Every Basketball Player Has To Start Somewhere

by | Feb 3, 2022 | Basketball

TIP! Your balance is an important aspect to consider when you are shooting. Everyone has seen professional basketball players make a shot from 20 feet away as they are falling.

Do you feel like basketball could be a great game if you knew more about it? If so, you are not alone. Having a guideline to the game can make basketball more enjoyable for you. This article will help you play just like them.

TIP! Observing what the professionals do can be a great way to improve your game. Get tickets to some pro games, if possible, or catch some games on television.

Make it a point to concentrate on both your defensive and offensive skills. Focusing only on offense does not make you a well-rounded player. Basketball games are often won by great defensive play. Offense may score points but defense keeps the other team from scoring points that your team will have to match.

TIP! Need to dupe the opposition? Try doing a back pass! Hold the ball using your dominant hand. Next, pull the ball behind your back.

Make sure you are dribbling the right way. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm. This way you’ll have a lot more control over the ball. Always dribble to your side, not your front. Keep your eyes up, not on the ground.

TIP! If you are posting up, strategic footwork is important to becoming open and making a good shot. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop.

Perfect your layup technique. Layup shots make up nearly 80% of a game’s shots. Dribble the ball in front of you while taking large strides followed by a smooth shot. This technique helps improve your on-court layup skills.

TIP! When an injury occurs while you are playing ball, don’t keep playing with pain. It’s a challenging sport that’s very physical, and you have the ability to get injured.

Practice using different types of defenses. A lot of the game is sure to be played in the zone, but your opponent could change to man-to-man coverage. If you haven’t prepared yourself for that, you might lose your game very quickly.

TIP! You must know your opponent in order to be tough on defense. You should be look at scouting reports, practicing techniques and watch tapes.

If you want to take jump shots, don’t build your arms up too large. It’s important to be strong, but not too strong. As a shooting guard, having bulky arm muscles can actually reduce the number of successful shots.

TIP! If you slump when you shoot, look at what your shoulders are doing. When the shoulders are wrongly positioned, your shot is unlikely to succeed.

There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. Try a back pass. Hold the ball using your dominant hand. Then, move the ball so it is behind your back. Then you will use your wrist and flip it in the direction you want the ball to be going. This is a good way to trick your opponents.

Core Muscles

TIP! To help perfect your free throw abilities you should perform a consistent routine. This could mean two dribbles before taking your free throw, bending your knees, or some other thing you do to get into a rhythm before shooting.

If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, ensure they’re training core muscles in the right way. The core is the following areas: abdominal muscles, lower back muscles and hip muscles. Stronger core muscles will help them be more resistant and allow them to develop many different athletic abilities. A solid and strong core lets force that comes from the legs get used for beneficial movements when playing, like faster running and higher jumping.

TIP! It can help you when you pass through your legs. Practice dribbling the ball between your legs.

What do your teammates admire about your skills? Do you have an area where you excel? Perhaps you are great backup or fast on your feet. Develop your strengths even further and look for ways to improve your weaknesses.

TIP! 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.

Make it your goal to never turn away from the ball on the court. 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! Hard dribbling helps avoid stolen balls. This makes the ball go back to your hand quicker, so offense has reduced chances at taking it from you.

It is important to be aware of the location of your feet and just what they are up to. Just touching the baseline is going to get you called out of bounds. The ball will be turned over on a walking call if too many steps are taken with no dribble action. Being aware of your body movements can give you an advantage on the court.

TIP! Try to keep the ball in your line of sight at all times. This isn’t just for reading the scoreboard.

To help perfect your free throw abilities you should perform a consistent routine. Always dribble the same way, or with the same movements. If you make your routine consistent, your body will eventually know how to make the shot every time.

TIP! In order to ensure that you are always ready to defend, keep your stance at all times. Slide your feet to the sides or push off using the opposite foot to always be in position.

If the opposing team is guarding you to much, you can try a pass between your legs. Practice bouncing the basketball forcefully between your legs while stepping forwards and backwards. If you manage to master this, you will have a tremendous advantage during games.

TIP! Changing your pace is key to keeping the offense on their toes. When you running towards the basket, try planting the front foot and start straightening up.

Dribble the ball hard to keep it from being stolen. The ball returns more quickly to your hand when you do this, giving the opponents fewer opportunities to steal it from you. When closely guarding another player, cease dribbling and pass it to another play on your team that’s open.

TIP! To make your shooting skills better, shoot from all around the court. You should also practice starting with a dribble and then taking a shot.

A good drill to try is the five dribble drill. You try to get the ball the entire length of the court in only five dribbles. This initially seems undoable, but it helps build speed and stride. In games, this drill will become useful when you have fast break opportunities.

TIP! While you dribble, alternate your momentum from your left to right side. This will happen during games frequently.

The bottom line is that while you may like basketball a whole lot, it may be that you lacked some key information about it before today. However, after you’ve gathered additional knowledge about the game through this article, maybe you feel like getting out on the court and being a pro yourself. Get started playing basketball with this advice.