Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. From playing at the park to watching the best in the sport play for a championship, Basketball is a sport that reaches a lot of people. If you enjoy playing the game, no doubt you want to show your best on the court at all times. These tips will help you improve your game immensely.
Practice Catching
It is important to practice catching the ball from others as much as passing. You want to practice catching perfect passes and bad passes. In the middle of a heated game, not all attempted passes will go exactly where you want them to go. Make sure that your teammates also practice this type of pass with you.
Want to trick the other team? Back passes are a great way to confuse other players. To start, grab the ball using your good hand. Then, move the basketball around your rear. Then you will use your wrist and flip it in the direction you want the ball to be going. Doing this will trick your opponent.
Try playing basketball games alone before and during the season. Basketball is a multiple player sport, but other people won’t always be around. Don’t fret! You can still get a lot accomplished with solo games. Maybe work on those free throws or practice your pivoting. Many things can be practiced.
Never play through an injury on the court. It is possible to receive an injury when playing basketball because it is a sport that is physically challenging. Being tough is one thing, but playing through injury can only harm you even further and make the problem much worse. Serious injuries may require medical attention.
Be aware of what your feet are doing and where they are. When you are in possession of the ball, touching the baseline will get you out of bounds. Holding the ball for too many steps and not dribbling will result in a walking call which will cause you to you will lose possession of the ball. A foul will result if you try to take a charge or set a pick and your feet are moving.
Have your games taped so you can play them back later and observe your court presence. While reviewing the tape, look for opportunities you may have missed during the game. Stay honest when you’re assessing yourself, but don’t over criticize yourself either. Analyze your skills honestly so you can become the player you want to be.
To become a reliable free throw shooter, always go through the same routine before each shot. It could be that you dribble several times, bend at the knees, brush your hair out of your eyes or do something else. Just make your routine quick, so that it can be consistent, and your body is going to remember just how to nail free throws following your ritual.
If the opposing team is breathing down your neck, it’s a good idea to pass the ball between your legs. Practice this by bouncing the ball hard between your legs as you take a step forward or back. Once you get the move down, you can use it to gain a tactical advantage.
Practice drills where you strive to make it across the full court within 5 dribbles. This initially seems undoable, but it helps build speed and stride. Mastering this skill can help you to really improve your game.
Try to keep the ball in your line of sight at all times. You will need it for more than checking the scoreboard or passing and shooting. Develop your peripheral vision on the court. Being aware of the entire court will help you to better anticipate who will move where.
Take charges whenever possible. A charge leads to a turnover by the opposing team and gives you the ball back. Perfecting this play can really give you an advantage on the court.
When you are on defense, make sure to keep yourself low. This will help you be quicker on the jump and react to the man in front of you easier. Maintain proper defensive position at all times. If you need to block someone’s shot, quickly get back into your stance.
To improve your perimeter shooting, it is important to practice 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. When you are off the ground, keep your eye on the basket, but not earlier. Your accuracy will get better and you’ll have a better idea of what real game conditions will be like.
Always practice from all spots on the court. The first thing you should do is practice your grip and balance. It is possible to make an off-balance shot, but it has less accuracy. The valve that’s on the basketball can be used to improve your grip. Spread your dominant hand over the ball, positioning the valve in the middle of your hand; this is the center of the ball.
You now know that there are countless tactics to make you a better player. Some techniques are easy to learn through practice. Practice is essential to mastering any of these, so be sure that you’ve got access to a hoop and try to play basketball when you can. You can build better basketball skills no matter who you practice with.