Your first game of basketball was likely an amazing, exciting new experience. You explored passing, shooting, and dribbling. You might feel like you’ve mastered the game today. The tips here are going to help you realize you can still learn.
Learn what a crossover is and how to do it. Being able to dribble the ball with both hands and crossover between the two will make you a better player. The action must be very swift if it is to be successful. Once you’ve learned how to use it, the crossover dribble makes it easy to navigate the court in a more effective way.
Make sure you learn how to shoot free throws. This is something that seems simple, but in reality it can be hard. Put this technique into practice as often as you can. First, hold the ball just above your nose, about 8 inches from your face. There may be a number of distractions so you need to focus on your goal. Then, use the trajectory you just visualized and shoot the ball.
Your mind plays as big a part in making a free throw as your actual body does. With everyone watching, it can be easy to allow the pressure to interfere with your game. Relax and focus on the net, and you’ll be able to make more.
Constantly practice layups. Four out of every five shots taken in a given game will be layups. Dribble the ball in front of you while taking large strides followed by a smooth shot. Practicing your running and jumping as a single motion will improve your technique faster than practicing them separately.
If you post up, you need to use good footwork to get open and make sure you get a good shot. You must beat the opposing playing to an open spot. Having found a good spot, you must secure it. Good solid footwork will help you develop the skills you need for success.
Watch the pro’s play if you want to improve your game. Try to go to games, watch televised games, or check out videos of the pros playing. You will see that each great player has certain skills that make him great and you can practice what you see him doing.
When injuries occur on the court, it is unwise to keep on playing. This is an aggressive sport, and injuries happen often. Playing through an injury can prolong it which is always bad. Serious injuries may require medical attention.
Passing the ball is an important part of playing basketball so practice making and receiving passes. When you practice, be sure to do drills that improve catching wild throws and making great passes. During the game, not all passes will go where they’re intended. Make sure that your teammates also practice this type of pass with you.
Ask teammates what they admire about your playing skills? What do you need to focus in on and practice more? Perhaps they see you as someone who is fast on the court, or that you’re a really good teammate. See what others view as your own natural skills, then be sure you retain and develop them more.
To learn how to pass well, drill without dribbling. Playing without any dribbling is very hard, but builds your passing skills. This is very challenging at first, but eventually it will really improve your entire team’s passing game.
To properly handle the ball, you have to spread your fingers out. This gives you better control of the ball. Avoid putting your palm on the ball, too. Whether you are passing or shooting the ball, your fingers are the only part of your hand that should be touching the ball.
Practicing Alone
Always be aware of the locations of your feet and what they’re doing. If you slide onto the baseline, you will lose the ball for being out of bounds. Going too many steps with no dribbling is a waking call and turnover situation. You may get a foul call if you move your foot while you are attempting to take a charge, pick a charge or set a screen.
Perform skills, practice your ball handling and shoot free throws when you are practicing alone. Even though basketball is usually played with teams, it is sometimes the case that there just isn’t anyone around to play with. That is not a problem. You can accomplish a lot by practicing alone. You can practice many different techniques, such as your free throw routine. You can always find things to work on.
Passing between the legs is great when you are being closely guarded. Bounce the ball very hard through your legs while stepping to the front or the back. When you get this move down, you will have an advantage.
Make better passes through the use of coordinated hand signals. It is very frustrating when a teammate isn’t open for the perfect pass. A simple hand gesture can let your teammate know you’re ready for the pass. Without a signal, players shouldn’t attempt to pass.
When you’re practicing passing, try to look the other way. This will make your actions very confusing to the other team. If you do it right, the look makes members of the opposing team look in the wrong direction, which gives the person to whom you passed the ball plenty of time to make the shot. If you can master this move, it can really work in your favor.
The best free throws come as a result of routine. It could be that you dribble several times, bend at the knees, brush your hair out of your eyes or do something else. If you make your routine consistent, your body will eventually know how to make the shot every time.
