TIP! You need to learn the correct way to dribble the ball. Don’t use your palm to dribble.

The game of basketball was created by Dr. James Naismith in 1891. Since that time, it has turned into one of modern society’s most beloved sports. From Dr. Celebrities such as Magic Johnson have made this sport very popular. If you would like to join their league, then now is the time to up your game skills.

TIP! Dribble while your head is up and your eyes are forward. If you have to ever look at the ball while dribbling, then you haven’t practiced that enough.

Make sure that you’re dribbling the ball correctly. You’ll want to use your fingertips to dribble instead of using your palm. This method gives you much more control of the ball. Bounce the ball no higher than your waist and keep the ball at your side rather than in front. Always look up and never look down at the ground.

TIP! Learn how to maneuver a crossover if you have the ball fairly often. Switch from one side to the other while dribbling.

Frequent pass catching practice is important. Try to catch all of the passes that are thrown to you. When the game is being played, passes may not be as perfect as we’d like. Being able to get imperfect passes will limit turnovers.

TIP! Make sure you spend your time focusing on your strengths. If you can rely on your strengths, you will become a better player.

Passing quickly without dribbling is a great way to practice. This helps to develop passing skills with your teammates, making it much more difficult if you’re standing in one spot and not dribbling. This is very challenging at first, but eventually it will really improve your entire team’s passing game.

TIP! Better your basketball skills by watching the pros play. Go to as many pro games as possible, watch them on TV, or watch videos of them playing.

If you become injured when playing basketball, stop immediately. This is an aggressive sport, and injuries happen often. Trying to play through the pain could just cause more damage. If it is a serious injury, see a doctor.

TIP! You want to be prepared for any type of defense the other team plays. Zone play will be important, but man-to-man will pop up from time to time, too.

Spreading out your fingers is key to handling the ball correctly. You will have better luck holding onto the ball as well. Do not allow your palm to come in contact with the ball either. Your fingers should be all that is holding the ball when you pass it or shoot it.

TIP! Lay off the weights if you are trying to become a jump shooter. While muscle strength is good to have in any basketball position, it is possible to have too much for perimeter play.

If you’re looking to be the best defensive player that you can be, you’ll want to know your opponent. Watch games if you can and look at their tendencies. One simple thing to know before the game is if your opponent shoots with their right or left hand. Once you understand the opposition, you will now how to mount your defense. The more knowledgeable a defender is, the stronger he is.

TIP! Make sure, no matter what else happens, you can see where the ball is. You have to be aware of what is going on with the ball at all times.

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. This will keep you balanced and going towards the basket.

TIP! Quickness is a key skill in basketball. Speed always gives you an edge over your opponent.

Work on getting the ball down the length of a full court with five or fewer dribbles during drills. 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. If you master this, you will be able to quickly take layups.

Defensive Position

TIP! When you have a chance, take a charge. By taking charge you can create a defensive stop so you can get the ball, and allows you to create setups so that the opponent will foul you.

One of the best ways to always be in proper defensive position is to never break out of the defensive stance. You will always be in a defensive position if you slide your feet one way and then the other and push off using your opposing foot. Keep your feet from crossing to make it hard for your opponent to get by you.

TIP! Defensive players need to stay low. This stance will keep you ready for whatever comes your way.

If you play basketball, you should incorporate strength training into your workout routine. When you play basketball you need a lot of stamina and strength to keep going through the entire game. Even youngsters can strengthen their arms and legs to improve game play. As they start to get older, get them some weights to help them exercise harder. As an adult, strength training becomes vital in order to play your best basketball.

TIP! In order to help develop your non-dominant hand, you should use that hand only when trying to open things, and also when brushing your teeth. Being more dexterous means you will have better control.

A ten-foot high hoop, a court almost as long as a football field and ten players is what you need to play regulation basketball. You have to know a lot about it if it’s something you want to do good at. The tips you just read should be helpful but they represent a very small portion of the many things you need to know about basketball.