TIP! Perfect your layup technique. Layups account for up to 80 percent of the shots taken during a game.

You may be wondering what you must know to play basketball well. What information will learn the ins and outs of the game so I can be the player I want to be? The article below offers you a beginning point to giving you an understanding of the fundamentals of basketball, so keep reading and take this information to the court the next time you go out and play.

TIP! If you want to take jump shots, don’t spend time pumping iron. Strong muscles are certainly useful for basketball, but you can overdo it if you plan to play on the perimeter.

Many people forget that defense is as important as offense during practice. Defense is how you win a basketball game. While offensive players sometimes seem like the stars of the show, it is the efforts of defensive players that allow them to shine.

TIP! How would you like to trick the opposing team? Try the back pass. To properly perform this pass you will need to have the ball in your dominant hand.

Find out how to make free throw shots. It looks simple to do, but it isn’t that easy. Use the following directions to perfect free throws and practice often. Place the ball right in line with your face. Keep looking at the goal while visualizing the basketball going through the hoop. Shoot the ball how you imagine it going in.

TIP! Practice playing by yourself. Even if you can’t get a bunch of people together to play, you can still practice on your own.

Your mind plays as big a part in making a free throw as your actual body does. Your body can be trained to make free throws, but your mind has to be focused on success if you want to make the basket. Relax and concentrate on your basket to increase your free throws.

TIP! Footwork is the best way to find an opening shot. You always want to beat your opponent to the open spot.

Observing what the professionals do can be a great way to improve your game. It is important that you see how other people play the game. Each player has their strengths and you can learn a lot from each one.

TIP! A smart tip to follow while playing basketball is to always keep your eye on the ball and not away from the play. Always knowing where the ball is will make sure that you are ready if it quickly comes your way.

Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. A lot of the game is sure to be played in the zone, but your opponent could change to man-to-man coverage. If your practice hasn’t included this type of scenario, you might lose control rapidly.

TIP! Develop a routine to use every time you shoot a free throw. That could include a set number of dribbles, knee-bends or some other type of movement.

Do you want to fool the other team? Try doing what is known as a back pass. You want to grip the basketball with your strongest hand. Then, bring the ball back behind you. Lastly, flick your wrist in the direction that you want the ball to land. This will trick your opponents.

Core Muscles

TIP! It is important that you can clearly see everything that is occurring during a game. This will help you to secure the ball during the game.

If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, be sure they’re working on their core muscles. This includes their abs, lower back, and hips. The core muscles link lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they won’t have strong athletic performances. Strong core muscles help you with many movements associated with basketball.

TIP! Whenever possible, take advantage of an attack. Taking charges gives you a chance for earning a defensive stop, gives your team the ball, and gives one more foul called in your favor.

To keep passes under control, make use of hand signals. You can become easily frustrated when a teammate does a poor job of anticipating your next passing move. Hand signals help ensure that the player is ready to take the ball. If the person doesn’t make a signal the person shouldn’t get passed to.

TIP! Once you are in your defensive stance, remember to hold your ground. Use a shuffling side to side motion to ensure you are in position.

Watch your own recorded games, and look for weak areas. Are you able to look at your skills in a different light? Honestly and openly assess your own performance. A realistic view of yourself can be quite helpful.

TIP! To trap someone in a 2-3 zone, get your guards to wait for the point guard to get about 10 feet past midcourt. They can then trap the point guard.

Practice looking in a different direction when you pass. Doing this is a great way to confuse your opponents. If you do this fake the right way, then the receiver of the pass should have an advantage and a great look at the goal. It can be quite powerful.

TIP! A good way to improve your game is by finding out from your teammates what they plan to do. It takes the efforts of an entire team to succeed.

As soon as the ball leaves your teammate’s hands after a free throw, start moving into position. You’ll have a defender coming at you and this means you have to figure out what can be done to get around them. This allows you to grab the rebound legally.

TIP! If you are serious about basketball then you should be serious about your diet. Increase your intake of carbohydrates to boost energy levels.

You can make the 2-3 zone a lot more dangerous by having two defenders stay in this zone until a point guard is beyond the time line. At this point, your guards must rush the point guard thus trapping him. Simultaneously, forwards should block sprint toward wing players. By doing this, you increase the chances for your big men to steal the pass from the point guard.

TIP! Use your opponent’s weakness to your advantage, especially if they’re ball dominant with one hand. Use your body position to make the opponent move in a direction that is not as strong.

The only way to gain skill in outside shooting is to make over 100 practice shots every day from various spots on the court. To improve even more, practice dribbling the basketball and then pull up fast for a quick shot. Don’t look at the target until you are in the air. That helps you boost your accuracy.

TIP! If you are assigned to defend someone bigger than you are, try staying in the passing lane between your man and the current ball handler. That way, they will never be open to receive a pass, and they will not be able to make an easy shot over your head.

Keep dribbling in a particular rhythm until you think it’s time to trick the opponent. Consistent dribbling followed by fast dribbling can confuse your opponent and put you in place for a shot. Perfecting this can make you nearly unstoppable on the court.

Stop Dribbling

TIP! When defending against an opponent, it pays to try to get them over onto the sideline. If you let someone shoot down the middle, you lose control.

Double dribbling is considered a foul. This happens when you stop dribbling and then begin again. After you stop dribbling, your only options are to shoot or pass. You are not allowed to resume dribbling. If you double dribble the ball will be given to the other team.

TIP! For players that are advanced in basketball, dribbling works on a mental and a physical level. It is not only about bouncing the ball but the position, spin and speed of the ball in combination with your foot placement.

As you come off a rebound, come down with legs that are spread out wider than the broadness of your shoulders. This will increase your balance. Hold the ball with two hands tightly against your chest. Be careful with your elbows as hitting someone on the other team will be a foul.

TIP! Every shot that an opponent tries to make should be contested. Even if you are not assigned to a given shooter, run at him if he’s in possession of the ball.

Have you had all of your questions answered? Are you prepared to get out there and show off some new skills? Do you want to really improve your game based on the great information presented here? Keep going, keep practicing, and using these tips to better your results.