All kinds of people love the game of basketball. It can be hard to become good at it. While genetics and athleticism can determine your rank, it is made to be fun for all. This article will teach you how to be a better player.
Know how to dribble the ball in the correct way. Use the fingertips, not the palm, for the best dribbling. This allows you to control the ball much better while you dribble. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. You should always be looking up instead of at the ground.
Make sure you dribble properly by keeping your head held up, facing forward. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet. Carry your basketball everywhere. If you walk to the store, dribble the ball. If you look at the ball, you’re unable to see what’s going on down the court before you.
Free Throw
Successful free throwing requires as much mental skill as it does physical skill. You can train your body to complete the motions of making a free throw, but if you are mentally prepared to fail, you will. Stay calm and collected to increase your free throw percentage.
Be sure to watch professional games to learn some great tips and tricks to improve your game. Go to actual games or watch on TV. This is a great way to learn new techniques to try out on the court.
Practice the skill of pass catching. When you practice, drill yourself to pay attention to errant throws and passes that are picture perfect. When the game is being played, passes may not be as perfect as we’d like. Make sure that your teammates also practice this type of pass with you.
Improve your passing abilities by challenging yourself to perform drills without actually dribbling. It’s tough to play basketball minus the dribbling, and it causes you to pass accurately. Work through the initial frustration and see how the challenge will improve your game in the long run.
Hand signals can help you to stay away from making bad passes. One thing that can frustrate you when playing basketball is to try and pass while a player is trying to run to the basket. Hand signals help ensure that the player is ready to take the ball. Without a signal, you should not attempt to pass the ball to a player.
Ask a friend to record your games so that you can see how yourself in action. You can see where you can improve and what plays you missed. Be honest with yourself, but avoid being too critical. This gives you an unfettered view of how you actually performed on the court, rather than relying solely on your memory of the game.
Learn to pass the ball without looking at your intended target. This should befuddle your opponent. By looking in the opposite direction, your teammate has a few extra seconds to make the shot. This can be a great play if it is done correctly.
Free Throws
To help you shoot better free throws you need to come up with a consistent routine. Inconsistent shooting will lead to inconsistent results. The easiest way to make sure you’re doing great at free throws is to do repetitions of the same routines time and again. You will probably miss your shot if the routine you use is not perfect.
Don’t leave your defensive stance. Stay in the right position by pushing off of your opposite foot. Don’t let your feet get crossed and it will be hard to get around you.
Always stay low when playing defensively. This allows you to jump or react quicker. Stay in your defensive stance all the time. If you break the stance to shot-block, then recover the proper form immediately after the pass or shot.
Do you want to show off your new skills? You probably should practice before you do. Get pumped and get out into the game! It won’t be long before you notice your game improving, all thanks to this article.