TIP! Make sure you learn how to shoot free throws. It seems easy to do but surely isn’t.

Basketball is a sport loved by millions and played all over the globe. To some it is an obsession. Professional players must work to give their fans something to cheer for. Start practicing now and improve your game. Continue on for excellent tips to ensure that you win as many games as you can.

TIP! Crossovers are very important if you’re a ball handler. This is when you switch hands while dribbling.

You can easily focus on offense when learning to play basketball, however, you must really focus how playing defense. In the end, it’s defense that consistently wins you games. Offensive skills are usually the most impressive ones but defense is something every team should work on.

TIP! Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. A lot of the game is sure to be played in the zone, but your opponent could change to man-to-man coverage.

Having a good foundation is key when shooting the ball. Sometimes you’ll see professional players fall out of bounds while making a shot from afar, but this doesn’t work at all times. They improvise to do that. Keep your balance so you can consistently win points.

Bounce Passes

TIP! When you’re trying to work out, you should build up your core strength while getting your footwork perfected. Your body will be more stable and easier to move when you have strength in your core muscles.

Teach yourself to throw bounce passes correctly. Bounce passes should not go above or below the receiving players waist. The ideal bounce pass should land about 3/4 of the way between you and the receiver. There are other factors you have to think about too, however.

TIP! In order to become better at dribbling the ball you should learn how to practice using your weak hand. Being ambidextrous on the court makes it more difficult for defenders to figure out what you will do next.

Your mind plays as big a part in making a free throw as your actual body does. You must be mentally strong to be a consistent free throw shooter. Be relaxed and concentrate on the basket and you will help you make more free throws.

TIP! Work on making your forearms and hands stronger in order to improve ball handling. Consider wrist curls and and exercise machine that focuses on strengthening each finger individually.

Practice catching passes often. Be sure to be able to catch off-target throws on top of good ones. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. Cover for your teammates’ errant passes by developing the hands to cover their mistakes.

TIP! The trick to grabbing a rebound on a teammate’s missed free-throw is to plan your footwork in advance. You’ll have a defender coming at you and this means you have to figure out what can be done to get around them.

Don’t limit your practice to just playing against the zone defense. While a good chunk of the game will most likely be played in zone, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you. You may lose control of the game if you aren’t prepared.

TIP! Dribbling hard helps you protect the ball. The ball will get back to the hand faster, giving the other team less of an opportunity to grab it away.

Don’t bulk up if you want to be good as a jump shooter. Being weighed down by too much bulky muscle can have a negative impact on your jump shot. Overdeveloped muscles could actually interfere with your score percentage.

TIP! Take charge when the opportunity presents itself. A charge can help you take the ball and perhaps set up a foul against the other team.

Do not wait for any special season to play some basketball. While it’s a team sport, you may not be able to find others that will play. There is nothing wrong with that. There is still much you can accomplish playing alone. Work on free throws or practice pivot moves. You can always do something.

Opposite Direction

TIP! To improve 3 point shooting, practice from NBA distance, at least. All the other lines are closer.

Practice passing while looking in the opposite direction. This will confuse your opponents. By looking in the opposite direction, your teammate has a few extra seconds to make the shot. It’s a great play if done properly.

TIP! Shoot from every point on the court thousands of times a day to get better. Try to practice a hard dribble followed by a quick shot.

As you can tell from above, there are many ways to increase your skills. Increasing your skills will also build your team’s success. From the concession stand cashiers to the referees, everyone plays an important role in the game of basketball. In basketball, it’s important to play as a team. The tips shared here can help you when it comes to knowing more about this fun sport.