TIP! You need to practice more than defeating a zone defense. While a good chunk of the game will most likely be played in zone, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you.

Are you a basketball fan, but know little about the game? A lot of people don’t fully understand the sport. Most basketball fans wonder about the techniques the pros use to play so well. This article contains tips used by them.

TIP! You may have better luck honing your passing skills if you forgo dribbling during practice. It’s tough to play basketball minus the dribbling, and it causes you to pass accurately.

Perfect your free throw. That’s a shot that appears simple but is actually difficult in reality. Practice this technique regularly. Hold the ball level to your face. Visualize the ball sailing into the hoop. Bend your knees to control the arc of the ball.

TIP! If you want to take jump shots, don’t spend time pumping iron. Muscle is good, but you can have too much.

When dribbling, make sure that you look forward and keep your head up. If you’ve got your eye on the ball while you’re dribbling, you haven’t mastered it yet. Always have a basketball handy. Whenever you are walking and it is appropriate, dribble there. If you look at the ball, you’re unable to see what’s going on down the court before you.

TIP! Your child should work on their core muscles if they want to become a basketball player in high school. Focus on hips, lower back and abs.

Make sure you spend your time focusing on your strengths. Your best talent may not make you the star of every game, but learning to play your best angle will help you contribute more to the team. Perfect what you can do well by practicing and developing the strengths you already have.

TIP! You can play a great defensive game if you know the opposition well. Watch tapes of their games and see how others move on the court.

Make layups a part of your daily practice regimen. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game. When you practice, run full speed ahead at the basket, jump, and shoot. Jump to the net and concentrate on shooting the ball in a specific location on the backboard.

TIP! Be aware of your own actions and the position of your feet. You want to make sure you don’t step over the bounds by even a teeny bit.

Do not practice solely against zone defense. While much of the game is played in zone, the opponent can flip to man-to-man coverage, changing everything and surprising you. This can cause your team to lose momentum to the other side if this isn’t something you’ve practiced.

TIP! In order to be successful with layups, the foot that is opposite from shooting hand is the one you should take off from. This means that when you’re shooting from your right hand you have to use your left foot to take off.

Unseen passes can be avoided when proper hand signals are used by teammates. One of the most challenging aspects is trying to send the ball to your teammate as they are going for the basket. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. If no signal is displayed, a pass ought not be made.

TIP! In order to become a better free throw shooter you need to have a good practice routine. If you stay inconsistent, you miss a shot.

Talk to your teammates and find out what they like about your game. Can you get better at something? Knowing your strengths and weaknesses will allow you to develop your skills to become an all around better player. Find out what others perceive as your natural gifts and build upon those more completely.

TIP! Change your pace up to throw the offense off. When you running towards the basket, try planting the front foot and start straightening up.

If you want to correctly handle the ball, you need to know where to place your fingers. This can help you to remain in control of the ball at all times. Also, keep your palm off the ball. Your fingers must be the only things contacting it when you shoot or pass the ball at the target.

TIP! You can really up your performance on the court by doing strength training. You need both stamina and strength to be a good player.

If you’re looking to be the best defensive player that you can be, you’ll want to know your opponent. Watch taped games, and keep current with scouting reports. Find out who are the right-handed or left-handed players. This knowledge will help you play the best game possible. One of the most important keys to being a solid defender is an understanding of your opponent.

TIP! Always attempt to remain low when you are playing defense. Doing this allows you to have quick reactions, especially to your opponent.

In summary, basketball is a sport that you love but really weren’t sure why until you took in this article. Now that you finished reading it, you can take what you learned, and play more like the professionals. Follow this helpful advice to get started playing basketball.