TIP! Make sure you are looking forward and looking up as you’re dribbling. If you must look at the ball while dribbling, you haven’t practiced enough.

Basketball is a game which is enjoyed by many people in many countries. Basketball players have a particular set of skills needed to win. If you’d like to figure out what you can do to get better at basketball, keep reading this article.

TIP! Crossovers are very important if you’re a ball handler. Crossover dribble is switching hands while you’re dribbling.

To improve your game, concentrate on your strong points. While you may have a particular skill that isn’t going to make you stand out as the star player, honing it can help you become an integral part of your team’s success. Know your strengths and practice them until you have perfected them.

TIP! If you want to improve your game, concentrate on your strengths. Your best talent may not make you the star of every game, but learning to play your best angle will help you contribute more to the team.

Practice your bounce pass. Bouncing the pass to the receiver should be at their waist. Remember you should bounce the ball approximately three-quarters of the distance between yourself and the receiving player. Many other factors will affect it, too.

TIP! Successful free throws require you to be mentally and physically strong. You’re able to train your whole body to do full free throw motions, but if you’re not mentally prepared, you will fail.

If you want to be a jump shooter, avoid pumping iron excessively. You do need muscle conditioning and strength, but you can have too much when it comes to shooting field goals. Some professional shooting guards made their arms so big that it started decreasing their field goal percentage.

TIP! If you become injured when playing basketball, stop immediately. Basketball is physically demanding and you can easily get hurt.

Would you like to fool the opposing team? How about the behind the back pass? To start, grab the ball using your good hand. Now, pull it behind your back. Lastly, flick your wrist in the direction that you want the ball to land. This helps trick your opponents.

TIP! During your workouts, concentrate on improving your footwork as well as your core strength. With a stronger core, you’ll be able to balance better.

Hand signals will help you avoid those errant passes. It can be frustrating making a pass when a player moves away towards the basket. A simple hand gesture can let your teammate know you’re ready for the pass. If no signal is displayed, a pass ought not be made.

TIP! If your shooting is suffering, take a close look at your shoulders. When the shoulders are wrongly positioned, your shot is unlikely to succeed.

If you’re on the offense, you footwork needs to be excellent to stay open for passes and shots. While physical presence under a basket is important, finding a decent spot before the opponent is even more so. After establishing good position, you need to make sure you hold it. The key to this relies on having good footwork.

TIP! In order to be more reliable shooting free throws, practice your routine. That could include a set number of dribbles, knee-bends or some other type of movement.

Never play through an injury when playing basketball. Basketball is very challenging physically, and this can cause further serious injury. Continuing to play when you are in pain can make an injury worse. Seek medical advice immediately if you have more than a minor muscle strain.

TIP! Practice passing while looking in other directions. This will make your actions very confusing to the other team.

What do your teammates admire about your skills? What do you need to focus in on and practice more? Perhaps they see you as someone who is fast on the court, or that you’re a really good teammate. Find out what your strong points are in the eyes of others. This way you can develop your most valuable skills.

Free Throw

TIP! You can improve your ability to handle the ball by working out your forearms and hands. Curling your wrists also help you improve your own dribbling.

A routine can enable your free throw percentage to rise. If you aren’t consistent, you will find that your shooting is off. Free throw shooting is best improved by lengthy sessions of repetitive practice. If your free throw routine is out of whack, you will miss.

TIP! Basketball players need to engage in strength training. In addition to strength, stamina is key in basketball.

A good drill to try is the five dribble drill. You try to get the ball the entire length of the court in only five dribbles. This seems an impossible feat when you start. By working on this drill regularly you develop speed and great, lengthy strides. In games, this drill will become useful when you have fast break opportunities.

TIP! If you are in a defensive position, keep yourself low. You will become faster and react faster.

Always stay low when playing defensively. This stance will keep you ready for whatever comes your way. You always want to have a strong defensive stance on the court. The only time you should be out of your stance is when you are jumping to block an opponent shooting.

TIP! When you dribble, keep your knees comfortably bent. The ball is harder to control dribbling when you stand up straight.

To trap someone in a 2-3 zone, get your guards to wait for the point guard to get about 10 feet past midcourt. This can give them an opportunity to run up to that point guard to trap them. As your guards are doing this, send your forwards out to the outside opponents. The point guard should throw up a pass that your forwards can easily steal.

TIP! To make your three-point shot better, practice it from the minimum NBA approved distance. College, as well as high school three-point lines are set at a shorter distance.

If you want to improve your three-point shooting, try and do it from the NBA distance, at a minimum. High school lines, International standard lines, and college lines are closer. If you are able to make NBA-range three-point-shots, you will be able to find more open looks during your own games.

TIP! To become a much better basketball player, try speaking with teammates and learning what they do. Basketball requires a team.

Anyone who plays basketball wants to get better. After reading the advice here, you should know what needs to be done to improve your game. Keep practicing and you’ll get better.