Many people derive a great deal of pleasure from the game of basketball. Regardless of your understanding of basketball, there is always room to gain more knowledge of the sport. Read on to learn some little known facts about this popular game.
Your mind plays as big a part in making a free throw as your actual body does. Your body can be trained to make free throws, but your mind has to be focused on success if you want to make the basket. Be relaxed and concentrate on the basket and you will help you make more free throws.
Zone Defense
Don’t just practice your game against the zone defense. Learn how to play a man-to-man defense and a zone defense to get the best understanding of how the game works. If you are unprepared, you may lose the match fast.
If you’re injured when playing basketball, don’t push through the pain. Basketball is physically demanding and you can easily get hurt. Playing through an injury can prolong it which is always bad. Serious injuries may require medical attention.
Ask teammates what they admire about your playing skills? Do you do something really good? It could be your speed, or it could be your back-up abilities. It’s great to get an idea of how your teammates think of your skills, this way you know what areas of the game to focus on.
Get someone to analyze how you play on tape. Looking at tapes can help you identify strengths and weaknesses. Appraise your performance honestly but don’t be overly harsh with yourself. This gives you an unfettered view of how you actually performed on the court, rather than relying solely on your memory of the game.
If an opponent is staying with you, try passing the ball between your legs. Refine this skill by bouncing a ball with force between the legs while stepping backwards or forwards. Mastering this skill will provide you with a major advantage on the court.
To make your layups count the most, take off from the foot opposite your shooting hand. So, if you shoot using your left hand, launch with your right foot. This gives you better balance, while keeping you poised toward the basket.
Consistent Routine
Develop and use a consistent routine for shooting free throws. A consistent routine enables the shooter to have a perfect motion every time. You can shoot better free throws by making sure you use the same exact routine every time, and of course practice. If you break your routine, you’ll start missing shots.
In order to be good at rebounding the ball off a missed free throw, you must be quick with your feet. Guards will be attempting to stop you, so get around them. Doing so will allow you to get the rebound sans a foul.
You need to take a charge anytime you can. A charge leads to a turnover by the opposing team and gives you the ball back. This can devastate a competitor psychologically as well as being a powerful play on the court.
In order to confuse the offense, try changing your pace. When running towards the net, step on your front foot, and start to straighten up your body. Your opponent will assume you are slowing up, and thus will also straighten up. Use this opportunity to sprint past your opponent.
When you dribble while playing basketball, focus on bending your knees. Standing straight up lessens your ability to control the ball and increases the chances that it will be stolen. Bending your knees slightly can really make a difference in the way you control the ball.
Basketball is a great sport for viewers and players alike. To get everything out of basketball, you should become as informed on it as possible. This article is a great resource for accomplishing that.