TIP! Look forward when dribbling. If you start staring at the ball while you dribble, you know you need to practice more.

Even the NBA’s best players don’t know everything there is to know about basketball. Basketball constantly changes, so learning all about it will help you keep up. Would you like to have a competitive edge? Continue reading to find out how you can improve your game.

TIP! In order to be a great shooter, good balance is key. Falling when you make a shot is not the right way to shoot.

You need to learn the correct way to dribble the ball. Don’t use your palm to dribble. Instead, use your fingertips. When you do this you will have more control over the ball. Dribble to the side of your body rather than directly in front of you, bouncing at waist level. Don’t look down, always look up.

TIP! Focus on your strengths to get better at basketball. Your skills may not turn you into the star player, but knowing how to make the most of your skills will make you a more valuable player.

When dribbling, make sure that you look forward and keep your head up. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet. Take the basketball to all the places that you go. Dribble the ball while you’re walking around. Always look ahead when you are dribbling the ball.

TIP! Constantly practice layups. Eighty percent of the shots taken in a game are layups.

One of the most important skills when playing basketball is balance. You’ve seen the pros fall out of bounds when trying to shoot 30 feet from the basket; this is a bad move. They are going with the flow when this occurs. You need the right balance to shoot; it is the only way to eventually make consistent baskets.

TIP! Building core muscle is key to playing great basketball. The core is the following areas: abdominal muscles, lower back muscles and hip muscles.

Every great player understands how to properly perform a bounce pass. This means your pass should be aimed towards the receiving player at the level of his waist. Bounce it 3/4 of the distance to the receiver. Although, there will be other circumstances that are involved too.

Errant Passes

TIP! When trying to improve your strength to have better basketball footwork, work on building up your core. If the core muscles are in good shape, you will feel lighter on your feet.

Frequently train yourself on your pass catching moves. Try to catch all of the passes that are thrown to you. During the course of a game, you can expect there to be many errant passes. Cover for your teammates’ errant passes by developing the hands to cover their mistakes.

TIP! Develop and use a consistent routine for shooting free throws. Inconsistency will ruin your shots.

A good way to improve team passing to use a no dribbling drill, that is to play the game without dribbling at all. It is difficult playing without dribbling; however, it helps the team make better passes. Do not get frustrated if it it seems difficult at first, over time your team’s passes will become more accurate.

TIP! To help improve your ball handling skills, start incorporating your weak hand into your dribbling. By being able to easily dribble with two hands rather than one, you have a huge advantage over your defenders.

Tricking the other team is a good way to win a game. Try doing what is known as a back pass. To accomplish this pass, grasp the ball using your dominant hand. Keep control of the ball while it is behind your back. Then, quickly snap your wrist toward the location where you want the ball to end up. You can use this action to deceive your opponents.

TIP! Being a good defensive player involves disrupting your opponent’s concentration. Make them uncomfortable.

A smart tip to follow while playing basketball is to always keep your eye on the ball and not away from the play. You develop a good feel for the game around you, making it much easier to quickly react to your opponent. Always watch for areas opening up where you can go for a quick basket.

TIP! If you don’t want someone to steal the ball, dribble hard. The ball bounces faster, giving the guard less time to steal.

Make sure you know what is going on with your feet. If you slide onto the baseline, you will lose the ball for being out of bounds. Holding the ball for too many steps and not dribbling will result in a walking call which will cause you to you will lose possession of the ball. You can’t move a foot when you take a charge, pick or screen either, or it’s a foul.

TIP! Practice drills where you strive to make it across the full court within 5 dribbles. This may seem to be too difficult at first, but once you’re able to do it you’ll have a lot of speed and stride length.

In order to become a better free throw shooter you need to have a good practice routine. If you stay inconsistent, you miss a shot. You have to practice time and time again. Just keep repeating free throws, if you want to perfect that technique. If you don’t stick to your routine, you could miss the shot.

TIP! If an opponent charges at you, let him run into you. This allows you to get the ball back for your team, setting up a foul.

Now that you’ve read these tips, you should now much more confident about playing on the court. Applying these tips will help you improve. Don’t stop practicing and learning. Get better and make sure you don’t forget what you just learned.