TIP! You can easily focus on offense when learning to play basketball, however, you must really focus how playing defense. You can win a game, thanks to good defense.

Lots of people love to play basketball a lot because it’s exciting and fast-paced. But, if you want to play your best on the court, you need to be aware of certain things. You can find the following information to be quite helpful.

TIP! Find out how to make free throw shots. As easy as these shots may seem, they are rather hard.

To get better in your basketball game, focus on your strengths. Your talent might not make you a star; however, learning your strengths will help you become a better team player. Learn what your strengths are, then practice to perfection!

TIP! If you have the ball a lot, learn to execute a crossover. This is when the ball is moved from hand to hand.

Better your basketball skills by watching the pros play. Watch as many games on TV as you can. You will quickly notice all the different skills that they have which makes them a great player, then take what you learned and use it to help improve your own game.

TIP! It is important to keep your balance when you shoot. Your knees should be bent with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders.

Practice playing a man-to-man defense and 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. If you haven’t prepared yourself for that, you might lose your game very quickly.

TIP! If you want to excel, you have to play to your strengths. You may not be the star player, but by contributing the best way you can you will win more games.

Want to make the other team not know what’s going on? Try the back pass. Perform this pass by holding the ball using your dominant hand. The next step is pull the basketball behind the back. Next, snap your wrist in the direction you want the ball to be moved to. This should should thoroughly fool your opponent.

TIP! You may have better luck honing your passing skills if you forgo dribbling during practice. Playing basketball without dribbling is very challenging, but your entire team will quickly improve their passing skills.

Make better passes through the use of coordinated hand signals. Passing is tough, especially if you and your teammate are not in sync with one another. Hand signals can help you communicate with your teammate on the court. Without a signal, you should not attempt to pass the ball to a player.

TIP! Have your team mates critique your playing skills. What areas are your strong points? Knowing your strengths and weaknesses will allow you to develop your skills to become an all around better player.

Have other players give you information about what they think are your strengths and weaknesses. Are you skilled at something? Maybe you are nimble or you are reliably there to support them. When you find out what they think, you may learn a lot.

Jumping Rope

TIP! Your fingers should always be spread out when handling the ball. The ball will not get away if you always keep your fingers spread when handling the ball.

As you perform your fitness routine, make it a point to target your core and your footwork. With a stronger core, you’ll be able to balance better. Work the muscles in your abdomen, back, buttocks and hips. Jumping rope is a favorite amongst professionals when practicing. By jumping rope, you improve speed and footwork.

TIP! Play a good defense by knowing your opponent. Watch tapes of their games and see how others move on the court.

If you wish to do free throw shots reliably, always do the exact same thing before making each shot. Whatever you do, from bending your knees to dribbling three times, do every time. As long as you make it quick, if you have a consistent routine, your body will remember how to make those free throws after you go through your ritual.

TIP! Always be sure of where you’re placing your feet so you’re aware of what they’re doing. Placing even a single toe atop the baseline while holding the ball will result in you being ruled out of bounds.

To land your layups, jump off the foot opposite the hand you shoot with. Jump off your left foot when you shoot using your right hand. This keeps your body balanced and moving toward the basket and keeps your body between yourself and your defender.

TIP! Do your free throw shooting the same way every time. For example, many people touch their foreheads or tap their chest before making a free throw shot.

Hard dribbling helps avoid stolen balls. This means you get the ball back from your opponent faster. If you have somebody guarding you very closely, pass the ball to an open teammate.

TIP! To get more out of layups, take off using the foot that;s the opposite of your shooting hand. If you use your right hand to shoot, use your left foot to take off.

Practice moving the ball from one courtside to the other in just 5 dribbles of the ball. This might seem impossible at first, but if you achieve it, you will have remarkable stride length and speed. It can mean easier lay-ups when dealing with fast breaks and it can help your teammates for just a moment.

TIP! You must have a consistent practice routine if you want to learn to shoot free throws well. Inconsistent shooting will lead to inconsistent results.

Don’t break out of defensive stance always remain in the proper defensive position. Shifting your weight back and forth between your feet will help you to stay in position. Keep your body constantly facing toward your opponent in order to ensure the best possible defense.

TIP! Switch the weight of your body while you are dribbling. You will dribble during different situations.

Strength and flexibility training can help your skills in basketball. You need both strength and endurance if you are going to excel. Even youngsters can strengthen their arms and legs to improve game play. Adding weights in stronger increments is effective as the child becomes a teenager. As an adult, strength training becomes vital in order to play your best basketball.

TIP! Use your hand to create a barrier between the ball and your opponent. You can’t push on your opponent, but you should use your non-dribbling arm to protect the ball.

As shown in this article, basketball is among the most loved sports around the world. To play better, you need what you have learned here. The information in the above article is your starting point for becoming a great basketball player.