Whether shooting hoops like the pros or cheering from bleachers, you should have basketball knowledge to be able to fully enjoy the game. Are you lost? Don’t worry. Basketball is not the easiest game to learn but you can do it. Read on for some basketball tips that will have you calling all the shots and making the slam-dunks for your team.
It’s simple to want to work on offense when you’re getting into basketball, but it’s smarter to think about defense practice too. Basketball games are won because of good defense. Offense receives all the glory, but it is nothing without the best defense.
You need good balance when you shoot. Many the professional player can be seen slipping out of bounds or making baskets from far away, but these are not proper techniques. These are not practiced skills, they are just flukes. Good balance while shooting will lead to landing more baskets.
Don’t pump a lot of iron if you wish to become a jump shooter. While muscle mass is good for any basketball position, perimeter play requires less than other positions. Overdeveloped muscles could actually interfere with your score percentage.
See if your teammates admire something in particular about your game play. Can you get better at something? Maybe you are quick like lightening or maybe you are a strong defender. Develop your strengths even further and look for ways to improve your weaknesses.
Being able to anticipate your opponent is a key skill. Watch tapes and be sure you’re paying attention to scouting reports. Figure out which people are right or left handed. Having a good understanding about your opponent strengths and weaknesses allows you to focus on how to better stop him. When you are prepared, you play better defense.
Concentrate on your shoulders if you have gotten into a shooting slump. When your shoulders are not properly positioned, then it is almost impossible to perform at your best. One area of focus should be to keep your shoulders aligned straight toward the hoop. The shoulder that’s dominant needs to be lined up with the rim perfectly.
Be aware of what your feet are doing and where they are. Stepping even a toe on the baseline with the ball in your hands means you are out of bounds. Taking excessive steps while not dribbling results in a call of walking as well as a turnover. Avoid lifting your feet when you are screening or in position for a charge or the foul will be called on you instead of your opponent.
Practice passing while looking in other directions. This may confuse your opponents, greatly. Not only will they not see the pass coming, they may think a pass is going in the opposite direction. It really can be a powerful technique.
When moving in for a layup, push off from your weaker foot and lead with your shooting hand. Thus, if you use your right hand for shooting, you need to push off using your left foot. Your body will be better balanced and moving in the direction of the basket. Your body will also be kept between the defender and yourself.
A consistent routine will help you to achieve great free throws. If you aren’t consistent, you won’t make the basket. To better perfect free throw techniques, try using repetition via practicing one routine repeatedly. If your routine is off, then you will miss the shot.
You can use your guards and point guard to trap an opponent with a 2-3 zone defense. Once your opponent is trapped, he will have no option but to make a pass. With the forwards blocking outside, you have a good shot at intercepting a bad pass. Point guards need to throw up passes that your team’s forwards can steal easily.
Keep your knees loose when you dribble the ball. If you don’t bend your knees, you are more susceptible to having the ball stolen by the other team. You will gain a lot of ball control by bending your knees just a bit.
To see improvement in outside shooting skills, you must practice your shots hundreds of times daily from various points on the court. For even better results, practice the run-up to your shot in addition to the actual shot. When you are in the air, take a gander at the target. Don’t do it prior to this point. This can help to improve your accuracy by simulating actual game conditions.
Don’t stop dribbling until you are ready to pass or shoot. After you halt the dribble, your options become quite limited. Aside from using your back foot to pivot, you have very little freedom. The opposition will cling onto you like a magnet.
You should make sure when practicing dribbling that you shift from one hand to the other. When you’re playing a game, you have to dribble when you’re in a lot of different situations. The court might be wide open, but you could just as easily be swarmed by many opponents. It helps to master control of your body as you dribble in a variety of positions. It will help you when you need it most.
Try to contain the action to the area below your knees. This will make your opponent struggle to steal the ball from you. You’ll have to bend down a little to do this, but you’ll find you move more quickly down the court because your opponents aren’t able to impede your progress.
Having good communication on the court with teammates is a great way to play. It takes the efforts of an entire team to succeed. This means that everyone on the team must work together to achieve a common goal. You all help each other out. Communicate well with your teammates about the help you need, and everyone wins.
That wasn’t too bad, right? Now that you’ve learned a few things, it’s time to enjoy the sport and practice. The article above have just what you need to make your game even better.