Do you enjoy basketball but feel like you’re behind on knowing all about it? There are many people who feel the exact same way. Few people know what it takes to shoot, pass, and block like professional players. This article is going to teach you some of the things that the pros know.
Focus on your strengths to get better at basketball. Your strengths might not make you a star player, but you’ll be contributing a lot to your team. Realize your limitations, and roll with your talents.
Paying Attention
A bounce pass is essential to learn. Good bounce passes need to hit the other player waist length when they receive it. It’s smart to get the ball to bounce about 75% to the receiving player. There are other variables to consider though.
Dribble while keeping your head upward and looking ahead. If you have to ever look at the ball while dribbling, then you haven’t practiced that enough. Wherever you go, take your ball with you. If you walk to the store, dribble the ball. Paying attention to the ball means you’re not paying attention to the rest of the game.
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 your mind and keep your concentration centered on the basket to make more of these freebies.
Your mind plays as big a part in making a free throw as your actual body does. You are able to train your hands and legs to free throw well, but if you think you will fail, you will. Take a deep breath, relax and imagine you are at practice to help yourself make the shot.
What do your teammates admire about your skills? Do you do something really good? Perhaps you are great backup or fast on your feet. Learn what the other people around you see while you are playing and it may open your eyes to new areas for practice.
A great way to bolster your basketball ability is to observe those who are considered to be the best in the sport. Try to go to games, watch televised games, or check out videos of the pros playing. You’ll notice that each player has a skill that they are great at. Choose a move that you like and start practicing it.
Figuring out the opponent is a great way to do well against a tight defense. Follow the scouting reports and watch tapes of their games. See if you can determine each players strong and weak sides. Understanding your opponent allows you to effectively play defense. One of the most important keys to being a solid defender is an understanding of your opponent.
If you’re going to be a jump shooter, don’t lift too many weights. Muscle strength is great for any position in basketball, you can have too much when it comes to perimeter play. Some guards increase their upper body to the point of harming their field goals.
When playing a game of basketball, have a friend tape the game. This way, you can take a look at your game. Do you see how you could’ve handled a situation differently? Honestly and openly assess your own performance. At times, it can help to see the truth of who you are, not as you imagine yourself.
Would you like to learn how to fool your opponent? You should try a back pass. To accomplish this, grab the ball with the dominant hand. Keep control of the ball while it is behind your back. Finally, flick your wrist towards the direction in which you wish that ball to travel. This should be helpful in tricking them team.
Passing between your legs can be helpful when the other team is riding you hard. Refine this skill by bouncing a ball with force between the legs while stepping backwards or forwards. If this move is something you master, you’ll have an advantage when you go out to play a game.
Hand signals will help you avoid those errant passes. It can be frustrating passing to a teammate when you’re both heading to the basket. Avoid this with hand signals that let you know if the player is open to receiving the pass. If the signal is absent, do not pass to that player.
To rebound off your fellow player’s free throws, use sly feet. The defender that’s below you will move towards you, so try to slip by them to obtain the ball. By doing this, you can increase your chance to get the rebound despite starting in a disadvantageous position.
If you’re injured in a basketball game, don’t attempt to play while in pain. Basketball is physically demanding, and injuries are relatively common. If you keep playing when you are injured, you could end up with an injury which keeps you from ever playing again. Be sure to talk to a doctor if you feel that the injury isn’t going away.
Try some drills that require you to move the basketball from one end of the court to the other in no more than five dribbles. This may seem quite difficult at first, but once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you’ll have great speed and stride length. This is a vital skill to give you points on fast break opportunities.
Focus on your footwork and your core strength in your workouts. This allows your body to be in balance and be more explosive on the court. Work the muscles in your abdomen, back, buttocks and hips. Similar to boxers, jump rope to help increase speed and better your footwork.
To improve your perimeter shooting, it is important to practice every day from various spots on the court. To improve even more, practice dribbling the basketball and then pull up fast for a quick shot. Hone in on your target while you are jumping, but not before you leave the ground. This can help to improve your accuracy by simulating actual game conditions.
