Basketball is not an especially complicated sport. You can get the basics of basketball down in mere moments. That said, to learn even advanced techniques, read on.
Balance is important when shooting. Many the professional player can be seen slipping out of bounds or making baskets from far away, but these are not proper techniques. They have just improvised, is all. Consider proper balance when you shoot, and eventually you’ll consistently make baskets.
It is important that you perfect dribbling the ball. Don’t use your palm to dribble. Instead, use your fingertips. This allows you to control the ball better. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. Look up and never down at the ground.
Concentrate on your strong points if you want to improve your game. Your skills may not turn you into the star player, but knowing how to make the most of your skills will make you a more valuable player. Know your strengths and practice them until you have perfected them.
Get good at making free throws. There are usually a lot of distractions when you are shooting free throws so you need to concentrate. Practice this technique regularly. Place the ball right in line with your face. Focus on the basket and picture the ball slipping into the net. Shoot on the same path you saw in your mind’s eye.
Practice your layup shot often. Layups account for up to 80 percent of the shots taken during a game. When you practice, you need to be able to run toward the basket at full speed, then shoot while jumping in the air. Knowing how to run and jump quickly and smoothly will assist you in knowing how to leap and shoot more effectively while playing.
Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. Lack of practice will manifest itself in looking down towards the ball when dribbling. Take your basketball everywhere. Try dribbling even when walking to a store. Get used to looking up as you go so that you can focus your attention on the court and not on your hands and the ball.
Teach yourself to throw bounce passes correctly. It is best when the ball hits the receiving player near the waist. Bounce it 3/4 of the distance to the receiver. Although, there will be other circumstances that are involved too.
Crossover Dribble
Practice catching passes as often as you can. You need to be able to retrieve perfect passes and not so perfect passes. When the game is being played, passes may not be as perfect as we’d like. Learn how to catch any sort of throw.
When using the ball a lot, you must relearn a crossover. Crossover dribble is switching hands while you’re dribbling. The action must be very swift if it is to be successful. Once you master the art of the crossover dribble, you will be able to change directions quicker.
Do not only practice zone defense plays. Always try to anticipate when your opponent is going to switch up their game to catch you off guard. You may lose control of the game if you aren’t prepared.
Free throws require as much mental focus as physical skill. 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. Relax and concentrate on your basket to increase your free throws.
When developing your jumping skills, limit your use of weight-training. While muscle mass is good for any basketball position, perimeter play requires less than other positions. As a shooting guard, having bulky arm muscles can actually reduce the number of successful shots.
Figuring out the opponent is a great way to do well against a tight defense. Watch tapes of their games and see how others move on the court. You should know if a player is right or left handed. If you know their game, you can defend against it. A defender that is knowledgeable is an effective defender.
Never play through an injury when playing basketball. Basketball is physically demanding, and it is easy to get hurt. Pushing through the pain often results in a more serious injury. See a doctor if the injury is serious enough.
Practice looking the other way when passing. This is a simple thing that could easily confuse your opponents. By looking in the opposite direction, your teammate has a few extra seconds to make the shot. It’s a powerful play when done right.
Your fingers should always be spread out when handling the ball. This gives you better control of the ball. Avoid putting your palm on the ball, too. Only use your fingers to dribble, pass or shoot.
Practice dribbling with your weaker hand. Opponents are a lot easier to blow by when you can dribble with ease using both hands. Immobilize your dominant hand by tying it behind your back, then practice using your other hand for everything. You will improve dribbling with your weak hand soon enough.
Build your core strength and work on your footwork. This allows your body to be in balance and be more explosive on the court. Exercise your abdominal muscles as well as those of the hips, buttocks and back. To help get even quicker and have better footwork you can jump rope.
Stay on top of your footwork when attempting a rebound. Your defender will move towards you, so figure out how to slither past him and grab the ball. Now you can achieve a proper rebound and not commit a foul.
