Are you a fan of basketball but you’re not very educated about it? It’s not just you! Professional basketball players make the game look so easy. This article is going to teach you some of the things that the pros know.
You can easily focus on offense when learning to play basketball, however, you must really focus how playing defense. Basketball games are often won by great defensive play. Offense gets all the praise and attention, but without a good defense, any basketball team is destined to lose.
Dribble while keeping your head upward and looking ahead. By focusing your sight on the ball, you cannot be fully aware of your surroundings. You can practice dribbling almost anywhere. Dribble while walking to the store. Staring at the ball doesn’t allow you to watch the other players.
Knowing how to perform a crossover is a must when you handle the basketball frequently. Moving the ball from hand to hand is a crossover. The action must be very swift if it is to be successful. When executed properly, a crossover dribble lets you alternate directions suddenly so that you can move down the entire court quickly.
If you want to take jump shots, don’t build your arms up too large. While muscle mass is good for any basketball position, perimeter play requires less than other positions. Some professionals develop their muscles so much that they are actually having a hard time with shooting.
Unseen passes can be avoided when proper hand signals are used by teammates. It can be frustrating making a pass when a player moves away towards the basket. A simple hand gesture can let your teammate know you’re ready for the pass. If the signal is not used, then the pass should not be made to that player.
Build your core strength and work on your footwork. Your body will be more stable and easier to move when you have strength in your core muscles. Your muscles in your buttocks, hips, abdomen, and back should be worked. Similar to boxers, jump rope to help increase speed and better your footwork.
One thing to consider if your shooting percentage drops is that your shoulders may be inconsistent when you are shooting. If you have bad shoulder position it doesn’t matter how great you are the shot isn’t going to go in. Be sure to keep the shoulders squared up to the hoop. You want your strong-side shoulder in perfect alignment with the rim.
Have a friend or family member tape your games so you can view how you appear on the court. Can you see where you can improve your form? Are there things you might have done differently? When looking at the tape, don’t be too critical, but be honest. There are times when it pays to view yourself realistically.
You need to put a damper in your opponent’s plan if you want to be successful with defending. Force them to leave their comfort zone. When making a move, be aggressive. Keep them from deciding what moves to make. If they do, they’ll dominate you. It’s important, then, to be aggressive and mess up their game rhythms.
Make your forearms and hands stronger so you can handle the ball better. An exercise to help develop your basketball skills is to perform wrist curls. Do not make the mistake of thinking you can stay stationary, catch all the ball, and shoot them from that same location. The ball should always be in control and moving.
In summary, basketball is a sport that you love but really weren’t sure why until you took in this article. But, now that this article has been read, you should be prepared to start playing like a professional. So get moving, get on the court, and put this advice to use.