TIP! Put the emphasis on your strengths can help you to be a better basketball player. Your talent might not make you a star; however, learning your strengths will help you become a better team player.

Basketball is a great game where there is always something new. The game changes constantly, players get better and you have to keep your skills sharp. Do you want to have a hand up? Continue reading in order to gain that competitive edge.

TIP! Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. You should expect layups to represent about 80% of all the shots you take in a game.

You should practice your crossovers a lot. This is when you switch hands while dribbling. If order for the maneuver to be a success, it has to be performed with speed. When done correctly, the crossover dribble help you to change direction in order to move down the court efficiently.

TIP! Shake things up rather than focusing solely on a zone defense. The majority of game play might take place in the zone, but that doesn’t mean that the opposing team will not try to catch you off guard.

Watching the pros play is a great way to see how great basketball players use their skills in the 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. You are sure to notice the key skills each player has mastered, and from there you can start practicing.

TIP! Practice playing by yourself. You may not always be able to find someone to play with you.

One good way to learn good passing is drill often without dribbling. Playing basketball without dribbling is very challenging, but your entire team will quickly improve their passing skills. The accuracy of passes will greatly improve over time and the drill will become a lot easier.

TIP! Hand signals will help you avoid those errant passes. It can be frustrating making a pass when a player moves away towards the basket.

Want to make the other team not know what’s going on? The back pass is perfect for this. To properly perform this pass you will need to have the ball in your dominant hand. The next step is pull the basketball behind the back. Lastly, flick your wrist in the direction that you want the ball to land. This should should thoroughly fool your opponent.

TIP! Where are your feet? An errant toe to the baseline while holding the ball will result in an “out of bounds” call. More than three steps will cause you to get called for travelling.

Bad passes can be avoided with the right hand signals. Players can get easily frustrated if they make a pass to players that aren’t available to catch the ball. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. If there is no signal, the player should not make the pass to them.

TIP! Passing the ball through your legs is a useful maneuver if the opposing team is right on top of you. Try practicing this by bouncing your ball hard in between your legs while stepping forward or backward.

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. By being able to easily dribble with two hands rather than one, you have a huge advantage over your defenders. Make an effort to dribble with your weak hand by keeping your dominant hand away from the front. Soon, you will be able dribble with your weaker hand as well as you can with your dominant hand.

TIP! Practice looking in a different direction when you pass. This will confuse your opponents.

Workout to increase flexibility and strength in your hands and forearms. For example, you can improve dribbling skills by adding wrist curls to your routine. You will not be able to stand in one place and shoot. You need to be able to move the basketball to make things happen.

TIP! To generate consistency with layups, leap from the opposite foot from the hand you use to shoot. If you use your right hand to shoot, use your left foot to take off.

Can you see well? You will need it for more than checking the scoreboard or passing and shooting. You have to build your peripheral vision. Being aware of the entire court will help you to better anticipate who will move where.

TIP! To help improve your ball handling skills, start incorporating your weak hand into your dribbling. Using both hands to dribble makes you a more effective player, especially when you’re trying to get past your opponent.

Trip up the offense by constantly changing your pace. When you are getting closer to the net, put your foot out and straighten up your body. Your guard will do the same, thinking you plan to stop. Push forward and blast by them.

TIP! If you wish to get a free throw rebound from a teammate, you have to stay on your toes properly. Your defender will move towards you, so figure out how to slither past him and grab the ball.

Keep low when you play defense. Doing so improves your reaction time with regards to your opponents’ actions. Maintain your proper defensive stance no matter what. When you block a shot, go back to a defensive form quickly.

TIP! Dribbling hard keeps the ball from being stolen from you. This is because the ball returns to you hand faster, so the opposing team has less of a chance to get it.

Have two of your guards wait for the point guard to go past midcourt for the best results. Then, they ought to trap the point guard. Your forwards can sprint to block the player on both sides. This will likely cause the point guard to make a high, short pass, which your forwards will steal quite easily.

Nba Distance

TIP! Using your weak hand to brush your teeth can help you build skills with that hand. Being able to dribble and shoot the ball with both hands will make it much more difficult for opponents to defend you.

To better three-point shooting, try using NBA distance as the minimum. All the other lines are closer. Putting in the shot from the NBA distance will give you an advantage over defenders who are not expecting it.

TIP! Keep the action beneath your knees, if you can. This will make it harder for opponents to get the ball away from you.

Continuously dribble the ball until you have an opening to pass it to one of your teammates, or you are prepared to shoot. After you halt the dribble, your options become quite limited. If you can’t shoot or pass, then you will have to pivot with your back foot. Putting yourself in this position makes you more vulnerable to having the ball stolen by the opposing team.

TIP! Use the hand you aren’t dribbling with to keep the opponent away from the ball. You can’t push the person guarding you, but you can hold your arm out gently.

You can place your off-hand out in front of you to serve as protection against the defense. It’s a foul to push your opponents, but using your arm as a barrier is allowed and will help you to secure the ball. You should try to keep your barrier arm up slightly when you are dribbling.

TIP! Double dribbling is considered a foul. A double dribble occurs when you’re done dribbling one time and then begin to do it again a little while afterwards.

Understanding your teammates is a vital part of basketball. The sport of basketball is truly a team game. Playing is more than just you and one other person. Everyone assists each other. Discuss your strengths and weaknesses with teammates so you know where you need improvement.

TIP! When catching a rebound, be sure to land with legs that are spread wider than your shoulder span, to help keep your balance. Make sure that your hands are on both sides of the basketball, and that you hold it close to your chest.

Switching up your dribbling rhythm can really throw the defense off. A consistent pace for your dribble will lull your opponent, and help you move more quickly than they do when the time comes. The speed is important, but it works in tandem with the sound to disorient the player who is guarding you.

TIP! Focus on the path of the basketball as it leaves a players hand. Watch whether it is an opponent or teammate.

Your diet is key to being a better player. If you’re playing regularly, you need energy-loaded carbs as well as some fat and protein. Enjoy lean proteins, whole grains and nuts. Sugar can give you an energy spike but it fades rather quickly, so try to stay away from sugary foods.

TIP! Proper passing is key to a game. Effective passing can trip up the opposing team.

Now you have the knowledge about how to improve those court skills. They were put together so you can become better at the game. Keep practicing and learning. Keep these tips in mind and be the best basketball player you can be!