of time to look at the net to taking a shot. You must practice this move with your teammates so that everyone on your team understands what is going on.
Quickness is something that’s desired in basketball. You will have the advantage over your opponents if you can really play fast. You will have to do a lot of drilling to play faster. Don’t try playing fast until you can. Playing beyond your capabilities will lead to bad passes and lots of turnovers.
Your forearms and hands should be strengthened if you wish to handle the ball better. Consider wrist curls and and exercise machine that focuses on strengthening each finger individually. Basketball requires its players to move quickly, shoot accurately and pass well. Good dribbling skills will help you always stay in movement.
Practice passing while looking in other directions. You can really confuse your opponents this way. When you do it right, the opponents are going to think you’re moving in one direction. That way, the person you’ve given the ball to has a bit of time to look at the net to taking a shot. It’s quite a play when done properly.
Hard dribbling helps avoid stolen balls. The ball bounces faster, giving the guard less time to steal. If you have an opponent who is guarding you relentlessly, it is time to pass the ball.
Free Throw
To convert the typical 2-3 zone to a trapping machine, get the best pair of defenders available to wait just until the opposing point guard reaches roughly ten feet beyond the mid-court line. At that point, both guards should move in for the trap. While this is going on your forwards can be sprinting to the players located on the wings. The point guard will then probably throw an easily interceptable pass.
Build a routine to improve your free throw game. If you aren’t consistent, you won’t make the basket. You should work on your free throw techniques as much as possible until they become a second nature. If you do not practice this shot consistently, you may miss it during an actual game.
An excellent tip to help you with shooting skills is to shoot the ball from different spots on the court. You should also practice starting with a dribble and then taking a shot. Focus on the target when airborne, but never before. This can help you simulate the conditions of the game and also helps you improve accuracy.
You should ensure that you can clearly see. This will help you to secure the ball during the game. Peripheral vision is important during game play. This will help you see the whole game better and anticipate openings and defense players.
You should practice your dribbling while switching your balance from right to left. Remember that you must dribble in a variety of situations during a basketball game. There may be times when you are covered by multiple opponents; however, there may be times when you have the whole court in front of you. You must know how to dribble the ball no matter what your body is doing. This will help you in bad situations.
A good way to stay defensive is to have a defensive stance. Slide both feet side to side, or just push off using the opposite foot. Stay low and make it hard for opponents to get around you.
If you are a basketball player you should be eating a healthy diet. If you want to have plenty of energy to play, you should take in plenty of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and lean sources of protein. Good additions to your daily diet include whole grain bread, lean chicken and nuts. Stay away from salt and sugar as much as possible.
Try practicing three pointers from the NBA range in order to be a more effective three point shooter. All the other three point lines are much closer than the NBA line. Nailing shots from the NBA line can really help improve your overall shooting skills.
When you return to the floor from a rebound, make sure your legs hit the floor at wider than shoulder-width apart so that you maintain your balance. Make sure that your hands are on both sides of the basketball, and that you hold it close to your chest. Watch where your elbows are because if you hit someone with them, that is a foul.
Practice dribbling by switching momentum. Remember that you must dribble in a variety of situations during a basketball game. You will have many opponents swarming you. You have to figure out how you can dribble while you’re working with your body leaning. This will help you in bad situations.
If you figure out which hand is non-dominant, make your opponent use it as much as possible. Use your body position to make the opponent move in a direction that is not as strong. Keep your head parallel to their chest, and you will stay low and primed to snatch the ball.
Use your non-dribbling hand as a barrier between your opponent and the ball. You never want to push the opponent with your hand, but it is possible to use your free hand to secure the ball. Keep your other arm up slightly while you dribble.
When in possession of the ball, you need to grasp when it is wise to shoot and when you ought to pass. Better to be responsible for a shot that leads to a win, than to be that one player whose bad shot cost the team a win.
Dribble with a rhythm, that is until you need to outsmart your opponents. You can for instance suddenly speed up your dribbling to get past an opponent and get the edge you need for a shot. Not only the speed change, but the sound change is what confuses them most.
Know what the weaknesses in the game are. Make an honest assessment. If you are consistently missing foul shots, practice these before you practice your three point shots. If you like to bang in the lane, then you will need to become tougher and also work on your mid-range game. Address your weak spots, and become a well-rounded player.
No matter what kind of basketball game you are playing, be it one-on-one, H.O.R.S.E. or something else, learning about how to become better will make you better. Use the information you have learned here. The more than you learn, the better you will play.
When playing defense, push your opponent over to the sideline. If you allow a player to go down the court’s middle, they have a lot more choices in what to do. If they can be shifted toward the sidelines, they will have fewer options.
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