TIP! Know how to dribble the ball in the correct way. You need to use the tips of your fingers rather than your hand’s palm when you are dribbling.

The whole world loves the sport of basketball. You can usually catch someone playing a game at the park on any day. Use this article to get more of an understanding of the game of basketball.

TIP! You need to keep your balance if you’re shooting. You have seen how pros shoot a basket from thirty feet away and fall out of bounds, which is not the right technique.

Crossovers are very important if you’re a ball handler. This term refers to switching the hand you use. It has to be done fast to be effective. When done properly, crossover dribbling is a great way to quickly switch direction or move around the court in an efficient manner.

TIP! Practice your pass catching often. When you practice, drill yourself to pay attention to errant throws and passes that are picture perfect.

Proper balance is essential when shooting. Everyone has seen professional basketball players make a shot from 20 feet away as they are falling. They’re just improvising at this point. Non-professionals should focus on having good balance to ensure good shots. As time passes, you will make more and more baskets with this method.

TIP! Practice playing a man-to-man defense and zone defense. Zone play will be important, but man-to-man will pop up from time to time, too.

Always work on your layups. Layups comprise approximately 80 percent of all shots. When practicing it is important to run at full speed toward the goal, then jump and shoot smoothly. If you can do this right, you can master this shot.

TIP! Quality footwork will help you get better shots. While physical positioning is important, it is even more essential to move quicker than an opponent.

Asking for feedback from coaches and teammates about your playing is important in order to become a stronger player. What are your your best skill areas? Perhaps you have good dribbling skills or maybe your footwork is enviable. Determine what others like about your game and fine tune those skills.

TIP! Don’t play when you are injured! Basketball is physically demanding, and it is easy to get hurt. Trying to tough it out and keep playing, even if you are experiencing discomfort, can exacerbate an injury even more.

It’s great to be quick in basketball. You need to be faster than the opposing team if you want the advantage. If you want to play the game fast, you need to drill continuously. Although being fast is important, avoid playing faster than your capabilities. This can cause you to get out of control and make careless mistakes.

TIP! Talk to your teammates and find out what they like about your game. Find out what they perceive as your best skill.

Work on passing through your legs to add another skill to your arsenal. Practice bouncing the basketball forcefully between your legs while stepping forwards and backwards. Mastering this movement gives you a big advantage on the court.

TIP! To hold the ball right, spread your fingers out. This can help you to remain in control of the ball at all times.

Build a consistent routine for your free throws. Your shot could be off if you are inconsistent. The most effective method to achieve a great free throw is by practicing it repeatedly until you get it right. If the routine is off in any way, then you’ll miss the shot.

TIP! You need to be quick to be good at basketball. If you can play quicker than the opposing team can, then you will be at an advantage.

As soon as the ball leaves your teammate’s hands after a free throw, start moving into position. The more quickly you get under the basket, the better you chance of grabbing the rebound. You won’t foul as you catch the rebound this way.

TIP! Watch tapes of yourself playing basketball to get a more objective perspective. On tape, you can see all the opportunities you passed and how things could have gone better.

Dribble very hard to prevent the opposing team players from stealing the ball. The ball will get back to the hand faster, giving the other team less of an opportunity to grab it away. When closely guarding another player, cease dribbling and pass it to another play on your team that’s open.

TIP! If the opposing team is guarding you to much, you can try a pass between your legs. Take a step back or forward and bounce the ball hard through your legs.

While you’re dribbling the basketball it is wise to bend your knees. It makes it much easier to control the ball while dribbling as opposed to standing straight up, which makes controlling the ball much harder. Just a slight bend in your knees can have a huge impact on ball control.

Keep the activity below the knees if possible. This prevents your opponents from stealing the ball. This will help you move the ball down the court easier.

TIP! Practice shooting hundreds of shots during each training, and you quickly improve shooting skills. Practice dribbling and quick shots.

Use the hand you aren’t dribbling with to keep the opponent away from the ball. You can’t push on your opponent, but you should use your non-dribbling arm to protect the ball. Keep your other arm up slightly while you dribble.

TIP! A good way to improve your game is by finding out from your teammates what they plan to do. Basketball involves playing on a team.

You should now know what you need to do to get the most out of basketball. Not a difficult sport to understand, although it can be enhanced by learning and through hard work if you play. After you get going, you are sure to start playing more often than ever before. You can have fun at the same time!