TIP! Focusing on the offense may come easily but you need to be able to focus on the defense as well., Defense can make or break a basketball game.

Now’s the time to learn all about basketball. You want to play a better game. But you still lack a bit of knowledge. Perhaps you can learn a few things from this piece. Read on to learn how to become a better basketball player.

TIP! A bounce pass is an important technique to learn. It is best when the ball hits the receiving player near the waist.

Make it a point to concentrate on both your defensive and offensive skills. Focusing only on offense does not make you a well-rounded player. Defense is what wins basketball games. Offense may score points but defense keeps the other team from scoring points that your team will have to match.

TIP! Frequently train yourself on your pass catching moves. When practicing, try catching great passes as well as really bad passes.

Learn to crossover if you get the ball often. Being able to dribble the ball with both hands and crossover between the two will make you a better player. This action most be quick to work out. Crossovers can help you get out of a tight spot.

TIP! You should practice against a variety of defense types, not just zone. Usually, a big part of the game is probably going to be in zone; however, the opposing team can suddenly switch to man-to-man to catch you off guard.

Always work on your layups. In a typical game, up to four-fifths of all shots are layups. The best practice strategy is to go full tilt toward the hoop, then do a smooth jump shot. Running and jumping well in practice means better jump shooting in actual games.

TIP! Do you want to fool the other team? The back pass is just the thing! Hold the ball using your dominant hand. Now, pull it behind your back.

If you want to take jump shots, don’t spend time pumping iron. Being weighed down by too much bulky muscle can have a negative impact on your jump shot. There have been instances where great shooters bulk up so much that it adversely affects their shooting percentage.

Core Muscles

TIP! Learn to pass the ball without looking at your intended target. You are able to confuse opponents with this technique.

If your kid is going to try out for the basketball team, they should be properly training their core muscles. Core muscles are comprised of the hips, lower back, and abdominal muscles. The core links the upper and lower extremities and without a strong one, their athletic performance will be limited. When your core muscles are strong, you become a more powerful force on the court. This means greater speed and higher jumping skills.

TIP! When moving in for a layup, push off from your weaker foot and lead with your shooting hand. Jump off your left foot when you shoot using your right hand.

Build your core strength and work on your footwork. This allows your body to be in balance and be more explosive on the court. Your muscles in your buttocks, hips, abdomen, and back should be worked. As with boxing, you can increase footwork speed and dexterity by jumping rope.

TIP! Consistent free throws require a consistent technique. When you stay consistent, you get better success.

One of the most vital attributes one needs to play basketball is quickness. You will have the advantage over your opponents if you can really play fast. You will have to do a lot of drilling to play faster. Don’t play too fast and risk your chances. By playing beyond your speed capabilities, you will quickly lose control of the ball, which will lead to bad passes, bad shots, and turnovers.

TIP! Practice dribbling with both hands, dribble on both sides of your body and learn to dribble in front of you while taking large strides. Utilizing both hands to dribble the basketball and switching effortlessly is key to advantage over an opponent.

If your opponent is pressing hard, you can give yourself some room to work by dribbling the ball between your legs. Practice this by bouncing the ball hard between your legs as you take a step forward or back. If you can master this move, it will give you quite the advantage when you are on the court.

TIP! You need to work on your forearms and your hands to handle the ball more efficiently. Wrist curls are great for bettering your ball handling in basketball to the point where you could practically do it sleepwalking.

Make sure your vision is good. This will prepare you for unexpected passes and help you evade defenders. Working to improve you peripheral vision will help you become a more successful player. It allows you to view the game as a whole rather than simply watching the ball. In this way, you can be aware of the players around you.

TIP! Always stay low when playing defensively. You will be able to react more quickly and jump higher because of this.

You can use your guards and point guard to trap an opponent with a 2-3 zone defense. They can then trap the point guard. Simultaneously, forwards should block sprint toward wing players. Their point guard will probably hurl a pass that is easy for your own forwards to steal.

TIP! Practice dribbling by switching momentum. You will dribble during different situations.

To help practice three-point shooting you should practice shooting at the NBA distance. High school lines, international standard lines, and college lines are much closer. By learning to shoot from NBA distances, you improve your range tremendously.

TIP! Use the hand that doesn’t have the ball as a block. You can’t push on your opponent, but you should use your non-dribbling arm to protect the ball.

Try to contain the action to the area below your knees. Doing this makes it more difficult for members of the opposing team to steal the ball from you. You will need to bend somewhat for this to happen, but it’ll allow you to move quickly down the court as you ward off your opponents.

TIP! Your workout routine can help you do well in the game. Distance running will help with stamina and sprinting can help with individual plays.

Using the information you got here, you can hit the court with new-found energy. It’s fantastic to learn something new and to see what it can do for you. Remember all the information that has been presented so that you can show off your skills. Have fun playing basketball!