It’s time for you to learn more about basketball. Even if you are a basketball player, there are things left for you to learn. Skills and talents can always be improved. So, perhaps you can learn something from this article. Continue reading to learn what you can do to be a better player.
Looking Forward
Make sure you are looking forward and looking up as you’re dribbling. If you are looking at the ball for any reason while dribbling, you have not put in enough practice. The ball can go with you when you go anywhere. Whenever you are walking and it is appropriate, dribble there. By looking forward instead of at the basketball, you are able to see the happenings on the court.
Practice your layup shot as frequently as possible. Eighty percent of the shots taken in a game are layups. When you practice, run toward the net, and then get a high jump in so you can smoothly shoot. Drill the jumping technique regularly so you can do layups very smoothly and always stay in control of where the ball is going.
Successful free throws require you to be mentally and physically strong. Training your body is important, but you also have to be mentally ready for the shot. Relax and concentrate on your basket to increase your free throws.
A great way to hone your own basketball abilities is to watch the pros. Try to go to games, watch televised games, or check out videos of the pros playing. You will see that each great player has certain skills that make him great and you can practice what you see him doing.
Try playing basketball games alone before and during the season. Many times you are unable to find people to play with. That is okay. You can still accomplish a lot when playing solo. You can practice free throws or pivot moves. This will help improve the hard parts of your game.
Unseen passes can be avoided when proper hand signals are used by teammates. Players can get easily frustrated if they make a pass to players that aren’t available to catch the ball. Avoid this using hand signals to see if they can get the pass. If you don’t receive a signal then realize your teammate is not able to get the pass.
Figuring out the opponent is a great way to do well against a tight defense. Pay attention to how they play. You should know if a player is right or left handed. If you know their game, you can defend against it. One of the most important keys to being a solid defender is an understanding of your opponent.
If you experience a slump in your scoring and shooting, your shoulders may be the cause of the problem. If your shoulders aren’t correct, you may not be able to make the shots. Be sure to keep the shoulders squared up to the hoop. Try to line your dominant shoulder up with the rim.
In order to be more reliable shooting free throws, practice your routine. That could include a set number of dribbles, knee-bends or some other type of movement. As long as this is a quick set of movements and it’s consistent, you won’t have any trouble having your body memorize what you’re doing.
Now you should be more confident in your game the next time you play. It is terrific to learn new techniques and see how they help your game. Keep these tips in mind to help you get better at basketball than you ever imagined. Basketball is fun to play and it’s a great sport to be a part of.