For a long time, people of all ages have enjoyed basketball. Loving it an playing it are two separate things, however. You must have certain skills to do the latter. This article will help to fine tune your basketball skills.
Make sure you are looking forward and looking up as you’re dribbling. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while you’re dribbling. Take the ball with you wherever you go. You can practice dribbling when you have to walk to the store. Maintaining unbroken visual contact with the ball makes it difficult to be aware of your surroundings.
It is vital that you learn to crossover the basketball while dribbling. When you do a crossover, you move the basketball very fast from one hand over to the other hand. This action most be quick to work out. After doing so correctly, a crossover gives you greater control over the court’s flow.
To get better in your basketball game, focus on your strengths. You may not be the star player, but by contributing the best way you can you will win more games. Find you best position and then refine it until you are unbeatable.
Frequent pass catching practice is important. When practicing make sure you drill yourself to catch errant throws as well as picture perfect passes. When the pressure is on, not every pass will come straight to you. So you should do the team a favor by knowing how to take in any kind of a pass that comes from someone.
Do you want to fool the other team? Back passes are a great way to confuse other players. Perform this pass by holding the ball using your dominant hand. Next get the ball pulled up behind the back. Then, quickly snap your wrist toward the location where you want the ball to end up. This is a very useful trick to confuse the opposing team.
Play basketball games with yourself during the season and before it. These skills all help with muscle memory so you know just what to do when you’re playing in a game. It’s okay! Solo games also help. Maybe work on those free throws or practice your pivoting. There are always things that can be done.
When injuries occur on the court, it is unwise to keep on playing. Basketball is very challenging physically, and this can cause further serious injury. Trying to play through the pain could just cause more damage. Be sure to talk to a doctor if you feel that the injury isn’t going away.
In order to be your best on defense, take the time to completely understand the player you are guarding. Review tapes and keep up with scouting reports. Remember which player shoots left and which shoots right. Once you start to get to know the other team, you can do a lot better when you’re on defense. The more knowledgeable a defender is, the stronger he is.
Practice your footwork and control the position of your feet at all times. If you fall on a baseline, you will be out of bounds. If you take several steps while holding the ball, you could be called for traveling. You may need to keep your feet planted to avoid getting called for charging.
To be a good dribbler, and a more versatile player, you have to develop not only your dominant hand but your weaker side as well. By being able to easily dribble with two hands rather than one, you have a huge advantage over your defenders. Don’t allow yourself to use your dominant hand when practicing. Eventually, your weak hand will be able to dribble well.
When you have a chance, take a charge. The charge lets you build a defensive stop and get control of the ball. This can devastate a competitor psychologically as well as being a powerful play on the court.
In order to improve your weaker hand, make use of it for everyday things, such as brushing your teeth, eating out of a spoon, etc. By improving your weaker hand’s dexterity, your control over the hand will significantly improve. Soon enough you will see great improvements on the court.
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. Look at the target when you’re airborne and not a moment before. This can help you simulate the conditions of the game and also helps you improve accuracy.
Practice dribbling while switching the momentum of your body from side to side. Games require you to be able to dribble under all types of conditions. The court might be wide open, but you could just as easily be swarmed by many opponents. You’ll need to learn how to dribble while your body is leaning in different directions. This can help you find your way out of trouble.
Keep dribbling in the same rhythm, until finally you would like to throw the person guarding you off guard. You can surprise the opponent by changing up your dribbling. Speed and rhythm are two of the strongest advantages you can have to thwart the opposing team.
If you’re training to become a very good basketball player then start changing your diet. When playing regularly, you are going to need lots of carbs for serious energy, along with some fats and protein. Good things to add to your diet are nuts and nut butters, chicken, and wheat bread. Stay away from salt and sugar as much as possible.
A corner shot often bounces to the opposite end of the court. If that happens, you can guess the place where it will go and manage to get the rebound.
Basketball is enjoyed by people from all different backgrounds. To really have a great experience and to fully appreciate the game is to acquire as much knowledge about it. This article can help you build your skills.