TIP! Make it a point to concentrate on both your defensive and offensive skills. Focusing only on offense does not make you a well-rounded player.

Basketball is a great game for men, women and children. People from all walks of life are able to have a lot of fun when playing a game of basketball. You can really impress your friends with the techniques you’ll learn here. What moves you say? Continue reading this article to learn new things that you can try.

TIP! Make sure you dribble properly by keeping your head held up, facing forward. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while you’re dribbling.

Practice layups often. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game. Practice running while dribbling, jumping and shooting as smoothly as you can. Running and jumping well in practice means better jump shooting in actual games.

TIP! Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. This is the most popular shot in basketball.

Boost your defensive abilities by studying the opposing team and its players. Watch tapes of their games and see how others move on the court. See if you can determine each players strong and weak sides. Once you have a solid idea of your opponent, you can dial in on the best way to defend. A defender with an education will be good at what they do.

TIP! Frequently train yourself on your pass catching moves. Make sure you get used to catching less than perfect passes smoothly.

If you’re shooting isn’t what you’d like it to be, make sure that your shoulders are in the correct position. If you have bad shoulder position it doesn’t matter how great you are the shot isn’t going to go in. Keep your shoulders square in line with the basket. The shoulder that’s dominant should be in line with the rim.

Free Throw

TIP! When developing your jumping skills, limit your use of weight-training. Muscle strength can be great for basketball players, but it is actually possible to have excessive amounts for playing on the perimeter.

Develop a routine to use every time you shoot a free throw. Always dribble the same way, or with the same movements. When you have a steady and consistent routine, your muscles will remember what to do to shoot those free throw shots.

TIP! Would you like to pull one over on the other team? Try doing a back pass! To accomplish this, grab the ball with the dominant hand. Now hold the ball behind you.

To increase the efficiency of your layups, begin your takeoff on the foot opposite from the hand you’re shooting with. This will allow you to shoot with your comfortable hand. That will build your balance and help you stay in the right position.

TIP! In order to get a good shot, good footwork is essential when posting up. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop.

Build a routine to improve your free throw game. If you’re consistent, your shots will be too. Practice and repetition are the only way to become a consistent free thrower. If you are off your game, you will not make the shot.

TIP! Practice looking the other way when passing. This will easily confuse your opponents.

Try to keep the ball in your line of sight at all times. Not to just be able to see the scoreboard, but to actually make a shot and catch a pass. Your peripheral vision should be the best it can be. Being aware of the entire court will help you to better anticipate who will move where.

TIP! Ensure that you have good court awareness. Not to just be able to see the scoreboard, but to actually make a shot and catch a pass.

If you see a chance to gain control of the ball, take it. By taking charge you can create a defensive stop so you can get the ball, and allows you to create setups so that the opponent will foul you. This may lower the other team’s morale, and it gives you a chance to take the offensive when play resumes.

TIP! To increase your basketball playing abilities, consider strength training exercises. It’s important to have stamina and strength when playing basketball.

Stay low when playing defense. This stance will keep you ready for whatever comes your way. Make sure you always maintain your defensive stance. When you block a shot, go back to a defensive form quickly.

TIP! Maintain a lower position as 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.

If you want a 2-3 zone to be turned into a machine that traps, your two defenders that are guarding should wait until your point guard is around ten feet past mid court. Once your opponent is trapped, he will have no option but to make a pass. While that is happening, your forwards should race out to the opposing wing players. A pass should be thrown by the point guard for forwards to steal.

TIP! To help practice three-point shooting you should practice shooting at the NBA distance. High school lines, international standard lines, and college lines are much closer.

AS you dribble the basketball down the court, keep your knees bent. When you are rigid, the ball is not only hard to control, it is also an easier target for a rival to steal. To help out your ball control, try bending the knees.

TIP! Do not stop dribbling unless you’re going to shoot or pass. When you stop dribbling the ball, you only have a limited amount of plays you can perform.

To better three-point shooting, try using NBA distance as the 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! Work on dribbling the ball while switching the momentum of the body from side to side. During a game, you’ll be dribbling in all kinds of situations.

Use the hand you’re not dribbling with to create a barrier between the ball and the opponent. You never want to push the opponent with your hand, but it is possible to use your free hand to secure the ball. Keep is slightly up as you dribble with your other hand.

TIP! You should always have your free hand between you and your opponent when dribbling the ball. You can’t push with that arm, but it can serve as an obstacle that helps keep your opponent from reaching in.

Practicing your skills will ensure that you are confident whenever you play. You may know some things that some of your friends aren’t aware of. Just keep the game fun. Play anytime you get a chance and make having fun a priority, even though you should also look for ways to implement the strategies you just read.