For decades, people have adored basketball. Loving it an playing it are two separate things, however. You must have certain skills to do the latter. This article should be of help to fans and players of all skill and dedication level.
Many people only direct their attention to the offensive part of the game without realizing that defense is the key to winning. Defense is what keep the other team from scoring. Offense is flashier, so it draws the attention of fans and journalists, but a team that can’t defend well won’t win any games.
Make sure that you’re dribbling the ball correctly. Don’t use your palm to dribble. Instead, use your fingertips. This gives you the best ball control. Dribble to the side of your body rather than directly in front of you, bouncing at waist level. Don’t look down, always look up.
Focus on your strong point to help you become a better ball player. If you can rely on your strengths, you will become a better player. Learn what your strengths are, then practice to perfection!
Bounce Pass
Perfect your bounce pass. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player at waist level. One good rule is for you to bounce the basketball most of the way toward the other player. There are many factors which come into play, though.
Free throws are mental as well as physical. With everyone watching, it can be easy to allow the pressure to interfere with your game. Relax, take your time and be focused.
You can improve your skills by paying attention to how the pros play. Go to games, watch them on TV and you can also watch videos. Every truly great player has unique skills that you can learn from.
Do not practice by playing against the zone defense. Usually, a big part of the game is probably going to be in zone; however, the opposing team can suddenly switch to man-to-man to catch you off guard. If your practice hasn’t included this type of scenario, you might lose control rapidly.
Try playing basketball games alone before and during the season. Many times you are unable to find people to play with. This is perfectly acceptable. There is much that can be accomplished when playing on your own. Practice pivoting or doing free throws. You can always work on something.
Build hand signals so passes are more successful. Passing is tough, especially if you and your teammate are not in sync with one another. You can stay away from doing this if you use a hand signal to see if someone is ready for a pass. If they don’t signal, don’t pass to them.
If you get hurt during a basketball game, don’t try to play while in pain. It’s a challenging sport that’s very physical, and you have the ability to get injured. By “playing through the pain” you take a huge risk that the injury will become much worse. Visit a doctor if you think it’s serious.
Have your team mates critique your playing skills. What areas are your strong points? Perhaps they see you as someone who is fast on the court, or that you’re a really good teammate. You can learn a lot about your skills by knowing how others see you on the court.
Basketball is appealing to people of all ages, sexes and classes. The more you know about this sport, the more you will get out of it. Remember these tips in order to improve your basketball game.