The sport of basketball is beloved by men and women of all ages. Whether you’re watching it on TV, playing it with friends, or just playing it on your own in the driveway, basketball isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Nearly everyone that plays wishes to become a great player and win the game. Here are some great tips on how to take your game to an all new level and to score some winning points.
Make sure that you’re dribbling the ball correctly. When you dribble, only use your fingertips instead of your palms. Using your fingertips provides you with more control. Keeping the ball to your side will help it from getting in the way. Keep your head up, do not stare down towards the ground.
Want to make the other team not know what’s going on? Try the back pass. To do a back pass, begin by grasping the basketball using your dominant hand. Now hold the ball behind you. After determining which direction you want the ball to go, use a quick flick of your wrist to send it that way. You can use this action to deceive your opponents.
Shooting Slump
Pay close attention to your shoulders if you’ve suddenly developed a shooting slump. When you’re in a shooting slump it usually means that your shoulders are not square to the hoop. Your shoulders should always be squared towards the hoop. Try to line your dominant shoulder up with the rim.
You should always be aware of the position of your feet and their actions. Stepping even a toe on the baseline with the ball in your hands means you are out of bounds. In addition, if you move your feet and you don’t dribble, you will be called for walking. Also, moving a foot when setting up a screen can result in a foul.
Practice looking in the opposite direction when you make a pass. This will make your actions very confusing to the other team. If you’re doing it correctly you can fake your opponent out so he/she moves towards that direction and then you pass the ball to a wide open teammate for a shot. It can be a really powerful move in the game.
Using a weaker hand helps improve overall dribbling skills. If both hands are useful for dribbling, your opponents will not stand much of a chance. If you find it difficult to continue using your weak hand, make your strong hand unusable. Eventually, your weak hand will be able to dribble well.
You can improve your ability to handle the ball by working out your forearms and hands. Wrist curls are great for bettering your ball handling in basketball to the point where you could practically do it sleepwalking. Making a goal isn’t just standing there as the ball miraculously comes to you and then shooting it at the basket. You have to be ready to move fast and change directions on a dime.
Hopefully, now you understand what it takes to play better. A lot of them are easy as learning the techniques and practicing them. Practice is essential when it comes to just about anything, so you must be sure to have constant access to a hoop. No matter if you’re practicing with a group of friends or your team, the more chances you get to perfect your skills, the better you become as a player.