TIP! You must become knowledgeable about hitting a free-throw shot. It seems easy to do but surely isn’t.

Basketball fans transform whenever basketball season comes, whether it’s playing or just supporting their teams. One thing to do if you wish to keep people cheering is to do well at basketball. It takes practice and a willingness to work on all aspects of the game. You can be a better basketball player. Here are a few things you need to know if you wish to be on a team that wins more often.

TIP! Start out with proper balance before attempting to take a shot. Sometimes you’ll see professional players fall out of bounds while making a shot from afar, but this doesn’t work at all times.

Practice your free throw shot. This may seem like an easy task, but in reality, things prove otherwise. Practice frequently using these techniques. Place the ball right in line with your face. Look at the basket and imagine the ball going in it. Then shoot the ball with the trajectory that you visualized.

TIP! Be sure to watch professional games to learn some great tips and tricks to improve your game. Whether seeing an all-pro on YouTube, attending a game in person, or sitting on the couch with buddies to watch your local professional team, there are many chances to observe the best.

If you handle the ball often, you need to learn how to do a crossover. A crossover is when you move the ball from one hand to the other. Crossovers must be done quickly to keep defenders at bay. If you do it right, a crossover dribble will assist you in changing directions and getting down the court in an efficient manner.

TIP! Practice your pass catching often. You need to be able to retrieve perfect passes and not so perfect passes.

Constantly practice layups. Up to eighty percent of the baskets attempted in a game are layups. During practice you want to get up enough speed to quickly get to the rim then easily lay the ball towards the hoop. Knowing how to run and jump quickly and smoothly will assist you in knowing how to leap and shoot more effectively while playing.

Receiving Player

TIP! If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. Basketball is challenging physical sport and you can get injured.

Perfect your bounce pass. This means your pass should be aimed towards the receiving player at the level of his waist. It’s smart to get the ball to bounce about 75% to the receiving player. This all depends on many factors.

TIP! Proper handling of the ball requires that your fingers be spread apart. That makes sure that you don’t lose the ball when you hold it.

Don’t just practice your game against the zone defense. Most of the game is played in zone, but your opponent may try to switch things up to do man-to-man coverage. When you don’t know how to defeat it, you will lose.

TIP! Work on core strength when you work out. With a stronger core, you’ll be able to balance better.

If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, be sure they’re working on their core muscles. This will involve their lower back, hips, and abs. Without a strong core, a player’s performance may not be as good as it could be. If your core is solid, you will have greater strength in your legs. This helps with fast running and high jumping.

TIP! You need to be quick to play good basketball. You’ll have an advantage if you’re faster than an opponent.

A smart tip to follow while playing basketball is to always keep your eye on the ball and not away from the play. It’s all about court awareness, and always facing the ball will make it so you are less surprised by passes. That means less turnovers. Knowing where the other players are on the court helps you open passing lanes and gives you more opportunities to take a shot.

TIP! Always be aware of where you have your feet and what you are going to do with them next. You want to make sure you don’t step over the bounds by even a teeny bit.

You must know your opponent in order to be tough on defense. You can read scouting reports and watch tapes to evaluate your opponents game. Keep track of which players are right hand dominant and which are left hand dominant. Your defensive game will be a lot more effective after you get to know your opponent. The strongest defenders are those who have information.

TIP! To become a reliable free throw shooter, always go through the same routine before each shot. That could include a set number of dribbles, knee-bends or some other type of movement.

If your shooting is suffering, take a close look at your shoulders. When your shoulders are not properly positioned, then it is almost impossible to perform at your best. Be sure shoulders always remain squared towards your hoop. Line up your shooting shoulder with the rim as well.

TIP! In order to become a better free throw shooter you need to have a good practice routine. If you don’t have one, your accuracy may suffer.

Have your games taped so you can play them back later and observe your court presence. 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. You can learn a lot by watching your plays instead of just trying to remember what you did.

TIP! To be a good dribbler, and a more versatile player, you have to develop not only your dominant hand but your weaker side as well. When you are ambidextrous, you’ll be a better player.

To increase the efficiency of your layups, begin your takeoff on the foot opposite from the hand you’re shooting with. Use your left foot when shooting with the right hand. This way you keep your body away from defenders, your momentum going in the direction of the basket and your body stays balanced.

TIP! When on defense, try to keep yourself low whenever you can. This will aid you as you jump and make it easier to react to the front man.

Work on making your forearms and hands stronger in order to improve ball handling. Curling your wrists also help you improve your own dribbling. You will not be able to stand in one place and shoot. You have to learn to move the ball if you want something to happen.

TIP! Only stop dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass. When you stop dribbling, then you limit your options.

As you know, there are so many ways you can make yourself a better player. Better players make better teams. No matter what your role is in supporting the team, everyone has a job they can improve on. Your part as a player is to assist your team any way that you can. Therefore, keep this information in mind, and be a player everyone loves having on their team.