Free Throw
Stay low and dribble the ball below the level of your knees. Defenders will have a more difficult time stealing the ball. You will need to bend somewhat for this to happen, but it’ll allow you to move quickly down the court as you ward off your opponents.
High percentage free throw shooters typically have the same free throw routine prior to each and every shot. For example, many people touch their foreheads or tap their chest before making a free throw shot. Keep it simple and consistent, and the routine will become a part of your muscle memory.
Use the hand that doesn’t have the ball as a block. Don’t push your opponent because that is a foul; however, you can use your arm as separator between your opponent and the ball. Just make sure it is kept slightly up while you use the other hand to dribble.
Dribble harder if you want to avoid the ball being stolen. This makes the ball come back to you faster so the people on defense aren’t able to steal it as easily. 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 different shots from different places on the basketball court. Practice your grip and proper balance. It is possible to succeed when shooting in an off-balance way, but the odds do suffer. Use the valve on the basketball to perfect your grip. Using your dominant hand, grip the ball with wide-spread fingers. Be sure that the center portion of your hand is covering the air valve located at the basketball’s center.
Always attempt to remain low when you are playing defense. This will help you be quicker on the jump and react to the man in front of you easier. Remain in a good defensive stance always. You should return to this position immediately after leaving it to block or defend.
Focus on the ball whenever it leaves any players hands. This can help you grab rebounds and intercept passes. When you are unable to get the basketball back, the way you defended the opponent is not important.
As the point guard approaches within 10 feet of the middle of the court, your guards should take action and create a 2-3 trap. This is when they should trap him. While that is happening, your forwards should race out to the opposing wing players. You will see the opposing point guard make a bad pass that anyone on your team can steal.
Make sure passing is an essential component of your overall game. Passing helps confuse the opponent. Not only will it teach you how to play as team, you become well-liked by your teammates. You will get time to show off your skills. Make sure everyone gets a chance to display their skills by passing the ball as much as you can.
The only way to gain skill in outside shooting is to make over 100 practice shots every day from various spots on the court. For even better results, practice the run-up to your shot in addition to the actual shot. Don’t look at the target until you are in the air. Your accuracy will get better and you’ll have a better idea of what real game conditions will be like.
Penetrating dribbling is essential to defeating the zone defense. Breaking through your opponents defenses and getting into the paint will cause your opponent to change what they’re doing. If you are safely inside the paint, you can try to make the shot. With a team mate open, you can throw out the ball so the player can make an easy shot.
Be certain to practice moves off the court that will truly help you on the court. Running, both sprints and long distance, can help your game. Build up your core muscles and the strength in your forearms. You will be able to shoot well with this confidence and aggression.
Practice dribbling the ball hard while still keeping it under control. A hard bounce means the ball’s speed is fast and it helps keep the ball away from the defender. Dribbling hard is your best option.
Having good communication on the court with teammates is a great way to play. Basketball is a sport played by a team. It is not a one-on-one game. Everyone must contribute as a team. Communicate and have everyone on the same page in order to play better.
You want to try to force your opponent out of bounds when playing defense. If you let someone shoot down the middle, you lose control. When they are sidelined, their choices for moves becomes very limited.
Make sure your dribble is consistent until you decide to shake up the opposing player. Your opponent is looking for the best opportunity to steal the ball, and switching it up can break their concentration. The change of sound and speed can confuse the opponent.
Never argue with game officials. Bad calls will be made but you are not going to change their calls. Getting up in their face to confront them over it isn’t proper team sport etiquette. Referees don’t have it easy, and being mad at all the calls will not help you play any better.
Have you been yearning to learn more about the game of basketball? This article can increase your enjoyment while watching the game and give you some guidelines if you decide to start playing. Start up a game and start using these tips.
You must have good communication when playing on a basketball team. In order to establish a solid base of communication, it must be practiced from the beginning. During practices you should create hand signals and phrases to help each other out. If everyone is on the same page and communicates well, you have a greater chance of success.
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