TIP! Practice your defense more than your offense. Basketball games are won because of good defense.

The number of people that have enjoyed watching and playing basketball can’t be overstated. But, most people don’t have the knowledge it takes to excel at this sport. Keep reading for some awesome advice that most any basketball player or fan can use.

TIP! Put the emphasis on your strengths can help you to be a better basketball player. You can contribute to the team by consolidating your best skills, even if these skills do not make you one of the star players.

Many people forget that defense is as important as offense during practice. Basketball games are won because of good defense. If your team doesn’t have a good defense, you’re not going to make it far in a game.

TIP! Work on catching passes frequently. While you are practicing, you should be sure to drill yourself on catching errant throws, as well as catching those perfect passes.

Find out how to make free throw shots. That’s a shot that appears simple but is actually difficult in reality. Practice regularly and employe the technique that follows. To start off, hold the ball in front of you. Maintain focus on the basket and try to visualize your basketball falling through the hoop. Then shoot the ball with the trajectory that you visualized.

TIP! Unseen passes can be avoided when proper hand signals are used by teammates. It can be frustrating to attempt to pass the ball to a team mate as that person is heading toward the basket.

A bounce pass is essential to learn. Bounce passes should not go above or below the receiving players waist. It’s generally a good idea to pass the ball about three-fourths of the distance between you and the receiving teammate. This all depends on many factors.

TIP! If you’re posting up, good footwork is the key to getting open and getting a good shot. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop.

Do not practice by playing against the zone defense. Your opponent may change their game up to keep you on your toes. Failure to prepare for this type of tactic makes you more vulnerable and hurts your team.

Core Muscles

TIP! When you’re trying to work out, you should build up your core strength while getting your footwork perfected. When you have strong core muscles, your body will be better balanced and will move faster.

If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, be sure they’re working on their core muscles. This will involve their 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. When your core muscles are strong, you become a more powerful force on the court. This means greater speed and higher jumping skills.

TIP! When playing a game of basketball, have a friend tape the game. This way, you can take a look at your game.

Create and stick to a routine each time you prepare to shoot a free throw. This could mean dribbling twice, shaking out your head to loosen your neck or whatever else makes you comfortable. Just make your routine quick, so that it can be consistent, and your body is going to remember just how to nail free throws following your ritual.

TIP! Create a routine to improve your free throw success. If you don’t have one, your accuracy may suffer.

Try practicing looking in the opposite direction when you pass. This will easily confuse your opponents. If you’re doing it correctly you can fake your opponent out so he/she moves towards that direction and then you pass the ball to a wide open teammate for a shot. This play can be very powerful.

TIP! You need to put a damper in your opponent’s plan if you want to be successful with defending. Do not allow your opponent to become comfortable with their style, or yours.

A routine can enable your free throw percentage to rise. Failure to use consistency may make your shots less accurate. You can shoot better free throws by making sure you use the same exact routine every time, and of course practice. A break in your routine will foul the shot.

TIP! Work on making your forearms and hands stronger in order to improve ball handling. For example, you can improve dribbling skills by adding wrist curls to your routine.

A good drill to try is the five dribble drill. You try to get the ball the entire length of the court in only five dribbles. This seems an impossible feat when you start. By working on this drill regularly you develop speed and great, lengthy strides. If you master this, you will be able to quickly take layups.

TIP! Trip up the offense by constantly changing your pace. As you approach the goal, plant your foot and then straighten up.

Basketball is a sport that many people enjoy playing and watching. But, to really ensure that you are getting everything basketball has to offer, it pays to get as informed on the topic as possible. This article has hopefully provided you with a ton of new information.