Basketball is a great sport and it’s easy to learn about. You can learn the basics in less than a day. That said, to learn even advanced techniques, read on.
Dribble the ball the right way. You need to use the tips of your fingers rather than your hand’s palm when you are dribbling. Using your fingertips provides you with more control. Dribble along the side of the body, not immediately in front of it, and keep the bounce to the waist level or below. Don’t look down, always look up.
Work on catching passes frequently. You want to practice catching perfect passes and bad passes. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. So you should do the team a favor by knowing how to take in any kind of a pass that comes from someone.
Make use of hand signals so that wild passes can be avoided. It is very frustrating when a teammate isn’t open for the perfect pass. Hand signals can tell you if your teammate is ready. If there is no signal, the player should not make the pass to them.
Build your core strength and focus on your legwork when you train for basketball. With a stronger core, you’ll be able to balance better. Focus on the back, buttocks, and hip muscle groups. Jumping rope can also help you become lighter on your feet and quicker on the court.
Quickness is a key skill in basketball. You need to be faster than the opposing team if you want the advantage. You have to be steady as you play quickly. Do not play beyond you capabilities, however. If you push too hard, your performance may be haphazard, and the game may get out of control.
If you wish to dribble the ball better, you have to start using your hand that’s considered the weak one. If you have two hands that can dribble the ball effortlessly then it becomes easier to get by your opponent. Try tying the dominant hand behind you and forcing yourself to just using your weak hand. Soon enough you will develop those weak hand dribbling skills.
Perform exercises to strengthen the muscles in your forearms and hands in order to maximize your ability to handle the ball. For example, you can improve dribbling skills by adding wrist curls to your routine. Basketball requires its players to move quickly, shoot accurately and pass well. You have to be ready to move fast and change directions on a dime.
To avoid having the ball stolen, dribble hard. Dribbling fast allows you to keep better control of the ball and there is a slimmer chance of it being stolen from you. If you are being closely guarded, you should cease dribbling and pass the ball to an open member of your team.
You want to strive in practice to bring the ball all the way up the court in no more than five dribbles. Although this might seem tricky in the beginning, this can really help your game if you can master this skill. If you master this, you will be able to quickly take layups.
Ensure that you have good court awareness. This is so that you’re able to catch passes, get shots in, and look at the scoreboard. Peripheral vision must be razor-honed. By seeing the court well, you can anticipate defensive moves as well as what all your teammates are doing. Good vision is vital to basketball success.
Trip up the offense by constantly changing your pace. When running toward the hoop, plant your leading foot and start to straighten up. Your defender is going to assume that you’re slowing your speed and will start straightening up, too. When that happens, push ahead and run past.
Strength Training
Improve your basketball skills by incorporating strength training into your fitness regimen. It is impossible to succeed if you lack endurance and strength. It can help young kids get the exercise they need. As they grow and become teenagers, weight-lifting can be beneficial. It’s important to continue strength training when you are an adult to maintain your performance.
Be sure to keep your knees bent while you dribble. The ball is harder to control dribbling when you stand up straight. It also leaves you open to a steal from the opposing team. Just bending a little bit at your knees can really help you to control the ball better.
Keep dribbling when you’re going to switch the body’s momentum from side to side. In the middle of a game, lots of dribbling situations will arise. You’ll have people guarding you on all sides. Learning to dribble effectively will help you in many different situations. By nailing this skill, you have a better chance to avoid a turnover.
If possible, keep action beneath the knees. This will make it harder for opponents to get the ball away from you. This takes some stooping and bending, but just move quickly down the court as you thwart the opposition.
Maybe you are new to basketball. Perhaps you have played the game ever since you were that wee tyke on the court. Either way, this article will help you learn about playing. Use this advice when you get on the court next time.