TIP! Make it a point to concentrate on both your defensive and offensive skills. Focusing only on offense does not make you a well-rounded player.

Basketball has a great history and origin. It came about because of Dr. Dr. James Naismith was his name and he invented it in 1891. After that it has become something that a lot of people have fallen in love with. Players such as Julius Erving. Most of the world has heard of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Check out more of this article to understand more about their success.

TIP! If you want to improve your basketball game, you must identify and intensify your strengths. You might not have star ability, but you can be an outstanding team player.

It is important to focus on both offense and defense when learning to play basketball. Defense is essential to winning these games. Offense may score points but defense keeps the other team from scoring points that your team will have to match.

TIP! Free throws are mental as well as physical. You can practice for hours on how to make the shot, but if you over think things or get distracted you will miss every time.

Know how to dribble the ball in the correct way. Instead of using your palm to dribble focus on using your fingertips. Doing so will allow you a greater degree of ball control. Be sure to dribble beside your body instead of in front of yourself. Bounce the ball at a level even with your waist. Keep your eyes up.

TIP! When posting up, solid footwork is essential to getting yourself into position to shoot. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop.

You must have good balance to shoot well. 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. They improvise to do that. Point your feet towards the basket, guide the ball with your weaker hand and push the ball away with your strong hand whenever you shoot the basketball.

TIP! Give your layouts the most by launching from the foot that opposes the hand you are shooting with. If you normally shoot using your right hand, jump with your left.

If you want to improve your game, concentrate on your strengths. Your skills may not turn you into the star player, but knowing how to make the most of your skills will make you a more valuable player. Knowing what you excel at and then practicing that can help you become perfect at it!

TIP! The trick to grabbing a rebound on a teammate’s missed free-throw is to plan your footwork in advance. The more quickly you get under the basket, the better you chance of grabbing the rebound.

Constantly practice layups. This is the most popular shot in basketball. When you practice, be sure to run at the goal with full speed, jumping and shooting in a smooth series of motions. This running and jumping technique will help you learn how to jump and shoot better during the game.

TIP! A great drill to try is to see how many dribbles it takes for you to make it across the court. The ideal number of dribbles is five.

Don’t limit your practice to just playing against the zone defense. Most of the basketball game will probably be played in this zone, but the other team might decide to surprise you and do some man-to-man coverage. If you haven’t prepared yourself for that, you might lose your game very quickly.

TIP! If you see a chance to gain control of the ball, take it. A charge can help you take the ball and perhaps set up a foul against the other team.

One good way to always be ready for whatever happens on the court is to never turn your back on the ball. This provides court awareness and prevents you from unexpected turnovers or quick passes. Also, you need to stay aware of areas which might open up and give you an easy basket.

TIP! A powerful play called the trapping machine, is to have your guards wait for the point guard to come just past midcourt. At this point, your guards must rush the point guard thus trapping him.

Your forearms and hands should be strengthened in order for you to handle the ball better. Wrist curls are great for working wrist muscles and improving your dribbling. You can’t just stand and shoot for the whole game. Strength and flexibility in your hands will allow you to move the ball more gracefully and swiftly.

TIP! Practice dribbling while you switch your body’s momentum from one side to the other. When you’re playing a game, you have to dribble when you’re in a lot of different situations.

Be slick with your feet so you can get a rebound from a teammate. Defenders will start to move at you, so you need to get around them to grab the ball. Doing this lets you get a rebound freely and not commit a foul in the process.

TIP! Mix up different shots from all over the court when you practice shooting. Start by practicing grip and balance.

Be certain you are able to see well. This is so that you’re able to catch passes, get shots in, and look at the scoreboard. Great peripheral vision is an asset. Tunnel vision makes it difficult to play effectively, so try to view the entire court and all players.

TIP! Know where missed shots are most likely to end up. Place yourself in position after this shot is made.

In order to confuse the offense, try changing your pace. When you are getting closer to the net, put your foot out and straighten up your body. Your opponent will assume you are slowing up, and thus will also straighten up. When they do this, run ahead and push yourself forward.

TIP! Build your team in and out of the basketball court. A good basketball team usually comes from having a team that is gelling and in sync with one another.

When playing defense, always try to stay low. This helps your jumps become quicker and betters your reaction to the person before you simpler. Keep yourself in proper defensive stance at all times. When you need to block, quickly get back into your stance.

TIP! To succeed in basketball you should learn how to change the path of your opponent. Whether you are playing defense or offense, controlling the movements of your opponents is vital.

Using your weak hand to brush your teeth can help you build skills with that hand. If you can train yourself to be ambidextrous, you will gain complete control of that hand. This also can significantly help your basketball game.

TIP! Focus on the ball whenever it leaves any players hands. You cannot win a basketball game without rebounds.

You’ll want to use the hand that you aren’t dribbling with as a barrier to protect the ball. This is much safer than just shoving an opponent, which is a serious foul and bad sportsmanship to boot. Keep it up a little bit while you dribble.

TIP! Build your passing game. Passing keeps the defense confused.

Become a better basketball team by becoming a stronger team when playing and in practice. A team that works together is an unstoppable team. The ability to intuit and appreciate the actions of your teammates can significantly improve your performance as a whole.

TIP! Ask yourself what your weaknesses are. Be very honest when thinking about your game.

Focus on the ball and where it is going. An important part of basketball is rebounding. If won’t matter that you’re a great defender who causes the opponent to miss a shot if you can’t get back the ball.

TIP! When playing defense, focus on forcing your opponent onto the sidelines. If you allow a player to go down the court’s middle, they have a lot more choices in what to do.

All you need to have a basketball game is a basketball goal and a few friends. If you would like to be a good basketball player then you need to be educated on the sport. Using this article as a starting point, keep practicing and learning and you’ll soon be a master of the game.