TIP! Look forward when dribbling. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while you’re dribbling.

Basketball is more than just an activity you run around in during gym class. It can be played anywhere there is open space. If you enjoy basketball, find out all you can in order to play better. The article that follows will help.

TIP! Improving your balance means improving your shots. While the all-time greats have shown time and time again how they can shoot while off-kilter, this is not the ideal way to score.

It’s natural to focus on offensive abilities when practicing the sport of basketball, but your practice time needs to focus on defense. Basketball games are often won by great defensive play. While offense seems to get the praise, defense must be stellar in order to win.

Core Muscles

TIP! Try using hand signals to prevent passes in error. It’s frustrating to pass to your teammate at the very moment they’re heading toward the basket.

Basketball players need to build strong core muscles. These core muscles for basketball include your lower back, hips and abs. Your performance is going to be sub-par if you don’t have strengthened core muscles. If your core is solid, you will have greater strength in your legs. This helps with fast running and high jumping.

TIP! During your workouts, concentrate on improving your footwork as well as your core strength. Your balance will improve if you strengthen your core.

If you’re injured when playing basketball, don’t push through the pain. Basketball is hard to play well even when you are healthy, so don’t push it. By “playing through the pain” you take a huge risk that the injury will become much worse. See a doctor if the injury is serious enough.

TIP! If you’re shooting isn’t what you’d like it to be, make sure that your shoulders are in the correct position. When the shoulders are wrongly positioned, your shot is unlikely to succeed.

One of the best ways to play a strong defensive game is to know your opponent. Review tapes and keep up with scouting reports. Remember which player shoots left and which shoots right. When you know some of the other player’s moves, you’ll have a leg up during a game as you’ll be able to predict what he is going to do. One of the most important keys to being a solid defender is an understanding of your opponent.

TIP! Always be sure of where you’re placing your feet so you’re aware of what they’re doing. Out of bounds will happen with even one toe over the baseline of the lined play area on the court.

You need to be quick to play good basketball. Try playing faster than the opponents for a better advantage. In order to play fast, you must practice drills. However, you should not attempt to play any faster than your abilities permit. Playing beyond your capabilities will lead to bad passes and lots of turnovers.

TIP! A good way to see yourself playing is to have someone record your games. While reviewing the tape, look for opportunities you may have missed during the game.

Practice looking the other way when passing. Doing this is a great way to confuse your opponents. If you’re doing it correctly you can fake your opponent out so he/she moves towards that direction and then you pass the ball to a wide open teammate for a shot. If you can master this move, it can really work in your favor.

TIP! Consistent free throws require a consistent technique. A routine that is constantly in flux will only open up more opportunities for failure.

Your forearms and hands should be strengthened if you wish to handle the ball better. Wrist curls can be effective at helping you to control the ball as if you’ll be dribbling in your sleep. 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! You can improve your ability to handle the ball by working out your forearms and hands. Wrist curls are great for working wrist muscles and improving your dribbling.

You must be able to box out other players when attempting to rebound free throws. Try to anticipate the move of the defender between yourself and the basket so that you can maneuver around him and to the hoop. This will allow you to score a rebound without getting penalized for a foul.

TIP! Be slick with your feet so you can get a rebound from a teammate. Defenders will start to move at you, so you need to get around them to grab the ball.

Whether you play competitively or for fun, learning to be a better ball player is paramount. Since you’ve devoted this time to reading this article, the next step is to take these new skills out to the court. Knowledge is strength in every venue, including basketball.