Do you know everything you want to know about the popular game of basketball? You’re not the first person that has felt this way! There are lots of people that play basketball and many more who are in awe of what the professionals do. Keep reading to discover great tips that the pros use.
If you have the ball a lot, learn to execute a crossover. Switch from one side to the other while dribbling. It has to be done fast to be effective. Once you master the art of the crossover dribble, you will be able to change directions quicker.
Learn to correctly dribble the ball. You want to dribble with the tips of your fingers, not your whole hand. This allows you to control the ball better. Dribble to your body’s side instead of doing it out front, and bounce the ball at your waist’s level. Keep your head up, do not stare down towards the ground.
In order to be a great shooter, good balance is key. Many the professional player can be seen slipping out of bounds or making baskets from far away, but these are not proper techniques. They are going with the flow when this occurs. You need to be balanced properly if you’re going to be making shots, so that over time you’ll be able to always hit the basket.
Always dribble with your head up and looking forward. If you start staring at the ball while you dribble, you know you need to practice more. Take the ball with you wherever you go. Walking to your mailbox? Dribble the ball. If you’re trying to look at the ball then you’re not concentrating on what’s going on down the court.
It is important that you practice layups. 80% of all shots in a game are usually layups. When you practice, you need to be able to run toward the basket at full speed, then shoot while jumping in the air. This technique helps improve your on-court layup skills.
Be sure to get lots of practice on layups. Up to eighty percent of the baskets attempted in a game are layups. When you practice, run full speed ahead at the basket, jump, and shoot. This method will teach you to improve your jumps and shots throughout the game.
Teach yourself how a bounce pass can be properly thrown. Bounce passes need to be at waist level when received. A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the receiving player is. But, there are some factors that can change this.
Try using hand signals to prevent passes in error. It is very frustrating when a teammate isn’t open for the perfect pass. Hand signals help ensure that the player is ready to take the ball. If the signal is not used, then the pass should not be made to that player.
Free throws are as much mental as they are physical. Your body can be trained to make free throws, but your mind has to be focused on success if you want to make the basket. Relax yourself and concentrate on your shot.
Serious Injury
If you want to take jump shots, don’t spend time pumping iron. Even though having strong muscles is great for the inside game, being on the outside it can harm you when shooting the ball. You might see a decrease in your goal percentages if your biceps become too large.
You may get injured while practicing or playing. Don’t try to play if you are hurt. Basketball is very challenging physically, and this can cause further serious injury. You can quickly turn a strain into a debilitating medical issue if you do not take a break from the action. In case of serious injury, it is time to see a doctor.
You can learn to trick the opposing team. Try a back pass. Use the dominant hand to hold onto the basketball when trying this pass. Then you will want to pull the ball into position behind your back. Flip your wrist towards the site where you want the ball to go. It’s a great way to trick your opposing team.
Ask your fellow teammates if they have an opinion of your skills in the game. Do you do something really good? They may say that you are a great team defender or are always playing with excellent speed. Improve the skills where you tend to be a bit weaker while maintaining your stronger skills.
As you perform your fitness routine, make it a point to target your core and your footwork. Your body will maintain balance and move more quickly when your core muscles are strong. Don’t forget to also work out muscles in your back, buttocks, abdomen and hips. Jumping rope can also help you become lighter on your feet and quicker on the court.
One good way to always be ready for whatever happens on the court is to never turn your back on the ball. You will enjoy greater court awareness and avoid feeling surprised by rapid changes in game play. Always scout the court for areas that will open up and allow you to make a clear shot.
Work on passing through your legs to add another skill to your arsenal. Practice dribbling the ball between your legs. If you can master this move, it will give you quite the advantage when you are on the court.
Have a friend or family member videotape your games, then view the video to see the result. Are you able to see what you’ve missed or things that you could improve on? Assess yourself honestly, but don’t be a harsh critic. A realistic view of yourself can be quite helpful.
You must have a consistent practice routine if you want to learn to shoot free throws well. If you stay inconsistent, you miss a shot. If you want to perfect free throw shooting, pick a routine and repeat it continuously. A break in your routine will foul the shot.
