Not even the best basketball player knows absolutely everything about the game. The sport changes with the times, and you have to keep up. Want an edge on the competition? Continue reading so that you can learn new things that may give you an edge.
Make sure you are dribbling the right way. You want to dribble with the tips of your fingers, not your whole hand. This allows you to control the ball better. Dribble to the side of your body rather than directly in front of you, bouncing at waist level. Keep your head up and do not look at the ground.
Every great player understands how to properly perform a bounce pass. Good bounce passes need to hit the other player waist length when they receive it. Bounce the ball so that it lands near your teammate. But, a series of other considerations can require you to make adjustments.
Make sure that your regular practice includes catching of passes. When you practice, be sure to do drills that improve catching wild throws and making great passes. During the game, not all passes will go where they’re intended. Help your teammates by learning what you need to haul in those imperfect passes.
Jump Shot
If you want to be a master of the jump shot, do not make weight lifting a priority. Being weighed down by too much bulky muscle can have a negative impact on your jump shot. Some guards increase their upper body to the point of harming their field goals.
Ask your teammates what they like about the way you play. What are your your best skill areas? Maybe you are nimble or you are reliably there to support them. Discover what other people feel are your strongest skills and then set about perfecting them.
Always have an awareness of the location and movement of your feet. If you have the ball and you step outside the baseline, then you’re out of bounds. You will get called for walking if you take extra steps and are not dribbling. Moving either of your feet when setting a pick, screen, or even take a charge will result in a foul.
Have your games taped so you can play them back later and observe your court presence. Can you see where you can improve your form? Are there things you might have done differently? Be honest in your assessment but not overly critical. Sometimes you have to face reality about your skills and just not dream about how you want to be.
Passing between your legs can be helpful when the other team is riding you hard. You can practice this technique by stepping forward or backward and bouncing the ball with force between your legs. Mastering this skill will provide you with a major advantage on the court.
Try practicing looking in the opposite direction when you pass. This can go a long way toward confusing the opposition. When you do this right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. When completed correctly, it creates an awesome play.
Free Throw
To help you shoot better free throws you need to come up with a consistent routine. If you aren’t consistent, you won’t make the basket. The most effective method to achieve a great free throw is by practicing it repeatedly until you get it right. If your free throw routine is out of whack, you will miss.
To nab a rebound from a free throw attempt of a teammate, footwork is key. You’ll have a defender coming at you and this means you have to figure out what can be done to get around them. Then you gain the ball without the foul.
Strength training can improve your game. It is impossible to succeed if you lack endurance and strength. Even youngsters can strengthen their arms and legs to improve game play. When they become teens, try using weights to keep enhancing their exercises. When they become adults, strength training is critical to maintaining solid court performance.
To build up your skills with your weaker hand, use it for everything from opening jars to brushing your teeth. Using both hands when playing is an important skill if you can develop it when you’re not playing. Your game will be noticeably better.
You should now feel a new level of confidence about playing basketball. These tips were written to better your game. You should never stop learning new techniques and perfecting old ones. You can get started with taking your game farther by remembering all you have read.