It’s no secret why basketball is so popular: the pace is fast, causing excitement. To be good at it, you have to understand the game. The following tips will help you take your game up a notch.
When learning the game of basketball, it’s easy to get caught up in offensive play. But you should also give plenty of attention to defense. Basketball games are won because of good defense. While offense seems to get the praise, defense must be stellar in order to win.
Always work on your layups. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game. When practicing this technique, run toward the goal and shoot. That technique of running and jumping helps you get ready for an actual game.
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. Relax as you focus on making the shot, and soon you’ll be making more free throws.
Make sure that your regular practice includes catching of passes. Be sure to be able to catch off-target throws on top of good ones. Understand that during a game, you will receive very scattered passes. Some will be good; some won’t. So you should do the team a favor by knowing how to take in any kind of a pass that comes from someone.
Don’t spend all your time practicing how to confront a zone defense. A lot of the game is sure to be played in the zone, but your opponent could change to man-to-man coverage. Practice with each type of defense so you will know what to expect.
Playing basketball does not require excessive muscle development. Though muscle strength is great to have with any sport, it is very possible to be too buff for serious game play. Shooting guards that end up with bulked up arms sometimes find that it affects field goal percentages.
Work on core strength when you work out. When you have strong core muscles, your body will be better balanced and will move faster. Your hip, buttocks, back and abdomen muscles need to be worked on. As with boxing, you can increase footwork speed and dexterity by jumping rope.
If you see a chance to gain control of the ball, take it. This helps get the ball for the team and allows another foul on the opponent. This is a great way to take control of the court and intimidate the other team.
Keep your knees loose when you dribble the ball. If you are standing straight, you will have a harder time controlling the ball and your opponent will be able to steal it more easily. Merely bending your knees a bit can provide you with much better ball control.
Use the NBA three point line when practicing your shots. High school lines, international standard lines, and college lines are much closer. By practicing at the NBA line, you will be used to getting a look a little further than what most defenses will cover.
Try to practice a dribble while switching momentum from side to side. You’re going to be dribbling in many different conditions during a game. You may have an open court, by you’re just as likely to be swarmed by multiple opponents. Learning to dribble effectively will help you in many different situations. In this way, you can escape all kinds of difficult situations.
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.
Use your hand to create a barrier between the ball and your opponent. Avoid physical contact like pushing, but keep the ball from them by separating them from it. Just keep it up slightly while dribbling with the other hand.
If you want to perform your best in basketball, you need to eat well. In order to be skilled at basketball you need to load up on carbs to give yourself plenty of energy. One way to keep your body in basketball shape is to incorporated grains and proteins into your diet. Stay away from salt and sugar.
As shown in this article, basketball is among the most loved sports around the world. To play better, you need what you have learned here. These tips that have been offered will help you be a better basketball player.