Millions of people love playing and watching basketball. The more you know about the sport, the more enjoyment you’ll get out of watching or playing it. This piece is intended to help people do that.
Learn the best way to make your free throws. It seems easy to do but surely isn’t. Try using this technique in practicing. Start with the ball positioned right before your face. Have your eyes on your goal and picture your ball going into it. Then repeat that when you take the shot.
Balance is vital to good shooting. You have seen how pros shoot a basket from thirty feet away and fall out of bounds, which is not the right technique. They’re just improvising at this point. If you have correct balance when you are making a shot, you will make more consistent baskets over time.
A bounce pass is an important technique to learn. Bounce passes should not go above or below the receiving players waist. A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the receiving player is. There can be other factors in play to keep in mind, as well.
You should practice against a variety of defense types, not just zone. Most of the game is played in zone, but your opponent may try to switch things up to do man-to-man coverage. This can cause your team to lose momentum to the other side if this isn’t something you’ve practiced.
Would you like to pull one over on the other team? Try the back pass. Perform this pass by holding the ball using your dominant hand. The next step is pull the basketball behind the back. Flick your wrists in the direction that it must travel. This will trick your opponents.
Footwork is what gets you ready for a shot. Securing a good location is critical when playing basketball. You need to be sure your spot is secure. Strong footwork is key.
Focus on your footwork and core strength when working out. This allows your body to be in balance and be more explosive on the court. Concentrate your efforts on the back, abdomen, buttocks and hips. Similar to boxers, jump rope to help increase speed and better your footwork.
Playing Faster
Quickness is a blessing in basketball. Try playing faster than the opponents for a better advantage. In order to be fast, you must constantly do drills. Do not try playing faster than you can. If you push too hard, your performance may be haphazard, and the game may get out of control.
Always have an awareness of the location and movement of your feet. Stepping even over a baseline when you’re in possession of the ball will have you called out of bounds. Not dribbling when you take more than a few steps will result in a walking call as well as a forfeit of the ball. Also, moving a foot when setting up a screen can result in a foul.
Have someone taper your games and then watch it to see how you look on the court. Are you able to see missed opportunities or ways in which you could have improved? Appraise your performance honestly but don’t be overly harsh with yourself. Seeing yourself realistically can be a great way to make changes in a positive direction.
Free Throw
To become a reliable free throw shooter, always go through the same routine before each shot. This could mean two dribbles before taking your free throw, bending your knees, or some other thing you do to get into a rhythm before shooting. As long as you make it quick, if you have a consistent routine, your body will remember how to make those free throws after you go through your ritual.
If you are being heavily guarded, a pass between your legs might help. Practice bouncing the basketball forcefully between your legs while stepping forwards and backwards. Mastering this move can give you an advantage on the court.
When moving in for a layup, push off from your weaker foot and lead with your shooting hand. This will allow you to shoot with your comfortable hand. This way you keep your body away from defenders, your momentum going in the direction of the basket and your body stays balanced.
A routine can enable your free throw percentage to rise. Inconsistency does not make a better shot. You can shoot better free throws by making sure you use the same exact routine every time, and of course practice. This will help you develop a routine. If that routine goes off, it will cause you to miss your shot.
Drills should be done where you attempt to get your basketball up the court within five dribbles or even less than that. This might not seem possible, but if you can do it your speed and length will strengthen. It will allow you to execute easy layups.
Changing pace can help you keep the offense guessing. As you approach the goal, plant your foot and then straighten up. This will cause the guard to believe you are slowing, and it will also cause them to straighten up. When that happens, rush forward and power past them.
When you’re working with defense, staying low is a good idea. Staying low gives you a better chance to play the ball and helps you move more quickly. Maintain this low stance with arms raised until a shot or high pass is made. When you must break from your stance in order to block shots, make sure to return to form right away.
It is hard to rival the excitement and passion so many people feel for basketball. However, those who are new to the game may not really know what it is going on when they lack knowledge about the game. This article should give any aspiring basketball player the knowledge to improve their game.