TIP! It is tempting to concentrate just on offense when just staring out, but defensive practice is absolutely vital. Basketball games are won with a good defense.

Basketball is an old sport, originating with Dr. James Naismith in 1891. Since that time, it’s exploded into a beloved sport by many. Players such as Julius Erving. From Kareem Abdul Jabaar to Michael Jordan and Ervin “Magic” Johnson, it has truly become a game of celebrities. If you would like to read more about what made them successful, continue to the article below.

TIP! Learn the mechanics of a free throw. As easy as these shots may seem, they are rather hard.

Correct dribbling is key. Don’t use your palm to dribble. Instead, use your fingertips. This will give you better control of the basketball. Dribble off to the side waist high. Always look upwards, never at the ground.

TIP! Frequent pass catching practice is important. Try to catch all of the passes that are thrown to you.

Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. If you need to look at the ball while dribbling, you’ll need to practice more. Take the basketball around off-court wherever you are. Dribble while walking to the store. You will not be able to see what’s happening before you on the court while beholding the ball.

TIP! Build hand signals so passes are more successful. Players can get easily frustrated if they make a pass to players that aren’t available to catch the ball.

Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. In order for a bounce pass to be sufficient, the person should receive the ball around their waist. It’s best to bounce the basketball about 75 percent of the way towards your teammate. There are many factors which come into play, though.

Practice Catching

TIP! Make sure, no matter what else happens, you can see where the ball is. It’s all about court awareness, and always facing the ball will make it so you are less surprised by passes.

Practice catching passes as often as you can. You should practice catching errant passes, along with perfectly executed ones. Some passes may be too high, too low or off target, so you should practice receiving passes often. So do your teammates a favor by learning how to consistently haul in their less than perfect passes.

TIP! Making a pass from between your legs is sometimes a good option when the opposing team is right on top of you. Step forward and back while dribbling the ball between your legs hard.

You should practice against a variety of defense types, not just zone. The majority of the game is in that area, but be careful about a team who changes things up. This can cause your team to lose momentum to the other side if this isn’t something you’ve practiced.

TIP! Practice passing while looking in other directions. This will confuse your opponents.

Quality footwork will help you get better shots. You need to have physical presence beneath the net, but you also have to choose the right spot to be in. When you are in position, you must secure your spot. Expert footwork is the key to these skills.

TIP! Dribble hard if you don’t want the ball taken from you. This will make the ball come back to you faster, and the opponent will have a hard time to get it from you.

Never play through an injury on the court. You can easily tear a muscle or even break a finger while playing. Trying to play while injured will just make your situation worse. Don’t hesitate to see the doctor if you feel the injury warrants it.

TIP! Perform drills where you attempt to get the ball up full-court in 5 dribbles or less. This may seem quite difficult at first, but once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you’ll have great speed and stride length.

Figuring out the opponent is a great way to do well against a tight defense. You should be look at scouting reports, practicing techniques and watch tapes. For example, you should know which of the players are left-handed and which are right-handed. If you know their game, you can defend against it. The more knowledgeable a defender is, the stronger he is.

TIP! Varying your pace and direction keeps the offense off guard. Try to block the net by planting your foot hard.

Stay on top of your footwork when attempting a rebound. Use your feet to slip around the opposing player below you, then get into position for a rebound off the rim. This allows you to grab the rebound legally.

TIP! To improve your perimeter shooting, it is important to practice every day from various spots on the court. To improve even more, practice dribbling the basketball and then pull up fast for a quick shot.

Continuously dribble the ball until you have an opening to pass it to one of your teammates, or you are prepared to shoot. You do not have many options after you stop dribbling. Aside from using your back foot to pivot, you have very little freedom. This leaves an opening for your opponents to double team and try get the ball away from you.

TIP! Try practicing your dribbling while switching the momentum of your body from side to side. When you’re playing a game, you have to dribble when you’re in a lot of different situations.

Use workouts to better your game. Running sprints helps you get faster for individual plays, and long-distance running is better for improving your game stamina. Working out with weights helps to improve your muscles and the physical part of the game. Building your muscles and your confidence will help you game in many ways.

TIP! Dribble rhythmically until you are ready to throw your opponent’s guarding capabilities into disarray. A consistent dribbling broken up by a fast paced dribble can surprise your opponent and give you a major edge for a shot.

The basic requirements for a basketball game are relatively modest. A handul of players, a solid court, and a net are the only things needed to play. A strong knowledge is required if you want to play it well. Start with the tips presented here and continue to add to your knowledge of basketball.