TIP! Watch your form while you dribble the ball. Proper dribbling technique involves use of the fingertips, not the palm of the hand.

Would you let just anyone work on your car, or try to do it yourself without finding out the proper way to do things? Don’t think you can become the greatest basketball player ever without studying the sport and practicing your skills. There are many useful tips in this article that will help your basketball game.

TIP! When dribbling, focus on what’s in front of you by keeping your head up. If you’ve got your eye on the ball while you’re dribbling, you haven’t mastered it yet.

Dribble while your head is up and your eyes are forward. If you have to ever look at the ball while dribbling, then you haven’t practiced that enough. Take the basketball around off-court wherever you are. Dribble the ball as you go about your day doing errands like walking the dog. Don’t look while dribbling, because you won’t be able to see what’s going on.

TIP! You should often work on your layups. A huge percentage of successful shots are layups.

Make sure that you practice your layups frequently. Up to eighty percent of the baskets attempted in a game are layups. When you practice, run toward the net, and then get a high jump in so you can smoothly shoot. Drill the jumping technique regularly so you can do layups very smoothly and always stay in control of where the ball is going.

TIP! Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. The majority of the game is in that area, but be careful about a team who changes things up.

You should learn the best way to throw a great bounce pass. Good bounce passes need to hit the other player waist length when they receive it. Remember you should bounce the ball approximately three-quarters of the distance between yourself and the receiving player. Of course, there are also other factors involved.

TIP! Don’t let the ball go behind your back. Always knowing where the ball is will make sure that you are ready if it quickly comes your way.

One great way to pass good is to drill when you can without dribbling. It is hard to play with no dribbling, but it will help your team make great passes. The accuracy of passes will greatly improve over time and the drill will become a lot easier.

TIP! If your opponent is pressing hard, you can give yourself some room to work by dribbling the ball between your legs. Step forward and back while dribbling the ball between your legs hard.

Don’t pump a lot of iron if you wish to become a jump shooter. While muscle mass is good for any basketball position, perimeter play requires less than other positions. Many guards in the pros have developed their arm muscles too big, which has really harmed their shooting percentage.

TIP! When moving in for a layup, push off from your weaker foot and lead with your shooting hand. This means that when you’re shooting from your right hand you have to use your left foot to take off.

One good way to always be ready for whatever happens on the court is to never turn your back on the ball. This will help you stay on top of quick changes in possession or plays attempted by your opponent. Pay attention to open areas for passes, too.

TIP! Build a consistent routine for your free throws. If you’re consistent, your shots will be too.

Have someone taper your games and then watch it to see how you look on the court. Do you see anything you could do differently? Be honest when assessing, but avoid being overly critical. Sometimes you think of yourself as something you are not.

TIP! You need to constantly disrupt your opponents in order to be a great defensive player. Do not allow your opponent to become comfortable with their style, or yours.

When doing a layup, start running using the weaker of your two feet. If you play to use your right hand to shoot, you’ll want to use your left foot to take off. That will build your balance and help you stay in the right position.

TIP! Strength training can improve your game. Conditioning training will also increase your stamina.

Get into a consistent routine to improve your free throw shots. Inconsistency will ruin your shots. The simplest way to get better at shooting free throws is through constant repetitive motions when shooting the ball. If your routine is off, then you will miss the shot.

TIP! Your defenders need to wait for the point guard to make it 10′ ahead of the time line. This can give them an opportunity to run up to that point guard to trap them.

Practice dribbling with your weaker hand. Getting by an opponent should be a lot easier if you can dribble using both hands. Hold the dominant hand behind the back and make certain you use just the weak hand. Eventually, your weak hand will be able to dribble well.

TIP! Keep dribbling when you’re going to switch the body’s momentum from side to side. This will happen during games frequently.

To improve ball handling, consider focusing workouts on your forearms and hands. Wrist curls are especially effective at making you better able to handle a basketball like you could dribble sleepwalking. Don’t believe you will be able to simply plant yourself someplace, receive the ball and sink a shot. Your ability to handle the ball will affect your success on the court.

TIP! Always know the angles the ball is likely to take if it misses a goal. If that happens, you can guess the place where it will go and manage to get the rebound.

You should ensure that you can clearly see. You don’t just want to be able to pass and shoot well. Try making your peripheral vision the best it can be. If you view the entire game without focusing on the ball, you’ll see defensive pressure advance, along with open teammates.

TIP! Build a sense of teamwork both off and on the court. A cohesive team is an effective team, and basketball teams are no exception.

Understanding what works in basketball is key to figuring out how to play the game. Find out how these useful tips can make you a better basketball player. You can win games and impress your teammates.