TIP! Your balance is an important aspect to consider when you are shooting. We have all seen the professional basketball player falling out of bounds and making a basket from 30 feet away, but this is not proper technique.

Today is the day to learn about basketball. You are a good player, and you enjoy playing. Yet you do not know all there is to know about being a good basketball player. This article will give you some great advice about basketball. Read on to learn all new tips and tricks to improve your basketball game.

TIP! To improve your game, concentrate on your strong points. Your talent might not make you a star; however, learning your strengths will help you become a better team player.

You must become knowledgeable about hitting a free-throw shot. This seemingly simple shot can be difficult to execute under game conditions. When practicing your free throw, concentrate on where you want the ball to go when it leaves your hands. Put your weaker hand in front of the ball and center your stronger hand over the air valve in the basketball. Eye the basket and imagine the ball swishing down into it. Shoot the ball how you imagine it going in.

TIP! Lay off the weights if you are trying to become a jump shooter. Though muscle strength is great to have with any sport, it is very possible to be too buff for serious game play.

Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game. When you practice, be sure to run at the goal with full speed, jumping and shooting in a smooth series of motions. Jump to the net and concentrate on shooting the ball in a specific location on the backboard.

TIP! Play by yourself to practice. Sometimes you cannot find a team of people to play basketball with.

Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. The bounce pass needs to reach the player at waist level. If it helps to measure it out, consider aiming for a mark on the floor about three-fourths of the way between you and your teammate. There are other factors you have to think about too, however.

TIP! Should you receive an injury during the course of the game, never try to continue playing despite the pain. This sport is physically demanding and you can become injured.

Watching the pros play is a great way to see how great basketball players use their skills in the game. Go to actual games or watch on TV. Every truly great player has unique skills that you can learn from.

Core Muscles

TIP! You want to always be aware of foot placement and what you’re doing. If you slide onto the baseline, you will lose the ball for being out of bounds.

If your kid is going to try out for the basketball team, they should be properly training their core muscles. These core muscles for basketball include your lower back, hips and abs. These muscles form a bridge across the lower and upper parts of your body. When the core is weak, it is difficult to coordinate the movements of both halves. By developing a strong core, your legs will follow suit.

TIP! Work on passing through your legs to add another skill to your arsenal. Bounce the ball very hard through your legs while stepping to the front or the back.

Ask your fellow teammates if they have an opinion of your skills in the game. Are you great at any one thing? You may be quick with your footwork or are always there for backing them up. Discover what other people feel are your strongest skills and then set about perfecting them.

TIP! Learn to pass the ball without looking at your intended target. This may confuse your opponents, greatly.

If you aren’t shooting the ball well, you need to concentrate on your shoulders. Shoulders are the key to a consistently successful shot. Ensure that you line up your shoulders so that they are squared with the basketball net. The dominant shoulder needs to be lined up with the rim.

TIP! Being a good defensive player means disrupting the game of your opponent. Force them to leave their comfort zone.

If the opposing team is guarding you to much, you can try a pass between your legs. Practice this by bouncing the ball hard between your legs as you take a step forward or back. Perfecting this technique will help thwart the opposing team while you’re trying to advance the ball.

TIP! Always attempt to remain low when you are playing defense. Doing this allows you to have quick reactions, especially to your opponent.

Practice passing while looking the opposite direction. This is a great way to fake out your opponents. When you do it right, the opponents are going to think you’re moving in one direction. That way, the person you’ve given the ball to has a bit of time to look at the net to taking a shot. It can be quite powerful.

TIP! Only stop dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass the ball. After you halt the dribble, your options become quite limited.

You need to practice dribbling with your weak hand in order to be a more effective player. Being ambidextrous on the court makes it more difficult for defenders to figure out what you will do next. Hold the dominant hand behind the back and make certain you use just the weak hand. Soon enough you will develop those weak hand dribbling skills.

TIP! For exercise, do a workout regimen that will enhance your skills and presence on the court. Sprints helps with individual plays, and long-distance running gives you stamina.

Good footwork can really help you to get those rebounds. Be aware that the defender who is below you will start moving in your direction. Slip past him, and you can get the ball. This technique will help you rebound the ball without getting a foul called on you.

TIP! If a shooter is located at a corner, their missed attempt is likely to waft to the opposite side. Place yourself in position after this shot is made.

When on defense, try to keep yourself low whenever you can. 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. Remain in a correct defensive pose always. You may have to break your stance if you must block a shot, but return as fast as you can.

TIP! Create teamwork both off and on the basketball court. Basketball is a sport that goes so much further when a team truly connects.

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 your defending guards should encircle the point guard to trap him in place. Your forwards should then go cover the wing players. This can cause the point guard to pass the ball in a way that your teammates can easily steal.

TIP! Try to calm your nerves in order to become a top-notch scorer. Stay focused on the net.

Now, after reading this article, you should be better prepared when playing your next game. It’s great learning new things and watching how they can work for you. Show off your new abilities with the tips you just learned. Basketball truly is a thrill.