People of all ages have loved basketball for years. However, just because people love the sport doesn’t mean they play well. This article was put together to help anyone who wants to play basketball to appreciate it so they can do better at it.
Learn to crossover if you get the ball often. Crossovers involve sending the basketball from one of your hands over to the other one. You must do it fast for best success. One done the right way, the crossover dribble can help you change directions and get down the court more efficiently.
Practice your layup shot often. Four out of every five shots taken in a given game will be layups. Run full tilt to the basket, then smoothly jump and shoot. If you can do this right, you can master this shot.
Connecting on your free throws is as much mental as it is physical. You are able to train your hands and legs to free throw well, but if you think you will fail, you will. Relax and focus on the net, and you’ll be able to make more.
One great way to pass good is to drill when you can without dribbling. It is hard to play a game when you don’t dribble, but it will help you to be sure that everyone is passing accurately. Try not to lose yourself in frustration if you do not master it immediately, with the more time that passes with you and your team practicing, the more accurate they will become.
When developing your jumping skills, limit your use of weight-training. Being weighed down by too much bulky muscle can have a negative impact on your jump shot. Some professional shooting guards made their arms so big that it started decreasing their field goal percentage.
Would you like to pull one over on your opponents? Consider the back pass. You want to grip the basketball with your strongest hand. Next get the ball pulled up behind the back. Finally, flick your wrist towards the direction in which you wish that ball to travel. This is a very useful trick to confuse the opposing team.
Playing Basketball
If you’re injured when playing basketball, don’t push through the pain. It’s easy to be hurt when playing basketball. Trying to tough it out and keep playing, even if you are experiencing discomfort, can exacerbate an injury even more. See a physician if you think your injury is serious.
Ask your fellow team members which of your skills that they admire. They will probably notice the things you do best. You may be quick with your footwork or are always there for backing them up. Find out how your game appears to others and develop your skills accordingly.
Play a good defense by knowing your opponent. Study video tape on your opponent and read over any scouting reports. Also know which is their dominant and weak hands. Once you start to get to know the other team, you can do a lot better when you’re on defense. A smart defender is someone who is good at his position.
When exercising, concentrate on building up core strength and improving your footwork. Your body will naturally balance well if you have strong core muscles. You should get a good workout in your hips, buttocks, back and abs. You will improve your speed and footwork if you jump rope like boxers do.
Practice passing while looking in other directions. This is a simple thing that could easily confuse your opponents. When you do this right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. It can be quite powerful.
Always stay low when playing defensively. Staying low gives you a better chance to play the ball and helps you move more quickly. Maintain proper defensive position at all times. If you break form in an attempt to shot block, return to the proper form as soon as you can.
Basketball appeals to all types of different people. The secret to both enjoying a good game and playing a good game is personal knowledge. Refer to the information presented here to enhance your game in an ongoing manner.