TIP! Make sure that you’re dribbling the ball correctly. Don’t use your palm to dribble.

Basketball is a sport that millions of people all over the world love. You can play a game with friends, or become a professional with enough effort. Learn more about the game of basketball from this article.

TIP! In order to be a great shooter, good balance is key. Even though a professional can hit all sorts of crazy off-balance shots, it is not the ideal method of shooting that you want to learn.

Watch your form while you dribble the ball. When dribbling the basketball, use your fingertips rather than the palm of your hand. This helps you to control the ball better. Be sure to dribble beside your body instead of in front of yourself. Bounce the ball at a level even with your waist. You should always look upwards instead of at the ground.

TIP! If you want to improve your game, play up your strengths. Your skills might not make you an all-start every time out, but playing up your strengths makes you a great contributor.

To be a better basketball player you should concentrate on the things that make you great. Your best talent may not make you the star of every game, but learning to play your best angle will help you contribute more to the team. Knowing what you excel at and then practicing that can help you become perfect at it!

TIP! Better your basketball skills by watching the pros play. Go to as many pro games as possible, watch them on TV, or watch videos of them playing.

Learn how to throw a proper bounce pass. This means your pass should be aimed towards the receiving player at the level of his waist. One thing you should do is always remember the ball should be bounced three quarters on its way towards the person you’re passing too. There are, however, other factors that influence the pass.

TIP! Shake things up rather than focusing solely on a zone defense. You can count on quite a bit of the game being played in zone; however, you should not be surprised if it becomes one-on-one coverage just for the sake of confusion.

Improve your passing abilities by challenging yourself to perform drills without actually dribbling. Playing without any dribbling is very hard, but builds your passing skills. The accuracy of passes will greatly improve over time and the drill will become a lot easier.

TIP! A good way to improve team passing to use a no dribbling drill, that is to play the game without dribbling at all. It is difficult playing without dribbling; however, it helps the team make better passes.

Interested in tricking your opponents? Back passes can give your team the opportunity to score while the other team is still wondering what happened. To do this pass, hold on to the ball with your dominant hand. Now, pull it behind your back. Quickly flick with your wrist in the direction you want to pass the ball. This should trick the opposing team.

TIP! Children who aspire to become great basketball players in high school must engage in physical fitness activities that focus on the core muscles. The core muscles are the hips, lower back muscles and the abdominal muscles.

Hand signals can help you to stay away from making bad passes. You can become easily frustrated when a teammate does a poor job of anticipating your next passing move. Using signals helps communicate passes with your team. If the person doesn’t make a signal the person shouldn’t get passed to.

TIP! In order to get a good shot, you must use good footwork. You must be certain to get the good spot ahead of your opponent.

One of the best ways to play a strong defensive game is to know your opponent. Watch tapes and be sure you’re paying attention to scouting reports. Know which players are left and right handed. When you know some of the other player’s moves, you’ll have a leg up during a game as you’ll be able to predict what he is going to do. A defender that has knowledge will be a strong one.

TIP! If you are shooting as well, pay attention to the position of your shoulders. Whenever your shoulders aren’t in a good position, you simply will not shoot well, regardless of your skill level.

One of the most vital attributes one needs to play basketball is quickness. You need to be faster than the opposing team if you want the advantage. To speed up the pace of your play, you need to keep practicing. However, don’t try to be faster than you’re physically able to be. Playing beyond your own capabilities sends the game spinning past your ability to control it, and turnovers are bound to occur.

TIP! When the opportunity arises you always want to take a charge. A charge can help you take the ball and perhaps set up a foul against the other team.

Now you have a good idea of what you need to do to improve your game. All you need is the proper knowledge and some good old-fashioned hard work. After taking the court and actually playing, you will most likely want to get out there on a regular basis. Hit the court and enjoy yourself!