Dribble hard if you don’t want the ball taken from you. Dribbling fast allows you to keep better control of the ball and there is a slimmer chance of it being stolen from you. If your opponent is playing you up close, stop what you’re doing and quickly look to find and open teammate to pass the ball to.
Try practicing how to pass while looking in another direction. Doing this is a great way to confuse your opponents. If you’re doing it correctly you can fake your opponent out so he/she moves towards that direction and then you pass the ball to a wide open teammate for a shot. When executed properly, this is a powerful play.
Take a charge if you can. Letting the other guy run into you stops the game without having to use a time out, and adds another four to the opponent’s total. This play can give your team a psychological boost, as well as demoralizing the other team.
To make your layups count the most, take off from the foot opposite your shooting hand. When shooting right-handed, take off using the left foot. This balances your body when moving towards your basket. It keeps your body in between you and the defender.
Trip up the offense by constantly changing your pace. When running towards the net, step on your front foot, and start to straighten up your body. Your guard will do the same, thinking you plan to stop. As hes does, plow forward and run by him.
Make your forearms and hands stronger so you can handle the ball better. Exercises that involve strengthening the wrist are especially helpful for dribbling. Never assume you can just stand somewhere, catch and then shoot. While this does happen on occasion, you should be moving in order to execute the play.
When you are defending, keep your stance low. This will aid you as you jump and make it easier to react to the front man. Maintain this low stance with arms raised until a shot or high pass is made. If you find you have to abandon your stance to do some blocking, get back into formation as fast as you can.
If you want to stay in a good defensive position, simply avoid breaking out of your defensive stance. Use a shuffling side to side motion to ensure you are in position. Avoid getting your feet cross as this makes it much more difficult for the opponent to get by you.
Avoid dribbling above your knees. This makes it difficult for the ball to be stolen. You need to bend your knees to have this happen, but you will be able to move along the court fast because you’ll be throwing off your defenders.
When you’re working with defense, staying low is a good idea. You will be able to react more quickly and jump higher because of this. Maintain this low stance with arms raised until a shot or high pass is made. If you find you have to abandon your stance to do some blocking, get back into formation as fast as you can.
Your off-court practice should mimic your on-court playing. Sprinting will help you develop speed, while running long distances will help you develop great stamina. If you need to perform better shots, work on your resistance by doing some weight lifting. You will develop a confidence and attitude that you make you a better shooter.
Keep your knees bent while dribbling. Standing straight will make you see that it’s harder to handle and easier for the opposing players to take. Bending your knees slightly will improve your overall ability to control the ball.
If you want to play better, communicate with your teammates so you know what they intend to do. Basketball is a sport played by a team. This means you can’t plan your strategy without taking your teammates into account. Be there for your teammates is important. Communicate and have everyone on the same page in order to play better.
Do off court exercises that will improve your game on the court. Sprinting will help you develop speed, while running long distances will help you develop great stamina. Lift weights to build your power. The confidence and adrenaline that builds don’t hurt either.
If you are aware that the person holding the ball has a weak hand, you should make them use it. Make them use the hand that their weaker with by cutting off the path on their strong side. Keep your head low and be prepared to steal the ball.
If you’re trying to guard a person that’s bigger than you are, try keeping between that person and the one in possession of the ball. That should make it difficult for the ball to be passed to them.
If you’re in possession of the ball, learn when you should be passing the ball to a player with a better shot and when you should be taking the shot yourself. It’s preferable to assist the winning goal, rather than be the sole reason a basket was missed,
This article has provided you with excellent ideas for improving your game, so the ball is in your court. Set goals and practice, as much as you can, to get better. When adding these tips, use them within the strategy you made to start seeing the improvements you’ve wanted.
Practice your pivoting skills to improve your performance on the court. A good basketball player can pivot without thought or tangling. Work on having a good pivoting stance and after that work on doing quick reactions after getting the ball.
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