Basketball is very popular. Whether is it the watching the championships, playing on a team of your own or just shooting hoops in your own yard, basketball is definitely here to stay. Everyone who plays basketball for competition wants to win. Check out the advice below to discover ways to help shift your game to that next gear.
Dribble properly. Instead of using your palm to dribble focus on using your fingertips. Using your fingertips will allow you to have better control when dribbling the ball. Dribble to your body’s side instead of doing it out front, and bounce the ball at your waist’s level. Keep your head up and do not look at the ground.
When dribbling, make sure that you look forward and keep your head up. If you are looking at the ball for any reason while dribbling, you have not put in enough practice. Bring your ball along when you go out. Dribble the ball when you’re walking to the shops. Remember, if you are directly staring at the ball, there’s no way for you to see what’s happening on the court.
To be a good post-up player in the pain, you need to have really good footwork. You must be certain to get the good spot ahead of your opponent. After grabbing the position, you need to hold the area. Both skills rely on some solid footwork.
Never play through an injury on the court. This is an aggressive sport, and injuries happen often. If you try to keep playing, you can hurt yourself worse. Anytime you have a serious injury, you should seek medical attention.
Find out what your teammates like most about how you play? Are you great at any one thing? Perhaps you are great backup or fast on your feet. Learn what the other people around you see while you are playing and it may open your eyes to new areas for practice.
One great thing to do if you wish to be prepared while playing is to make sure your back isn’t turned to the ball. You develop a good feel for the game around you, making it much easier to quickly react to your opponent. When your eyes are constantly assessing the game, you will be better able to make easy shots.
Have someone taper your games and then watch it to see how you look on the court. Can you see where you can improve your form? Are there things you might have done differently? Honestly and openly assess your own performance. You can learn a lot by watching how you play and what you need to concentrate practicing on.
If the opposing team is breathing down your neck, it’s a good idea to pass the ball between your legs. Refine this skill by bouncing a ball with force between the legs while stepping backwards or forwards. If this move is something you master, you’ll have an advantage when you go out to play a game.
Practice passing while looking in the opposite direction. This is a great way to fake out your opponents. When you do this right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. It’s a powerful play when done right.
As you’ve learned, there are various ways to better your game. It can be easy when you practice. Practice is important to anything worth doing – just do it! You can practice alone, play with teammates or enjoy a pickup game in your neighborhood.