TIP! Practice your layups a lot. Since layups account for the majority of scoring in a game.

People love to play and compete in the popular game of basketball, which has attracted many since its inception decades ago. Focusing your attention on your skills goes a long way toward making you a more effective player. If you want to become a better player, you are sure to appreciate these tips.

TIP! Learn the way to throw proper bounce passes. If done correctly, a well-executed bounce pass will reach the player in a way that allows them to move immediately with the ball.

Perfect your free throw. As easy as these shots may seem, they are rather hard. Put this technique into practice as often as you can. Place the ball right in line with your face. Have your eyes on your goal and picture your ball going into it. Once you’ve visualized this, take your shot as you just saw it in your head.

TIP! Free throws have a huge mental element to them. You must train both your body and your mind.

When using the ball a lot, you must relearn a crossover. This is when you switch hands while dribbling. The move must be done quickly if it is going to work. By having the ability to move either way quickly, you will become a better all-around player.

TIP! Practice using different types of defenses. While a great portion of a game will be concentrated in the zone, your rivals could opt to go to man-to-man covering to keep you guessing.

Put the emphasis on your strengths can help you to be a better basketball player. You can contribute to the team by consolidating your best skills, even if these skills do not make you one of the star players. Understand your strengths and use it to your advantage to help your team win!

TIP! You can learn to trick the opposing team. Try doing what is known as a back pass.

Constantly practice layups. Layups sometimes wind up being 4 out of every 5 shots in basketball. Whenever you practice, approach the goal full speed, jump and take a smooth shot. This method will teach you to improve your jumps and shots throughout the game.

Bounce Pass

TIP! Ask fellow team members what they like about your skills on the court. Is there something that you excel at? Perhaps you are quick footed, or you are always ready to lend a hand on the court.

Perfect your bounce pass. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player at waist level. A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the receiving player is. There are other factors you have to think about too, however.

TIP! Focus on your footwork and core strength when working out. Your body will retain balance and move quicker when you have strong core muscles.

Free throws require as much mental focus as physical skill. Training your body is important, but you also have to be mentally ready for the shot. Relax and focus on the net, and you’ll be able to make more.

TIP! One thing to consider if your shooting percentage drops is that your shoulders may be inconsistent when you are shooting. If your shoulders are in a bad position, no matter how good you are, you won’t make the shot.

Passing the ball is an important part of playing basketball so practice making and receiving passes. When practicing, try catching great passes as well as really bad passes. Understand that during a game, you will receive very scattered passes. Some will be good; some won’t. So do your teammates a favor by learning how to consistently haul in their less than perfect passes.

TIP! For more consistency in making those free throws, stick with the same sequence of motions before you take each shot. This can be any combination of movements that makes you feel comfortable and prepare for the shot.

Before, during and after the season, play out games by yourself. There are times you may not find anyone to play with you. That should not matter. You are able to do a lot with solo games. Work on your pivot moves or practice your free throws. There is always something to practice.

TIP! To improve ball handling, consider focusing workouts on your forearms and hands. Exercises that involve strengthening the wrist are especially helpful for dribbling.

To get better at shooting free throws, make sure to keep a consistent pre-shot routine. Whatever you do, from bending your knees to dribbling three times, do every time. When you have a steady and consistent routine, your muscles will remember what to do to shoot those free throw shots.

TIP! Dribble very hard to prevent the opposing team players from stealing the ball. This speeds up the dribbling cycle, which means the person covering you has less of a chance to steal the ball each cycle.

A consistent pre-shot routine when at the line will increase your chance at success. When you stay consistent, you get better success. Repetition is an excellent way to improve your ability to make each free throw. Stick with a routine until you can perfect it. Failing to stick with your routine can adversely affect your shooting accuracy.

TIP! Stay low when you play defense. That helps you stay quick when it comes to the jump and will help you react more quickly to the person just ahead of you.

Practice drills where you strive to make it across the full court within 5 dribbles. You will need to learn how to push the basketball in front of you while making long strides. You will have easy layups on fast breaks and you will be able to advance your team easily.

TIP! To turn a normal 2-3 zone into a trapping machine, have your top two defenders (your guards) wait until the point guard has come about ten feet past the time line (midcourt). Then, they need to run at the point guard to trap him.

When you are defending, keep your stance low. Staying low will help you to be a more swift opponent when you mirror the man standing in your path. 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.

Stop Dribbling

TIP! If you’re serious about your game, you should take your diet seriously. When you play regularly, you need plenty of carbs for more energy, along with protein and fats.

Only stop dribbling if you want to shoot or pass. You do not have many options after you stop dribbling. If you decide not to shoot a basket or pass the ball on, you are only allowed to pivot on the heal that is furthest back. This leaves you vulnerable to being double teamed by members of the opposing team, and it is far more likely that the ball will be stolen.

TIP! One way to force turnovers is to make your opponent change course. With practice, you can learn how to control the path of others players with your footwork.

A good way to improve your game is by finding out from your teammates what they plan to do. Basketball is nothing if not a team sport. Offense and defense aren’t 1 on 1. Instead, all players help and support one another. If you believe others can help you improve, let them know. The result benefits you and your entire team.

TIP! Try to force your opponent to rely on their non-dominant hand. For example, if your opponent is right handed, force them to use their left hand.

Once you know the right basketball information, everything else falls into place. Read the article carefully and head out onto the court to get all of the practice you need before starting your next game. Keep all this information in mind to become better.