TIP! Practice catching passes as often as you can. Don’t just work on waist-level, perfect passes, though, work on receiving tougher passes as well.

Basketball is an enjoyable sport that’s loved by many. It’s not simple to be the most talented player, though. Though genetics and fitness play a major role in basketball skills, it is fun for everybody. The following article will give you some great basketball tips.

TIP! When trying to improve your strength to have better basketball footwork, work on building up your core. A strong core allows you to be more balanced during games.

Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Don’t use your palm to dribble. Instead, use your fingertips. This gives you the best ball control. Dribble the ball around the height of your waist, and over to one side. Always look upwards, never at the ground.

TIP! Speed is a key attribute in the game of basketball. Try playing faster than the opponents for a better advantage.

Make sure you dribble properly by keeping your head held up, facing forward. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while you’re dribbling. Take the basketball to all the places that you go. You can practice dribbling when you have to walk to the store. If you’re trying to look at the ball then you’re not concentrating on what’s going on down the court.

TIP! If you need some help seeing where you need work, try to get a friend or relative to record your games. Did you spot something that could be improved? Do not waste time criticizing yourself.

You need to keep your balance if you’re shooting. You’ve seen the pros fall out of bounds when trying to shoot 30 feet from the basket; this is a bad move. These shots are improvisational and usually desperate attempts. If you are able to improve your sense of balance, then you will find that your percentage of successful shots improves.

TIP! When you are passing the ball, get used to looking in the other direction. This should befuddle your opponent.

Concentrate on your strong points if you want to improve your game. You might not have star ability, but you can be an outstanding team player. Know the things you’re great at and keep practicing until there is no one better than you.

TIP! To make your layups count the most, take off from the foot opposite your shooting hand. If you play to use your right hand to shoot, you’ll want to use your left foot to take off.

Practice the skill of pass catching. You should practice catching errant passes, along with perfectly executed ones. This will help to improve your game when it gets intense. Make sure that your teammates also practice this type of pass with you.

TIP! A good basketball drill to perform is to see if you can get the ball down the entire court in 5 or less dribbles. While this is a challenging goal, working toward it will make you a much better player.

Do not practice solely against zone defense. While a good chunk of the game will most likely be played in zone, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you. If you haven’t trained yourself to counter this, you could lose any control you have over the game.

TIP! Try to keep the ball in your line of sight at all times. This will help you to secure the ball during the game.

Practice basketball in season and out of season. There are times you may not find anyone to play with you. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s still a lot that you can do playing on your own. Maybe work on those free throws or practice your pivoting. You can always hone your skills when practicing alone.

Core Muscles

TIP! In order to ensure that you are always ready to defend, keep your stance at all times. Stay in the right position by pushing off of your opposite foot.

If your son or daughter wants to play high school basketball, they need to work on core muscle training. Core muscles are comprised of the hips, lower back, and abdominal muscles. The core muscles link lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they won’t have strong athletic performances. A strong core helps you jump higher and run faster.

TIP! Alter your pace to confuse the opposition. When running towards the net, step on your front foot, and start to straighten up your body.

Do your free throw shooting the same way every time. This may mean you want to dribble three times, touch your forehead, bend at the knees, or do anything else. Just make your routine quick, so that it can be consistent, and your body is going to remember just how to nail free throws following your ritual.

TIP! For your weaker hand, to build skills, use it off-court for as much as you can, from brushing teeth to opening jars. If your ability to use that hand starts to improve, the benefits to your basketball playing talents will be substantial.

Practice looking in the opposite direction when you make a pass. Your opponents can really get confused by this, as well. When you do this right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. This play can be very powerful.

TIP! Practice all types of shots while in different distances and angles. Practice your grip and balance first.

Are you ready to show everyone what you’ve got? Perhaps you need a bit of practice first. Get to work and get to playing! You will soon see changes for the better in your game.