Never let bad habits get in the way of making your basketball game all it can be. A bit of advice can go a long way in making you an amazing player. The easy to implement tips below can help you inspire you into becoming an amazing basketball player on the court.
When handling the ball, make sure you spread out your fingers. This makes it less likely that the ball will slip away from you. Also, keep your palm from making contact with the ball. Only your fingers should be involved in the process of getting the ball to where you want it to go.
Keep in mind that basketball shoes don’t last forever. Ask questions at the store or do research to find out just how many games or months a good pair should last before needing replacement. You need to feel safe in the quality of your footwear when moving on the court.
Children who aspire to become great basketball players in high school must engage in physical fitness activities that focus on the core muscles. That means their hips, lower back and abs. Without a strong core, a player’s performance may not be as good as it could be. A strong and solid core allows force that is generated via the legs to be used for helpful movements during the game like higher jumps and faster running.
Stop and ask your coach what you can do to help the team improve. Basketball is a team sport and every component must be working towards a common goal. The coach is there to offer guidance and provide instruction. Ask if there’s anything specific you can do to help and follow his advice.
Learn how to do a crossover if you plan to be in possession of the ball a lot. Crossovers are when you move the ball from one hand to the other while dribbling. If done quickly, the opposition won’t be able to get the ball away from you as you can pass it to the side they are not on.
Stick with the same routine every time that you do free throws. You have 10 seconds to shoot, so you can use that short period of time as you like. You can bounce the ball a couple times, spin it within your hands, talk to yourself, etc. Try to be creative and find a routine that works best for you. You will eventually get more comfortable with this shot by doing the same routine over and over.
Moving without the ball is an important skill to master if you want to become a better scorer. Standing still while on offense just makes you that much easier to guard. Instead, you should stay active and constantly be moving around. You’ll not only wear down your opponent, but you’ll also get more open shots.
Remember that being good at basketball starts with being athletic. That means working on all of your skills, not just those which involve a ball. Run to build stamina and your cardiovascular health, and lift weights to build your strength. The harder you work on your overall condition, the better you will play.
To play the best defense, you have to beat your man to the place he wants to go and force him to go somewhere else. This means that your feet have to move quickly, so practice shuffling from side to side without crossing your feet. This is the quickest way to move laterally on the floor and will frustrate your man.
Stick with full court basketball during practice. It might be fun to play some half court ball games, but you aren’t teaching your team how to deal with the full court. Plus, the rules of a half court game may be quite different than a full court game. It’s best to practice what you’ll be doing during game time.
Don’t think that a shot has to be perfect to be taken. A lot of good shooters constantly remind themselves that the standard goal is large enough to take in two balls at once. There’s also a backboard that sometimes gives a lucky bounce. That leaves a good margin for error where you can make a less than perfect shot and still get points.
Holding the ball correctly means using just your fingers, and that requires great hand strength. To build this, hold the ball in your right hand and squeeze your fingers together until it flies out and over to your left hand. Repeat on the other side, and continue until your fingers become tired.
All it takes is using the tips you’ve read here to become a better player. Use what you’ve learned to replace your bad basketball habits with improved skills you’ve gained from this article. When you begin to implement changes, you will find that you never look back on your old self.