TIP! Free throws have a huge mental element to them. It’s easy to physically train for a free throw, yet mental preparation is also needed.

Anyone who loves to play basketball can become obsessed with the game. To make fans cheer, you have to be good at what you do. Each teammate is important to the team, so you need to do what you can to improve your abilities. Read on for great tips which will help you win more often.

TIP! Remember to practice a lot of different possibilities so that you will not limit your game. Most of the basketball game will probably be played in this zone, but the other team might decide to surprise you and do some man-to-man coverage.

Dribble the ball the right way. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm. This provides you with much more ball control. Also, dribble off to the side instead of in front. The ball should bounce no higher than your waist. Never look at the ground. Always look up.

TIP! If your child is training to be a high school basketball player, make sure that they train their core muscles properly. They should train their lower back, hips, and abs.

Learn how to throw a proper bounce pass. Proper bounce passes ought to hit the recipient at the level of their waist. Aim for a firm bounce pass that hits the ground around 3/4 of the distance between you and the intended player. There are other variables to consider though.

Free Throws

TIP! Practice looking the other way when passing. This can go a long way toward confusing the opposition.

Free throws are mental as well as physical. Of course, you can show your body how to make free throws. However, if you’re not in the right state of mind, you won’t succeed. Stay calm and collected to increase your free throw percentage.

TIP! Practice with your weak hand when it comes to dribbling. If both hands are useful for dribbling, your opponents will not stand much of a chance.

Watch professionals play to learn from their techniques. Go to actual games or watch on TV. Each player has their strengths and you can learn a lot from each one.

TIP! Can you see well? While it will allow you to catch passes and read the score, there is more to it than that. Having excellent peripheral vision is vital to do well in this game.

Perform skills, practice your ball handling and shoot free throws when you are practicing alone. Though basketball is surely a team sport, there may be times when you have nobody to play against. No problem. Playing on your own can give you the chance to work on isolated areas of your game. Practice pivoting or you can practice doing free throws. You can always work on something.

TIP! Never pass up a charging opportunity. This allows you to get the ball back for your team, setting up a foul.

If you have a child that is strength training for basketball, their core muscles should be properly developed. The concept encompasses the abdominal muscles, the hips and the lower back. The core links together all of the extremities and if it isn’t strong, they will be dealing with a limited athletic ability. A well developed core lets a player generate force with their legs to be applied to faster running and jumping higher.

TIP! Be sure to keep your knees bent while you dribble. If you are standing up straight, you will have more difficulty controlling the ball.

Good footwork is important when you’re posting up in the paint. Although it’s important to have a physical presence underneath the basket, it’s more important that you get in a good place before your opponent can. Once you’re in position, you also need to secure your spot. Footwork is the key to either of these.

TIP! Shoot from NBA distances to see your three-point skills improve. The line in every other league is closer.

Never turn away from the ball, so that you can always stay ready for anything. It’s all about court awareness, and always facing the ball will make it so you are less surprised by passes. That means less turnovers. Keep your eyes open for areas that are open.

TIP! An excellent tip to help you with shooting skills is to shoot the ball from different spots on the court. If you wish to get even better at this, try dribbling and then stopping to make a quick shot.

If you experience a slump in your scoring and shooting, your shoulders may be the cause of the problem. When your shoulders are not properly positioned, then it is almost impossible to perform at your best. Be sure that your shoulders square up in front of the hoop. If your right hand is your dominant hand, your right shoulder must be aligned with the rim. For left-handedness, the opposite is true.

TIP! Try using your non-dribbling hand like a barrier between the ball and your opponent. 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.

When you are passing the ball, get used to looking in the other direction. You are able to confuse opponents with this technique. When done properly, this technique distracts the opposition and gives your pass recipient a chance to focus on the basket. You must practice this move with your teammates so that everyone on your team understands what is going on.

TIP! Practice shooting the ball from many different areas in order to improve your ability. Practice your grip and balance first.

Make your forearms and hands stronger so you can handle the ball better. An exercise to help develop your basketball skills is to perform wrist curls. Don’t ever believe you’re going to be able to stand still, receive a pass and take a shot. While this does happen on occasion, you should be moving in order to execute the play.

TIP! If you are a basketball player you should be eating a healthy diet. You need to eat carbs, fats and protein on game days.

Dribble the ball hard to keep it from being stolen. This causes the ball to return to your hand more quickly, so the offense has less time to try to get it away from you. If you have somebody guarding you very closely, pass the ball to an open teammate.

TIP! Foster a positive relationship with your team members regardless of whether you are playing or practicing. Great basketball games happen when teams work together.

Mix things up offensively to keep the other team’s defense off-balance. You can try faking a jump shot by planting quickly, and straightening your body. This will make the guard think you’re slowing down, then they will straighten their body too. When they do this, push yourself forward and take the chance to run by them.

TIP! It is important to know what to do when the ball comes to you. Should you shoot it or pass it? It’s more important to get the ball to the person who can make the shot than try to take a shot that will certainly miss or be blocked.

If you wish to shoot on the outside better you should work on shooting hundreds of times every day from a lot of places on the court. You can get even better if you practice dribbling and pulling up quickly for a shot. Hone in on your target while you are jumping, but not before you leave the ground. This way, you will be ready for the rapid pace of game play.

TIP! Always know where the basketball is headed when it leaves a players hands. Rebounds are an essential component of basketball.

Make sure your dribble is consistent until you decide to shake up the opposing player. Your opponent is looking for the best opportunity to steal the ball, and switching it up can break their concentration. Changing the speed also changes the sound which can be off-putting.

TIP! Learning how to pass is critical to the game of basketball. Passing is effective at confusing the opponent.

There are many ways you can improve your basketball game. A better player has more fans and more applause. All of the people involved contribute to the fun of the game. Bringing forth your best game is your contribution to the fun of basketball. So be sure to keep what you’ve read in mind so you’re able to be the player on the team that everyone enjoys to have around.