When you first played the game of basketball, it was a whole new world. You learned to get the ball around from player to basket. Even if you have been playing for years, there are plenty of skills you can learn. The tips here are going to help you realize you can still learn.
It is important that you perfect dribbling the ball. When you dribble, use the fingertips, not the palm. This way you’ll have a lot more control over the ball. Avoid dribbling in front of you and only dribble to the sides of your body. Keep your head up, do not stare down towards the ground.
Dribble while keeping your head upward and looking ahead. You should never be looking at the basketball while dribbling. The ball can go with you when you go anywhere. On your way to the grocery store, practice your dribbling. Get used to looking up as you go so that you can focus your attention on the court and not on your hands and the ball.
Improving your balance means improving your shots. Everyone has watched a pro player drift out of bounds while still making their shot, but this isn’t something to emulate. They’re just improvising at this point. Good balance while shooting will lead to landing more baskets.
Core Muscles
If you have a child who has expressed interest in becoming a basketball player in high school, make sure he trains his core muscles. Focus on hips, lower back and abs. Stronger core muscles will help them be more resistant and allow them to develop many different athletic abilities. A strong core helps the legs move better, like jumping higher and running faster.
You may get injured while practicing or playing. Don’t try to play if you are hurt. Basketball is very challenging physically, and this can cause further serious injury. You can quickly turn a strain into a debilitating medical issue if you do not take a break from the action. Anytime you have a serious injury, you should seek medical attention.
When you’re working out, concentrate on core strength building and your footwork. Your body will retain balance and move quicker when you have strong core muscles. Concentrate your efforts on the back, abdomen, buttocks and hips. Jumping rope can also help you become lighter on your feet and quicker on the court.
Practice dribbling with your weak hand as much as possible. You will be able to get past your opponent more easily if you can use either hand to dribble the ball. Tie your dominant hand behind your back and force yourself only to use your weak hand. You will quickly strengthen your non-dominant hand for dribbling.
If you don’t want someone to steal the ball, dribble hard. This causes the ball to return to your hand more quickly, so the offense has less time to try to get it away from you. If the defense gets to be too much, look to pass the ball to someone who is open.
Take every charge you can. A charge can help you take the ball and perhaps set up a foul against the other team. This can be devastating to the other team.
To create a trapping machine in a standard 2-3 zone, have your two top defenders or your guards wait until point guard is about 10 feet from the time line or midcourt. They should then trap the point guard. As your guards are doing this, send your forwards out to the outside opponents. This will cause the point guard to throw a pass that will allow your forwards to steal.
To increase the strength of your weaker hand, utilize it for doing everything, including brushing your teeth and opening jars. Try becoming ambidextrous outside of the court, and you will soon find that you do not have a weaker hand when playing basketball. This will show in your next match.
Be certain to practice moves off the court that will truly help you on the court. You can run longer distances to build up stamina. To build speed, try doing wind sprints. Both are necessary for playing good ball. You can acquire muscle through weightlifting that helps with hustling and shooting. The passion which results will help you become a better shooter.
Practice shots from all regions of the court. Initially, you need to practice both your grip and your balance. Off-balance shooting can happen, but it’s not as accurate. You can perfect your basketball grip by using the ball valve. Spread the fingers of your dominant hand and put the center of your hand over the valve located at the center of the basketball.
Take control of opposing players’ movements. No matter what side of the ball you’re on, being able to direct your opponents movements is key to winning. Doing so lets you control your path, not them.
Be sure not to double dribble. To keep from double dribbling, simply refrain from starting to dribble a second time after you have already stopped dribbling once in that same possession. Once you stop dribbling, you choices are to either shoot or pass the ball. You’re not allowed to start dribbling again. That is also referred to as a turnover, and the ref will call it for your opponent.
You now have the knowledge you need to master the game. Set goals for yourself, and be sure you practice, practice, practice! When you add the tips and use them in your game, you’ll see the results you have always wanted.