TIP! Focusing on the offense may come easily but you need to be able to focus on the defense as well., In the end, it’s defense that consistently wins you games.

With so many fans around the world showing their love for the game, it is clear that basketball is one of the most popular sports. If you really want to enjoy the game, either from watching from your seat or being on the actual court, it is important to understand the game thoroughly. This piece is intended to help people do that.

TIP! It is important that you perfect dribbling the ball. Don’t use your palm to dribble.

You need good balance when you shoot. Everyone has watched a pro player drift out of bounds while still making their shot, but this isn’t something to emulate. Those who do this are improvising. You need the right balance to shoot; it is the only way to eventually make consistent baskets.

TIP! If you handle the ball often, you need to learn how to do a crossover. Crossover dribble is switching hands while you’re dribbling.

Work on improving your strengths to become an even better player. Your strengths might not make you a star player, but you’ll be contributing a lot to your team. Knowing what you excel at and then practicing that can help you become perfect at it!

TIP! It is important that you practice layups. Layups account for up to 80 percent of the shots taken during a game.

Make sure that your regular practice includes catching of passes. When you practice, be sure to do drills that improve catching wild throws and making great passes. During a game, not all of your passes will hit the mark. Cover for your teammates’ errant passes by developing the hands to cover their mistakes.

TIP! Hand signals can help stop you from turning the ball over. It is very frustrating when a teammate isn’t open for the perfect pass.

Completing passes to your teammates is just as important as dribbling the ball. It is difficult playing without dribbling; however, it helps the team make better passes. Even though this is not an easy drill, you will be rewarded for your efforts during game time.

TIP! If you’re posting up, good footwork is the key to getting open and getting a good shot. While physical positioning is important, it is even more essential to move quicker than an opponent.

When developing your jumping skills, limit your use of weight-training. Muscle strength is beneficial for playing any basketball position, but there is such a thing as too much. Some shooting guards worked on their arms so much that they started lowering their percentage of field goals.

TIP! You can play a great defensive game if you know the opposition well. Review videotapes and monitor scouting reports.

Ask your fellow team members which of your skills that they admire. Can you get better at something? Continue to develop the skills that play into your natural abilities. Learn what the other people around you see while you are playing and it may open your eyes to new areas for practice.

Playing Fast

TIP! If your opponent is pressing hard, you can give yourself some room to work by dribbling the ball between your legs. You can practice this technique by stepping forward or backward and bouncing the ball with force between your legs.

A good basketball player is really quick on his feet. Developing speed and vision is vital to playing the game well. Playing fast requires steady drilling. Don’t try playing fast until you can. If you push too hard, your performance may be haphazard, and the game may get out of control.

TIP! In order to do the best you can with layups, you’ll want to take off with the foot that is opposite of your shooting hand. Thus, if you tend to shoot with the right hand, make sure to jump off with the left.

It is important to be aware of the location of your feet and just what they are up to. If you have the ball and you step outside the baseline, then you’re out of bounds. If you take several steps while holding the ball, you could be called for traveling. You can’t move a foot when you take a charge, pick or screen either, or it’s a foul.

TIP! A good player on defense will annoy the heck out of the opponent and cause the other team to get flustered. Force them away from their comfort zone.

Your routines must be consistent for free throws. A routine that is constantly in flux will only open up more opportunities for failure. You should work on your free throw techniques as much as possible until they become a second nature. If you don’t do the routine right, then the shot won’t make it.

TIP! Improve both forearms and hands to improve ball control. Curling your wrists also help you improve your own dribbling.

There is hardly a game more loved internationally than the fine sport of basketball. You will find the game more enjoyable after you read this article and gain a basic understanding of how it works. Hopefully, the above tips can be of use to anyone wanting to learn about basketball.