Consistency in your approach is vital to becoming solid at free throws. This could mean two dribbles before taking your free throw, bending your knees, or some other thing you do to get into a rhythm before shooting. As you adopt this routine, it becomes easier for your mind and body to prepare for the shot.
When you have a chance, take a charge. Taking a charge allows you a chance to earn a defensive stop, take the ball for your team, and sets up one more foul against the opponent. This can throw off the opposing team and mess up their rhythm.
If an opponent is staying with you, try passing the ball between your legs. This will make it very hard for your defender to get it. Mastering this technique can give you a significant advantage.
Do not release your defensive stance. You will always be in a defensive position if you slide your feet one way and then the other and push off using your opposing foot. Keep your body constantly facing toward your opponent in order to ensure the best possible defense.
A good way to develop ball handling skills is to make your forearms and hands stronger. One important exercise is wrist curls, which help you with your dribbling. Don’t assume that you are able to just stand anywhere, catch the ball and shoot it. Things rarely happen unless you are actually moving the basketball.
Strength Training
Once you are in your defensive stance, remember to hold your ground. You can shuffle your feet to either side, or push with your opposing foot, so you will be ready and in position. Don’t allow your feet to cross, and this will make you a hard defender to beat.
Basketball players need to engage in strength training. You need both stamina and strength to be a good player. Even younger kids will benefit from strength training. Adding weights in stronger increments is effective as the child becomes a teenager. Playing as an adult, it is important that you focus on your stamina for optimal performance.
Trip up the offense by constantly changing your pace. When running toward the hoop, plant your leading foot and start to straighten up. Your opponent will see you as stopping, then will also stop themselves. Once that happens, switch tactics and move forward. You should go right past them.
Continuously dribble the ball until you have an opening to pass it to one of your teammates, or you are prepared to shoot. You do not have many options after you stop dribbling. You can’t do anything but pivot if you don’t shoot or pass. When you do this, your opponents can double team you and steal the ball.
If you’re serious about your game, you should take your diet seriously. When you play on a regular basis, you have to load up on carbs to get energy, and you also need proteins and fat. The best additions are whole wheats, grains, poultry and nuts. Salt and sugars should only been eaten rarely.
Having good communication on the court with teammates is a great way to play. A good basketball team consists of players who understand that this is not an individual sport. This means that offense and defense doesn’t mean one on one. Players on the same team help each one another out. Talk to your teammates when you need help, so that you’re all on the same page.
When guarding a player who exceeds you in size, attempt to stay in between that player and the one with the ball. In this way, you will prevent the larger player from being able to receive a pass. Then they will not be able to get the ball and shoot it over your head.
If you are serious about basketball then you should be serious about your diet. If you play all the time, you need to eat carbs on a regular basis. Don’t neglect protein and fat, though. Some good things to add to a diet would be peanut butter, nuts, chicken, and wheat breads. Sugar can give you an energy spike but it fades rather quickly, so try to stay away from sugary foods.
Passing should be an essential element in your game. Good passing helps beat your opponent. Plus, it shows you are all about the teamwork, which your fellow team members will appreciate. There will be time in the game for you to show your individual abilities. Don’t worry, that moment will come.
The position you take just before and just after getting a rebound will play a large role in whether you can retain possession. If you need to get up with power, use the strength of both legs when you jump and both arms to grab the ball. After grabbing a rebound, keep your landing wide to improve balance.
You must know how to pivot correctly when playing basketball. It is important to practice how you move your feet, so you can pivot by instinct, without stopping to think about where to put your feet. You must work on quick reactions and pivoting.
Maybe you just began learning about playing basketball before you read this. Or have you been playing since a young child? No matter what, the tips you’ve just read can help you increase your skills. When you head out to play the next time, follow the suggestions you’ve learned here.
Dribble as hard as you can when practicing. A hard bounce means the ball’s speed is fast and it helps keep the ball away from the defender. Use force when dribbling.
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