Dribbling In Circles? Use These Tips To Improve Your Basketball Skills!

by | Jan 20, 2020 | Basketball

TIP! When learning the game of basketball, it’s easy to get caught up in offensive play. But you should also give plenty of attention to defense.

Do you find yourself fantasizing that you are one of the best players of all time? Rather than merely dreaming of greatness, how about learning what it takes to really succeed? Keep reading to learn more about the game of basketball.

TIP! Balance is vital to good shooting. Your knees should be bent with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders.

Learn proper dribbling. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm. This will give you better control of the basketball. Avoid dribbling in front of you and only dribble to the sides of your body. Keep your eyes up, not on the ground.

TIP! A bounce pass is an important technique to learn. Bounce passes need to be at waist level when received.

Learn the mechanics of a free throw. These shots may seem easy, but they can be quite difficult. Practice this technique regularly. Begin by bringing the ball up to eye level. Use visualization to imagine the goal occurring. You should then shoot and try following the trajectory you visualized.

TIP! Don’t just practice playing against a zone defense. 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.

When dribbling, your head must be up, and you need to look forward. You need more practice if you feel that you cannot dribble without focusing on the ball. Carry your basketball everywhere. Try dribbling even when walking to a store. Get used to looking up as you go so that you can focus your attention on the court and not on your hands and the ball.

TIP! How would you like to trick the opposing team? Try a back pass. To start, grab the ball using your good hand.

To improve your game, concentrate on your strong points. You can contribute to the team by consolidating your best skills, even if these skills do not make you one of the star players. Ask others to help you identify your strengths and practice until you fully master these skills.

Bounce Passes

TIP! Make sure, no matter what else happens, you can see where the ball is. Passes and turnovers won’t take you by surprise because you will be more aware of what is happening on the court.

Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. Good bounce passes need to hit the other player waist length when they receive it. It’s generally a good idea to pass the ball about three-fourths of the distance between you and the receiving teammate. Many other factors will affect it, too.

TIP! If you find yourself unable to shoot well, consider your shoulders. You won’t be able to make a shot if your shoulders aren’t in the right position.

Hand signals will help you avoid those errant passes. One of the more frustrating aspects of basketball is making a pass to a teammate at the same time they head to the basket. Hand signals can help you communicate with your teammate on the court. Without a signal, there shouldn’t be a pass.

TIP! Videotape your games to see what you do right and wrong. Looking at tapes can help you identify strengths and weaknesses.

If the opposing team is guarding you to much, you can try a pass between your legs. To practice, simply bounce the basketball between your legs while stepping either forward or backwards. Perfecting this technique will help thwart the opposing team while you’re trying to advance the ball.

TIP! Practice dribbling with your weak hand as much as possible. By being able to easily dribble with two hands rather than one, you have a huge advantage over your defenders.

Dribble hard if you don’t want the ball taken from you. A hard dribble returns the ball back to you faster, leaving less chance of it being snatched by the other team. If you are being guarded closely, halt your dribble and pass to an open teammate.

TIP! To play good defense, you have to upset and disrupt your opponent. Force them away from their comfort zone.

In your drills, you should attempt to move the basketball the length of the court in fewer than half a dozen dribbles. Although this might seem tricky in the beginning, this can really help your game if you can master this skill. It will allow you to execute easy layups.

TIP! Perform exercises to strengthen the muscles in your forearms and hands in order to maximize your ability to handle the ball. One important exercise is wrist curls, which help you with your dribbling.

Be sure that you’re able to see clearly. This means more than just being able to see well enough to play, but “seeing” the court deeply. You want your peripheral vision to be as good as it can. If you scan the entire court instead of keeping your eye on the basketball, you will be aware of oncoming defensive pressure as well as the positions of your open teammates.

TIP! When you are defending, keep your stance low. This will let you get to the jump quicker and let you react to your opponent easier.

Do not release your defensive stance. Shuffle your feet in a side to side motion, then use your opposite foot to push off and give you good leverage. Remember to never let your feet cross and you will be a difficult player to get around.

TIP! If you want a 2-3 zone to be turned into a machine that traps, your two defenders that are guarding should wait until your point guard is around ten feet past mid court. At that point, both guards should move in for the trap.

Now you have some things you can work on to improve your game. In order to do well you will need to develop a consistent routine which will better your playing skills. Show people what you got, and make sure you always remember the advice that you’ve read.