TIP! Focusing on the offense may come easily but you need to be able to focus on the defense as well., Basketball games are often won by the defense.

Millions of people love the game of basketball. In order to truly enjoy the game, it is important to understand it as completely as possible. This piece is intended to help people do that.

TIP! Make sure that you’re dribbling the ball correctly. You want to dribble with the tips of your fingers, not your whole hand.

It is important to focus on both offense and defense when learning to play basketball. Defense is what stands between you and a win. While offensive players sometimes seem like the stars of the show, it is the efforts of defensive players that allow them to shine.

TIP! Connecting on your free throws is as much mental as it is physical. You can practice for hours on how to make the shot, but if you over think things or get distracted you will miss every time.

Put the emphasis on your strengths can help you to be a better basketball player. You might not have star ability, but you can be an outstanding team player. Find you best position and then refine it until you are unbeatable.

TIP! Passing the ball is an important part of playing basketball so practice making and receiving passes. During practice you should come up with drills where you perfect catching bad passes along with the good ones.

A great way to bolster your basketball ability is to observe those who are considered to be the best in the sport. Go to as many pro games as possible, watch them on TV, or watch videos of them playing. You will notice great skills from different players that you can practice.

TIP! Footwork is what gets you ready for a shot. You must be certain to get the good spot ahead of your opponent.

Play solo basketball in the months leading up to the season, as well as during the season itself. Sometimes during off season, or when practicing, you can’t play as a team or find even a single opponent. It’s okay! There are many ways that you can improve your game alone. You can practice free throws or pivot moves. You can always practice something.

Core Muscles

TIP! To become a better free throw shooter, use the same routine prior to every shot. Whatever you do, from bending your knees to dribbling three times, do every time.

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 is the following areas: abdominal muscles, lower back muscles and hip muscles. Stronger core muscles will help them be more resistant and allow them to develop many different athletic abilities. The stronger your core, the higher you will jump.

TIP! Dribble hard to make it less likely for the ball to be stolen. Dribbling fast allows you to keep better control of the ball and there is a slimmer chance of it being stolen from you.

Hand signals will help you avoid those errant passes. Basketball passes can be really frustrating when shot wrong. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. Without a signal, players shouldn’t attempt to pass.

TIP! If you are in a defensive position, keep yourself low. This will help you be quicker on the jump and react to the man in front of you easier.

If you’re posting up, good footwork is the key to getting open and getting a good shot. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop. Plant your feet and own that spot. These skills require solid footwork.

TIP! Using your weak hand to brush your teeth can help you build skills with that hand. If you’re able to become more ambidextrous, you are going to be able to better control it on the court.

Have other players give you information about what they think are your strengths and weaknesses. Find out what they perceive as your best skill. It could be your speed, or it could be your back-up abilities. Find out how your game appears to others and develop your skills accordingly.

TIP! To enhance your skills at shooting the ball from the outside, run drills every day from different locations on the court. You should also practice starting with a dribble and then taking a shot.

Whenever you work out, practice footwork and work on your core strength. Your body will be more stable and easier to move when you have strength in your core muscles. Work the muscles in your abdomen, back, buttocks and hips. Jumping rope can also help you become lighter on your feet and quicker on the court.

TIP! Keep dribbling when you’re going to switch the body’s momentum from side to side. During game time, you’ll find yourself dribbling from all sorts of positions.

Practice passing while looking the opposite direction. Doing this is a great way to confuse your opponents. You give your teammate a better chance to make the shot because the opposing player is moving the wrong direction when you pass the ball. When completed correctly, it creates an awesome play.

TIP! You have to know how to change the path of your opponent. Regardless of whether you play defense or offense, the ability to control the other team creates a significant advantage.

To maximize your layups, take off with the foot that opposes your shooting hand. Thus, if you tend to shoot with the right hand, make sure to jump off with the left. This balances your body when moving towards your basket. It keeps your body in between you and the defender.

TIP! Manage your nerves whenever you shoot. Keep your view on the basket.

Practice with your weak hand when it comes to dribbling. If both hands are useful for dribbling, your opponents will not stand much of a chance. Exercise your non-dominant hand by securing your dominant hand at your side or behind your back. You will improve dribbling with your weak hand soon enough.

TIP! Always focus on where the ball is going after it leaves your teammates hands or the opposing players hands. An important part of basketball is rebounding.

Build up your forearms to become a better ball handler. Do some wrist curls as much as possible and your dribbling should get better. Don’t believe you will be able to simply plant yourself someplace, receive the ball and sink a shot. You need to be able to move the basketball to make things happen.

TIP! If you want to be a great player, you need to pivot. Practicing pivoting will be able to help prevent you from tangling your feet or getting disoriented.

Be sly on your soles to catch rebounds from free-throws your own team members are making. The person defending the position down-court from you will be coming at you, so you need to find any way you can to slide around him that gets you to the ball. This allows you to secure the rebound without finding yourself penalized.

TIP! You should know your weaknesses. Be very honest when thinking about your game.

Always maintain a defensive stance when you are trying to properly defend the goal. Slide your feet to the sides or push off using the opposite foot to always be in position. Never cross your feet and your opponents will find you a difficult player.

TIP! When you’re dribbling, you should practice bouncing your ball very hard. When you hard bounce the ball, it’ll move fast and stay protected.

Keep low when you play defense. Staying low will help you to be a more swift opponent when you mirror the man standing in your path. Maintain your proper defensive stance no matter what. The only time you should be out of your stance is when you are jumping to block an opponent shooting.

TIP! Whether you are playing a game, practicing with the team or running skill on your own, focus on the task at hand. Practice time is when you can really get better through the use of drills, so pay close attention and not let your mind go elsewhere.

Basketball is truly unrivaled when it comes to excitement for fans. However, if knowledge of the game is lacking, newbies might feel overwhelmed. This article should have given you all you need to know.