TIP! You should practice pass catching regularly. You want to practice catching perfect passes and bad passes.

Both fans of basketball and players alike love basketball season. One way to satisfy your fans is to keep them cheering. Every team member has unique skills; find out what yours are and emphasize them to their maximum. These tips will help you improve your game.

TIP! Practice playing a man-to-man defense and zone defense. The majority of game play might take place in the zone, but that doesn’t mean that the opposing team will not try to catch you off guard.

To be a great basketball player you need to work on your balance. You have seen some crazy shots made by professionals, but these shots aren’t going to be based on fundamentals. They are improvising. If you are able to improve your sense of balance, then you will find that your percentage of successful shots improves.

TIP! Completing passes to your teammates is just as important as dribbling the ball. Playing without any dribbling is very hard, but builds your passing skills.

To be a better basketball player you should concentrate on the things that make you great. The best talent you have isn’t going to have you starring in every highlight reel, but having a good skill set can benefit your team. Understand where you excel, and work on those talents until they are perfected.

TIP! Do you want to fool the other team? Try using a back pass! To do a back pass, begin by grasping the basketball using your dominant hand. Pull it behind you.

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. All of this confusion can be remedied through the use of hand signals when a player is opened. If no signal is displayed, a pass ought not be made.

TIP! Build hand signals so passes are more successful. One thing that can frustrate you when playing basketball is to try and pass while a player is trying to run to the basket.

Understand your opponent. Watch tapes of their games and see how others move on the court. Figure out which people are right or left handed. Defense is more effective when you know what your opponent is likely to do. Strong defenders are knowledgeable defenders.

TIP! Quickness is something you have to have when playing basketball. Always stay ahead of the opposition.

Practice passing while not looking in the direction of the pass. This is a simple thing that could easily confuse your opponents. If you do it right, this draws your opponents’ focus the wrong way. When done smoothly it can be a game changer.

TIP! You want to always be aware of foot placement and what you’re doing. When you are in possession of the ball, touching the baseline will get you out of bounds.

To increase the efficiency of your layups, begin your takeoff on the foot opposite from the hand you’re shooting with. Jump off your left foot when you shoot using your right hand. That will build your balance and help you stay in the right position.

Free Throws

TIP! A consistent pre-shot routine when at the line will increase your chance at success. If you don’t have one, your accuracy may suffer.

To help you shoot better free throws you need to come up with a consistent routine. Inconsistency does not make a better shot. The easiest way to make sure you’re doing great at free throws is to do repetitions of the same routines time and again. If you have a glitch in the routine, you are likely to miss your shot.

TIP! If you wish to succeed in a defensive role, you must be able to break your opponents’ concentration. Don’t let them get comfortable.

Change your pace up to throw the offense off. When you’re going towards the net you should plant the foot in front and start straightening up. This will cause the guard to believe you are slowing, and it will also cause them to straighten up. When they do, push ahead hard and outrun them.

TIP! You can prevent other players from stealing the ball from you by dribbling hard. This causes the ball to return to your hand more quickly, so the offense has less time to try to get it away from you.

There are many ways you can improve your basketball game. Being good contributes to an overall better team, and that is what leads to lots of happy fans. Many people have a part in basketball, even if they are just cheering in the crowd. The player’s role is to give the team his all. The tips in this article can help you become an invaluable member of your basketball team.