Basketball is a sport that is loved all over the globe. It’s a simple enough game for someone of any age to pick up. When playing, be sure you get along and work with your fellow teammates and stay positive no matter if you lose or win. When you seek to know everything you can about the game of basketball, the information you find below will be invaluable.
Dribble the ball correctly. 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. Look up, not down.
Focus on your strong point to help you become a better ball player. The best talent you have isn’t going to have you starring in every highlight reel, but having a good skill set can benefit your team. Clear self knowledge and dedicated practice will make you the best at what you do.
Any good basketball player needs to know how to make a layup. Four out of every five shots taken in a given game will be layups. When you practice, run full speed ahead at the basket, jump, and shoot. Running and jumping well in practice means better jump shooting in actual games.
Observing what the professionals do can be a great way to improve your game. Go to games, watch them on TV and you can also watch videos. By doing this, you will quickly find that players all have their unique subset of skills, allowing you the best chance to see what areas are the best fit for your personal game.
To learn how to pass well, drill without dribbling. This helps to develop passing skills with your teammates, making it much more difficult if you’re standing in one spot and not dribbling. Don’t get too frustrated if you’re having a hard time when you start because after a while passes are going to be more accurate.
Watch tapes of yourself playing basketball to get a more objective perspective. Do you see how you could’ve handled a situation differently? Be honest in your assessment but not overly critical. It can help you to see how you really are instead of what you imagine you are.
If the opposition is hot on your tail, pass between your legs. Practice dribbling the ball between your legs. If you get this down, you will have a major advantage on the court.
To help improve your ball handling skills, start incorporating your weak hand into your dribbling. If you use both your hands to dribble, it is easier to control. Exercise your non-dominant hand by securing your dominant hand at your side or behind your back. In no time, the weak hand will also be useful for dribbling.
Being a good defensive player involves disrupting your opponent’s concentration. Force them to leave their comfort zone. Your defensive moves must be aggressive and executed properly. Do not allow them to pick and choose their plays. This will give your opponent the chance to run over you. It’s important, then, to be aggressive and mess up their game rhythms.
Build up your forearms to become a better ball handler. Wrist curls are especially effective at making you better able to handle a basketball like you could dribble sleepwalking. Do not remain in one place. It’s not likely that you will be able to successfully catch and shoot without moving. You have to get the ball around, too.
Keep your knees loose when you dribble the ball. When you stand straight up, you’ll find that the ball is harder to control and the ball will be a lot easier for an opponent to steal. Bending your knees will make a big difference in the way you can control the ball.
To enhance your skills at shooting the ball from the outside, run drills every day from different locations on the court. To improve further, work on fast dribbling just before shooting. Hone in on your target while you are jumping, but not before you leave the ground. You can improve your accuracy to help you when the game is live.
Make sure the ball doesn’t bounce above your knees when you dribble. The other team’s players will have a difficult time stealing the basketball from you. This also allows you to cover large distances across the court, which makes it difficult for opposing players o block you.
Use the non-dribbling hand to create a buffer between the ball and your opposition. Don’t push your opponent because that is a foul; however, you may use your free arm to create a barrier that keeps your opponent away from the ball. Just keep it raised a little while you dribble with your dribbling hand.
Many shots from the court corner end up sailing right over the basket. Positioning yourself on the opposite side of the basket will increase your chances of getting the rebound.
Foster a positive relationship with your team members regardless of whether you are playing or practicing. A team that works together is an unstoppable team. When you trust your teammates, you’ll play a better game.
To what is basketball’s great popularity attributable? It’s due to the sport being fun and simple to play. When you love basketball, you should learn as much as you can about it. Use this advice to have fun while working hard to better yourself with these tips.