TIP! It’s natural to focus on offensive abilities when practicing the sport of basketball, but your practice time needs to focus on defense. Victory requires the ability to play defense.

Basketball is a very loved sport, and people of all ages have passion for the game. Not everyone knows how to play basketball well, however. This article is intended to help folks of all skill levels appreciate basketball more and improve their game significantly.

TIP! Learn to correctly dribble the ball. When you dribble, only use your fingertips instead of your palms.

Dribbling the ball the right way needs to be done. When dribbling the basketball, use your fingertips rather than the palm of your hand. This way you’ll have a lot more control over the ball. Keep the ball by your side as you dribble instead of right in front your body. Do not look at the ground; look up at all times.

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.

You need good balance when you shoot. Sometimes you’ll see professional players fall out of bounds while making a shot from afar, but this doesn’t work at all times. These are not practiced skills, they are just flukes. You need to maintain good balance while shooting, which is sure to produce greater consistency.

Bounce Pass

TIP! Watch the pro’s play if you want to improve your game. Whether seeing an all-pro on YouTube, attending a game in person, or sitting on the couch with buddies to watch your local professional team, there are many chances to observe the best.

Perfect your bounce pass. Bounce passes should not go above or below the receiving players waist. A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the receiving player is. Practicing your bounce pass is important so that you can use it skillfully during games.

TIP! If you’re going to be a jump shooter, don’t lift too many weights. While muscle mass is good for any basketball position, perimeter play requires less than other positions.

Passing quickly without dribbling is a great way to practice. It’s tough to play basketball minus the dribbling, and it causes you to pass accurately. Frustration can be an issue at first, but passing will improve as time goes by.

TIP! Do you want to fool the other team? Give the back pass a try! To do a back pass, begin by grasping the basketball using your dominant hand. Then, move the basketball around your rear.

Jump shooters should not also be iron pumpers. Though muscle strength is great to have with any sport, it is very possible to be too buff for serious game play. Some guards increase their upper body to the point of harming their field goals.

TIP! Ask your teammates what they like about how you play. They will probably notice the things you do best.

Before, during and after the season, play out games by yourself. Even though basketball is usually played with teams, it is sometimes the case that there just isn’t anyone around to play with. Don’t fret! Solo games can help you immensely. Work on your pivot moves or practice your free throws. You can always do something.

Core Muscles

TIP! Improve your ball-handling by strengthening your hands and your forearms. Strong hands make it easier for you to keep control of the basketball.

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. The core connects the lower and upper extremities, and if a person has a weak core, they will fail to excel in athletic pursuits. A solid and strong core lets force that comes from the legs get used for beneficial movements when playing, like faster running and higher jumping.

TIP! You want to keep your vision completely clear at all times. This is not just to make reading the scoreboard easier, but also to facilitate the making of shots and catching of passes.

Good footwork is important when you’re posting up in the paint. Securing a good location is critical when playing basketball. If you are just stepping into position, you now have to secure the spot. The key to this relies on having good footwork.

TIP! Don’t leave your defensive stance. Keep your feet moving to each side or push your opposing foot off so you can keep yourself in position.

If you get hurt during a basketball game, don’t try to play while in pain. This is an aggressive sport, and injuries happen often. Trying to tough it out and keep playing, even if you are experiencing discomfort, can exacerbate an injury even more. If the injury feels too bad then seek medical attention right away.

TIP! Stay low when playing defense. You will be able to react more quickly and jump higher because of this.

Always be aware of your feet. You will be called out of bounds if even one toe is touching the baseline as you hold the ball. In addition, if you move your feet and you don’t dribble, you will be called for walking. Also, moving either foot when trying to set a screen, pick or take a charge results in a foul call.

TIP! Try practicing three pointers from the NBA range in order to be a more effective three point shooter. All the other three point lines are much closer than the NBA line.

If you need some help seeing where you need work, try to get a friend or relative to record your games. While reviewing the tape, look for opportunities you may have missed during the game. Be honest in your assessment but not overly critical. Sometimes you think of yourself as something you are not.

TIP! Until the moment you are prepared to shoot or pass, you must dribble constantly. When you stop dribbling, then you limit your options.

Undoubtedly, basketball has been a popular sport for all sorts of people for a very long time. Learning the game will not only help you enjoy watching the sport, it will also help you play better. Keep that in mind, and use the tips here so your love of the game will keep you reaching new and positive heights.

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