To play good defense, you have to upset and disrupt your opponent. Force them away from their comfort zone. Always move aggressively as they try to maneuver around you. Keep them from deciding what moves to make. If they do, they’ll dominate you. Instead, make the first move and interrupt their rhythm.
Dribble hard if you don’t want the ball taken from you. The ball returns more quickly to your hand when you do this, giving the opponents fewer opportunities to steal it from you. If you are being closely guarded, you should cease dribbling and pass the ball to an open member of your team.
A good basketball drill to perform is to see if you can get the ball down the entire court in 5 or less dribbles. This seems an impossible feat when you start. By working on this drill regularly you develop speed and great, lengthy strides. This helps give your team the advantage, and allows you to drive the center.
Stay low when playing defense. Staying low will help you to be a more swift opponent when you mirror the man standing in your path. You must always utilize the proper defensive stance. You should return to this position immediately after leaving it to block or defend.
Be certain that your vision is the best it can be. This isn’t just for reading the scoreboard. Working to improve you peripheral vision will help you become a more successful player. When you can see the big picture, you can react to anything.
You can use your guards and point guard to trap an opponent with a 2-3 zone defense. After he crosses the midcourt line, they should run and trap him. As your guards are doing this, send your forwards out to the outside opponents. The point guard will then probably throw an easily interceptable pass.
Alternating your pace is critical to keeping the defense guessing. When you’re moving towards the net, act like you’re going to straighten up. Your guard will do the same, thinking you plan to stop. Use this opportunity to sprint past your opponent.
The first step when dribbling is to bend at your knees instead of standing straight-legged. If you are standing straight, you will have a harder time controlling the ball and your opponent will be able to steal it more easily. You only need to bend your knees slightly to improve your control of the basketball.
Be sure to be well acquainted with your team mates so that you can all work well in cooperation. Basketball requires a team. That means offense and defense aren’t one on one. Everyone has each others’ backs. When everyone works together, you can play better as a team.
Shoot hundreds of shots every day from every position on the court to improve your shooting skills. To improve even more, practice dribbling the basketball and then pull up fast for a quick shot. While in the air check out your target, but never before that. This way, you will be ready for the rapid pace of game play.
Practice rhythmic dribbling up until the point you wish to shake an opposing player. Your opponent is looking for the best opportunity to steal the ball, and switching it up can break their concentration. Not only the speed change, but the sound change is what confuses them most.
Continuously dribble the ball until you have an opening to pass it to one of your teammates, or you are prepared to shoot. The moment you cease dribbling, you have given yourself very few options. If you don’t shoot or pass, you can only pivot using your back foot. This makes you open up to people that want to double team you and that means you are also more likely to get the ball stolen.
Be sure to practice shooting from a variety of spots on the court. Work on your grip and balance first. Even though it is less accurate, it is possible to score with off-balanced shooting. You can perfect your grip on the ball by using the valve. Spread your fingers, and place your dominant hand over the area where the valve is located.
If possible, the action should remain below your knees. Defenders will have a more difficult time stealing the ball. Practice moving quickly while dribbling below knee level.
If you’re serious about basketball, seriously consider your diet. When you play regularly, you need plenty of carbs for more energy, along with protein and fats. Adding nuts, chicken, peanut butter and whole grain breads to your diet can help. Look for foods with low amounts of fat and sugar.
Keep a rhythm while dribbling to throw your opponents off. By dribbling consistently and then breaking it up into a different rhythm that’s fast, you can trick an opponent so you have more time to shoot. The speed is important, but it works in tandem with the sound to disorient the player who is guarding you.
Forge a strong bond between teammates, whether you are playing the game or off the court. A team that works together is an unstoppable team. Once you and your teammates begin communicating, and even hanging out together in your spare time, your success should rise.
Know where missed shots are most likely to end up. Figure out where it will land to grab the rebound.
Now you should know all about how to play basketball like a pro and enjoy it. Now that you’ve read this compilation of tips, however, you’re ready to act like a pro. Keep reading to learn how you can improve your game!
Create a team environment that is tough on the court and off of it. A team that works together is an unstoppable team. If you know everyone on your team inside and out and you can trust each other completely, your game will improve exponentially.
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