TIP! Learn to correctly dribble the ball. Don’t use your palm, use your fingers.

No matter if you plan to hit the court or lead the cheers from the stands, some basic basketball knowledge is key. Know nothing about the game? Don’t worry. It is not too hard to learn about basketball. Read on for some basketball tips that will have you calling all the shots and making the slam-dunks for your team.

TIP! Practice your free throw shot. There are usually a lot of distractions when you are shooting free throws so you need to concentrate.

Watching the pros can help you pick up on certain skills for improving your game. Watch as many games on TV as you can. Every truly great player has unique skills that you can learn from.

TIP! Lay off the weights if you are trying to become a jump shooter. Muscle is good, but you can have too much.

You can improve your passing skills by practicing a simple drill where dribbling is forbidden. It is hard to play a game when you don’t dribble, but it will help you to be sure that everyone is passing accurately. It may seem nearly impossible at first, but over time your team will learn to throw accurate passes and be in good position to receive them.

TIP! It is best to take a break if you sustain an injury while playing. Basketball is physically challenging, and injuries are not uncommon.

Would you like to pull one over on your opponents? Make use of the back pass. To do this pass, hold on to the ball with your dominant hand. Then, bring the ball back behind you. Finally, flick your wrist towards the direction in which you wish that ball to travel. Doing this will trick your opponent.

TIP! Ask your fellow teammates if they have an opinion of your skills in the game. What do you need to focus in on and practice more? Continue to develop the skills that play into your natural abilities.

When avoiding errant passes, use hand signals. Passing is tough, especially if you and your teammate are not in sync with one another. Avoid this using hand signals to see if they can get the pass. If you don’t see a signal, you shouldn’t pass the ball.

TIP! If you have someone who can tape your game, you can view the recording to see how well you performed on the court. This way, you have the opportunity to go through your play at a later time and see your mistakes.

You should ask your teammates about your strengths and weaknesses. Do you do something really good? Maybe you are nimble or you are reliably there to support them. You can learn a lot about your skills by knowing how others see you on the court.

TIP! Practice looking the other way when passing. This should befuddle your opponent.

When playing a game of basketball, have a friend tape the game. This way, you can take a look at your game. Looking at tapes can help you identify strengths and weaknesses. Be honest with yourself, but avoid being too critical. You can learn a lot by watching how you play and what you need to concentrate practicing on.

TIP! To maximize your layups, take off with the foot that opposes your shooting hand. If you use your right hand to shoot, use your left foot to take off.

To get more out of layups, take off using the foot that;s the opposite of your shooting hand. When shooting right-handed, take off using the left foot. This will keep you balanced and going towards the basket.

TIP! A great drill to try is to see how many dribbles it takes for you to make it across the court. The ideal number of dribbles is five.

If you wish to shoot free throws better, you have to have a routine that’s consistent. Failure to use consistency may make your shots less accurate. Practice and repetition are the only way to become a consistent free thrower. This will help you develop a routine. If that routine goes off, it will cause you to miss your shot.

Strength Training

TIP! Use wrist curls to increase the strength in your weaker arm. If you’re able to do more with your other hand daily, you can start controlling it better.

Strength training can improve your game. It is impossible to succeed if you lack endurance and strength. Even younger kids will benefit from strength training. As the teenage years approach, weights can be used for even greater impact. As an adult, a player must continue strength training for optimum performance.

TIP! You should always have your free hand between you and your opponent when dribbling the ball. Never push your opponent away because that ends up in a foul, but lightly use your other hand to keep separation between the ball and your opponent.

Shoot from NBA distances to see your three-point skills improve. The standard line and college lines are much closer. When you can shoot from the NBA range, you’ll be able to shoot from farther away than the defense expects.

TIP! Make a strong team both off and on the basketball court. When a basketball team is totally in sync, the game is taken to a higher level.

Your workout routine can help you do well in the game. Distance running will help with stamina and sprinting can help with individual plays. Lift weights to build your power. You will be able to shoot well with this confidence and aggression.

TIP! Make sure you don’t double dribble. This is when you are dribbling, then you stop and then you begin again.

If you are serious about basketball then you should be serious about your diet. To play with great frequency, you will need a large amount of carbs combined with a bit of fat and protein. Adding nuts, chicken, peanut butter and whole grain breads to your diet can help. Conversely, avoid salt and sugar whenever you can.

TIP! To help maintain your balance when catching a rebound, try to land with your feet shoulder width apart. Your hands must be positioned on both sides of the ball, and the ball must be held tightly against your chest.

These tips are simple to understand and easy to put into use. Now you know a ton about basketball. You can use the information you got in this article to gain game perfection, or you can just perfect your television tuning skills so you can observe the pros in action.