In order to play basketball well, you need to understand how to become a great basketball player. The same goes for working on your basketball skills. The following tips will help you learn how to play your best.
Shooting has much to do with proper balance. 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. These shots are improvisational and usually desperate attempts. If you have correct balance when you are making a shot, you will make more consistent baskets over time.
A good tip is to practice your layups on a daily basis. This is the most popular shot in basketball. When you practice, run toward the net, and then get a high jump in so you can smoothly shoot. That technique of running and jumping helps you get ready for an actual game.
Footwork is what gets you ready for a shot. You must beat the opposing playing to an open spot. Once you’ve reached a good spot, you need to secure it. The key to mastering these skills is good footwork.
Turning away from the ball can be a costly mistake in basketball. This keeps you aware of what is going on so you aren’t surprised. You will want to keep extra attention on areas that could improve your position as well.
A good basketball player is really quick on his feet. You need to be faster than the opposing team if you want the advantage. You need to really drill to get to the point where you can play fast. Never try though to get too fast that you can’t make any plays. If you try to rush your play, and can’t keep up, you will turn the ball over or make unforced mistakes.
Always be aware of the locations of your feet and what they’re doing. You will be called out of bounds if even one toe is touching the baseline as you hold the ball. If you travel without dribbling, you’re going to get yourself into a turnover situation. Also, moving a foot when setting up a screen can result in a foul.
Between the leg passes are usually helpful when another team’s players are riding you hard. This can be practiced by dribbling the ball as hard as you can between the legs while you step in either direction. Mastering this movement gives you a big advantage on the court.
Be sure that you’re able to see clearly. You don’t just want to be able to pass and shoot well. Develop your peripheral vision on the court. Having good court awareness to see everything around you lets you see plays develop before they happen, either by warding off the defenders or getting the ball to open teammates.
Once you are in your defensive stance, remember to hold your ground. Slide both feet side to side, or just push off using the opposite foot. If you never allow your feet to cross one another you will invariably be a very hard player to get passed.
To improve three-point shooting, do it from NBA distance at the very least. The standard line , high school and college lines are all going to be closer. If you get it from the NBA range, your open looks will have deeper range than defense will mind you until you begin hitting.
If you wish to shoot on the outside better you should work on shooting hundreds of times every day from a lot of places on the court. Taking quick shots during practice will help you during the game when the pressure is on. Avoid looking at the basketball goal while dribbling the ball. Doing so allows you to move more precisely and with greater accuracy.
Practice dribbling as you sway your body from side to side. This will happen during games frequently. It would be great if you are always able to go full speed ahead, but more times than not you will need to move and flow with the defense in front of you. You will have to know the right way to dribble when the body is doing different things. Dribbling can help get you out of trouble.
When you’re getting down after catching the rebound, you should come down with spread out legs so that they’re wider than your shoulders to get good balance. Put your hands on the sides of the basketball and then put it close to your chest. Make sure you don’t hit anyone else with your elbows.
Gain pride and confidence by learning how to play the game with skill. Learning to be the best basketball player possible would be even more exciting. Not only will your own skills improve, but so will your team’s chances of winning.