Basketball is an extremely popular sport in many countries. Regardless of if you are a spectator, a coach or a player, you know how exciting basketball can be. If you enjoy playing, imagine how much more fun it would be if you were a better player. Check out the advice below to discover ways to help shift your game to that next gear.
Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. If you must look at the ball while dribbling, you haven’t practiced enough. Bring your ball along when you go out. Dribble the ball as you go about your day doing errands like walking the dog. If you are staring at the ball, there is no way you can know what else is happening on the court.
Crossovers are very important if you’re a ball handler. Crossover dribble is switching hands while you’re dribbling. Crossovers must be done quickly to keep defenders at bay. A good crossover dribble can give you the opportunity to switch directions and progress on the court much faster.
Free throws require both mental and physical abilities. Without a strong mindset, your body simply goes through the motions to take the shot. Relax yourself and concentrate on your shot.
Practice Catching
Practice your pass catching often. You should practice catching errant passes, along with perfectly executed ones. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. Therefore, it pays to practice catching passes that are a bit off-target.
Don’t spend all your time practicing how to confront a zone defense. A lot of the game is sure to be played in the zone, but your opponent could change to man-to-man coverage. Practice with each type of defense so you will know what to expect.
You may have better luck honing your passing skills if you forgo dribbling during practice. It’s hard to play without dribbling, however, it can help you and your team create more accurate passes. Don’t get too frustrated if you’re having a hard time when you start because after a while passes are going to be more accurate.
Would you like to learn how to fool your opponent? Consider the back pass. Hold the basketball with your writing hand. Pull it behind you. Then, quickly snap your wrist toward the location where you want the ball to end up. This will confuse the opposition.
When you’re working out, concentrate on core strength building and your footwork. This allows your body to be in balance and be more explosive on the court. Exercise your abdominal muscles as well as those of the hips, buttocks and back. Just like boxers, you can improve your footwork and speed by jumping rope.
If you slump when you shoot, look at what your shoulders are doing. You won’t be able to make a shot if your shoulders aren’t in the right position. Keep your shoulders square to the hoop. The dominant shoulder must be perfectly aligned with the rim.
To get a rebound of a free throw that one of your teammates is taking, you need to be sly with your feet. Be aware that the defender who is below you will start moving in your direction. Slip past him, and you can get the ball. In this way you can get the rebound without a foul.
To trap someone in a 2-3 zone, get your guards to wait for the point guard to get about 10 feet past midcourt. Once he passes mid court the guards should rush up on him. While they are doing that, the forwards should move out to the wings. The point guard should throw up a pass that your forwards can easily steal.
Clearly, there are quite a few ways to help yourself play a better game. A lot of them are easy as learning the techniques and practicing them. Anytime you practice it makes you a better player, and whenever you have the opportunity to do so, do it. Practice alone, with friends or with your team, just so you can better your game.