Do you want to learn more about basketball? If so, you are not alone. Few people know what it takes to shoot, pass, and block like professional players. The tips below will help you be as successful as the pros.
Figure out how to perfect your free throw. This is one of those shots that seem easy but in real life are difficult. Make sure that you’re applying the following technique when practicing. Start with the ball held out from your face. Use visualization to imagine the goal occurring. When you shoot, keep the visualized trajectory in mind.
You need to keep your balance if you’re shooting. Having good balance will allow you to keep better control of the ball as well as play a better defense. They are not doing it right. 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.
Focus on your strengths to get better at basketball. Your talent might not make you a star; however, learning your strengths will help you become a better team player. Figure out what you do well at and then you can practice that until you perfect it.
It is important to practice catching the ball from others as much as passing. While you are practicing, you should be sure to drill yourself on catching errant throws, as well as catching those perfect passes. When the pressure is on, not every pass will come straight to you. Therefore, learn how to catch any type of pass so that you can help lead your team to victory.
Never play through an injury when playing basketball. You can easily tear a muscle or even break a finger while playing. Trying to tough it out and keep playing, even if you are experiencing discomfort, can exacerbate an injury even more. Serious injuries may require medical attention.
Study you opponent well to give yourself an edge. One great way to get a better understanding of your opponent is to take the time to watch film and get information from other players or scouts. Figure out which people are right or left handed. Knowing an opponent’s dribbling, passing and shooting styles gives you a definite edge on defense. The more knowledgeable a defender is, the stronger he is.
During your workouts, concentrate on improving your footwork as well as your core strength. A strong core allows you to be more balanced during games. Exercise your abdominal muscles as well as those of the hips, buttocks and back. Jump rope like the boxers do to increase your footwork speed.
Always have an awareness of the location and movement of your feet. An errant toe to the baseline while holding the ball will result in an “out of bounds” call. If you walk without dribbling, you will be called for walking and this will result in a turnover. You may need to keep your feet planted to avoid getting called for charging.
Free Throw
Create and stick to a routine each time you prepare to shoot a free throw. Focus on your shot and eliminate all outside distractions. Following the same routine gives your body will maintain muscle memory for more consistent free throw shooting.
Between the leg passes are usually helpful when another team’s players are riding you hard. Go forwards and backwards with the ball to practice bouncing it. Once you get the move down, you can use it to gain a tactical advantage.
Work on passing in a direction you are not looking. This will easily confuse your opponents. By looking in the opposite direction, your teammate has a few extra seconds to make the shot. It’s a great play if done properly.
Practice with your weak hand when it comes to dribbling. You will be able to get past your opponent more easily if you can use either hand to dribble the ball. Hold the dominant hand behind the back and make certain you use just the weak hand. This will help you use that hand more easily and improve your dribbling with that hand.
Being a good defensive player means disrupting the game of your opponent. Force them to leave their comfort zone. Display aggressiveness in your chosen moves. Other players should not influence the plays you make. Otherwise, the opponents will win all the shots and dominate you. You need to adopt an aggressive style and react quickly so you can interrupt the patterns set by your opponents.
A good drill to try is the five dribble drill. You try to get the ball the entire length of the court in only five dribbles. Although this might seem tricky in the beginning, this can really help your game if you can master this skill. You will have easy layups on fast breaks and you will be able to advance your team easily.
To build up your skills with your weaker hand, use it for everything from opening jars to brushing your teeth. If you can train yourself to be ambidextrous, you will gain complete control of that hand. That can make your game better.
It is important to eat well if you want to be in tip-top basketball shape. If you play all the time, you need to eat carbs on a regular basis. Don’t neglect protein and fat, though. Smart thigns to include in your diet are peanut butter, wheat breads, chicken and nuts. Avoid sugar and salt when possible.
Now you should know all about how to play basketball like a pro and enjoy it. Now that you finished reading it, you can take what you learned, and play more like the professionals. Go ahead and start a game so you can make use of this advice.