TIP! When dribbling, your head must be up, and you need to look forward. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet.

Many people enjoy watching basketball and supporting their favorite team. In order to keep fans happy, give them a reason to cheer. Everyone on the team has to contribute somehow, so you have to be sure that you know what goes into having good basketball skills. Read on for great tips which will help you win more often.

TIP! Learn to crossover if you get the ball often. When you do a crossover, you move the basketball very fast from one hand over to the other hand.

Dribble the ball correctly. When you dribble, only use your fingertips instead of your palms. Using your fingertips provides you with more control. Keep the ball by your side as you dribble instead of right in front your body. You should always be looking up instead of at the ground.

TIP! Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. Bouncing the pass to the receiver should be at their waist.

Find out how to make free throw shots. This is something that seems simple, but in reality it can be hard. You should practice as often as possible with this technique. Start out by holding the basketball right in front of you. Keep looking towards the goal and think about the ball getting into that goal. Then throw the ball just as you had visualized.

TIP! Free throws are as much mental as they are physical, like other parts of the game. It’s easy to physically train for a free throw, yet mental preparation is also needed.

If you get possession of the ball a lot, you must learn the crossover technique. This is when you switch hands while dribbling. You need to perform crossovers very quickly to get good results. When done correctly, a good crossover dribble assists you in being efficient and helping you change direction when you need to.

TIP! Practice the skill of pass catching. When you’re practicing, you should drill in being able to catch random throws in addition to passes that are perfect.

Interested in tricking your opponents? The back pass is just the thing! To accomplish this pass, grasp the ball using your dominant hand. Pull it behind you. Then you will use your wrist and flip it in the direction you want the ball to be going. This will confuse the other team into wondering where the ball went.

TIP! Never practice only against the zone. While you might see a zone defense mostly, a team can switch defenses to man-to-man quickly in order to confuse you.

Make it your goal to never turn away from the ball on the court. You will enjoy greater court awareness and avoid feeling surprised by rapid changes in game play. Also, watch for areas to open up so you can make an easy basket.

TIP! Tricking the other team is a good way to win a game. Try doing a back pass! Hold the ball in your strong hand to start the pass.

If you slump when you shoot, look at what your shoulders are doing. You won’t be able to make a shot if your shoulders aren’t in the right position. Keep your shoulders square to the hoop. If your right hand is your dominant hand, your right shoulder must be aligned with the rim. For left-handedness, the opposite is true.

TIP! To be a good post-up player in the pain, you need to have really good footwork. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop.

Watch tapes of yourself playing basketball to get a more objective perspective. Can you see chances that you missed or ways that you could have done better? It is important that your assessment is an honest one, but isn’t overly critical. It can help you to see how you really are instead of what you imagine you are.

TIP! Never turn away from the ball, so that you can always stay ready for anything. This will help you stay on top of quick changes in possession or plays attempted by your opponent.

Try practicing looking in the opposite direction when you pass. This throws your opponents off. If you do this fake the right way, then the receiver of the pass should have an advantage and a great look at the goal. You must practice this move with your teammates so that everyone on your team understands what is going on.

TIP! Build your core strength and work on your footwork. Your body will retain balance and move quicker when you have strong core muscles.

Create a routine to improve your free throw success. If you don’t have one, your accuracy may suffer. The simplest way to get better at shooting free throws is through constant repetitive motions when shooting the ball. A break in your routine will foul the shot.

TIP! Practice passing while looking in the opposite direction. Your opponents can really get confused by this, as well.

Using a weaker hand helps improve overall dribbling skills. You will be able to get past your opponent more easily if you can use either hand to dribble the ball. Tie your strong hand to the rear of your back to ensure you only use your weaker hand. You will quickly strengthen your non-dominant hand for dribbling.

TIP! To improve your dribbling skills, practice dribbling with your weaker hand. Using both hands to dribble makes you a more effective player, especially when you’re trying to get past your opponent.

Practice drills where you strive to make it across the full court within 5 dribbles. This can seem impossible, but if you do it, you’ll get incredible speed and length. Mastering this skill can help you to really improve your game.

Strength Training

TIP! If you are in a defensive position, keep yourself low. You will be able to react more quickly and jump higher because of this.

Building strength improves your basketball game. In addition, stamina is important to the game, too. Even young children can benefit from strength training. As the teenage years approach, weights can be used for even greater impact. During the adult years, strength training is vital to keeping on-court performance at a high level.

TIP! Make sure the ball doesn’t bounce above your knees when you dribble. Defenders will have a more difficult time stealing the ball.

Using your weak hand to brush your teeth can help you build skills with that hand. By improving your weaker hand’s dexterity, your control over the hand will significantly improve. Your basketball skills will benefit.

TIP! The goal to improving a game is building conversation with your teammates. You are sure to understand that it takes teamwork to play basketball.

Only stop dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass. Standing there without dribbling takes away most of your options on offense. If you opt to not pass or shoot, you’re left with pivoting on your back foot. That will allow your opponents to double team you and potentially steal the ball.

TIP! Dribble rhythmically until you are ready to throw your opponent’s guarding capabilities into disarray. A consistent dribbling broken up by a fast paced dribble can surprise your opponent and give you a major edge for a shot.

This article has shown you that you can improve your basketball game through many methods. The more you contribute to your team, the better it will be for the team and the fans. The whole team is part of the games experience, even the supporters. If you are a player, you need to give everything you have. The tips shared here can help you when it comes to knowing more about this fun sport.