TIP! When learning the game of basketball, it’s easy to get caught up in offensive play. But you should also give plenty of attention to defense.

Basketball is more than just something you play in intramural sports or in your P.E. class. This game can be played in a park or even in your driveway. To shoot hoops and play basketball better in general, focus reading the information below.

TIP! Free throws are as much mental as they are physical, like other parts of the game. Making the right physical motions is easier than having the right mind set.

You have to know how to bounce pass properly. 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 factors you have to think about too, however.

TIP! Your child should work on their core muscles if they want to become a basketball player in high school. This will involve their lower back, hips, and abs.

Practice playing a man-to-man defense and 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. If you haven’t practiced against it, you could end up losing your grip on the game quite quickly.

TIP! One great thing to do if you wish to be prepared while playing is to make sure your back isn’t turned to the ball. This can help you to avoid surprises by fast passes, help you keep an eye on the rest of the court, and allow you to spot potential turnovers.

If you want to take jump shots, don’t spend time pumping iron. You do need muscle conditioning and strength, but you can have too much when it comes to shooting field goals. There have been instances where great shooters bulk up so much that it adversely affects their shooting percentage.

Core Muscles

TIP! Watch your shoulders if you obtain a shooting slump. If your shoulders are in a bad position, no matter how good you are, you won’t make the shot.

If your son or daughter wants to play high school basketball, they need to work on core muscle training. Core muscles include the hips, abs, and 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. When your core muscles are strong, you become a more powerful force on the court. This means greater speed and higher jumping skills.

TIP! Be aware of what your feet are doing and where they are. If you fall on a baseline, you will be out of bounds.

If you are posting up, strategic footwork is important to becoming open and making a good shot. Getting a great position under the goal is the most important. After positioning yourself on the court, make sure that you are secure. Footwork is the key to either of these.

TIP! Watch your own recorded games, and look for weak areas. Are you able to see missed opportunities or ways in which you could have improved? Be honest with yourself, but avoid being too critical.

If you’re injured when playing basketball, don’t push through the pain. It’s a challenging sport that’s very physical, and you have the ability to get injured. You may injure yourself more if you continue to play with an injury. Seek medical advice immediately if you have more than a minor muscle strain.

TIP! Look away when you practice passing. This will make your actions very confusing to the other team.

Spread your fingers out to handle the ball properly. That will ensure that it doesn’t get away from you as you hold it. Do not allow your palm to come in contact with the ball either. Whether you are passing or shooting the ball, your fingers are the only part of your hand that should be touching the ball.

TIP! To be a strong defender, you must have the ability to disrupt and interfere with the opponents’ plans. Make them uncomfortable.

Speed is everything in basketball. Make an effort to do all things on the court more speedily than the opposing team. Playing fast takes practice, though, and steady drilling. However, don’t try and push past your limits. If you push too hard, your performance may be haphazard, and the game may get out of control.

TIP! You can improve your ability to handle the ball by working out your forearms and hands. Wrist curls can be effective at helping you to control the ball as if you’ll be dribbling in your sleep.

Watch your own recorded games, and look for weak areas. Are you able to look at your skills in a different light? Do not waste time criticizing yourself. Just make an honest assessment. Sometimes it’s beneficial to look at yourself the way you really look and not just like you think you look.

TIP! Can you see well? You will need it for more than checking the scoreboard or passing and shooting. Working to improve you peripheral vision will help you become a more successful player.

In order to do the best you can with layups, you’ll want to take off with the foot that is opposite of your shooting hand. Thus, if you use your right hand for shooting, you need to push off using your left foot. This will allow you to be more balanced while moving closer to the basket while keeping your body between the defender and you.

TIP! If you want to make a 2-3 zone into something special, have the guards remain put until the opposing team’s guard makes their way about ten feet in from mid-court. Once he passes mid court the guards should rush up on him.

Your forearms and hands should be strengthened if you wish to handle the ball better. Consider wrist curls and and exercise machine that focuses on strengthening each finger individually. Do not remain in one place. It’s not likely that you will be able to successfully catch and shoot without moving. While this does happen on occasion, you should be moving in order to execute the play.

TIP! If you wish to get your weaker hand built up, you need to use it to brush your teeth and to do other simple tasks. Try becoming ambidextrous outside of the court, and you will soon find that you do not have a weaker hand when playing basketball.

Stay on top of your footwork when attempting a rebound. You’ll have a defender coming at you and this means you have to figure out what can be done to get around them. This allows you to secure the rebound without finding yourself penalized.

TIP! Be sure to keep your knees bent while you dribble. The basketball is much harder to control if you stand tall and the opposing team can snatch it more easily.

Use the hand you are not dribbling with to keep your defender away from the ball. Don’t push your opponent because that is a foul; however, you may use your free arm to create a barrier that keeps your opponent away from the ball. Just keep it up slightly while dribbling with the other hand.

TIP! If you want to improve your three-point shooting, try and do it from the NBA distance, at a minimum. The standard line , high school and college lines are all going to be closer.

Dribble with a rhythm, that is until you need to outsmart your opponents. Dribble consistently, then break it up by dribbling fast. This will keep your opponent off balance so you can get in a good shot. The change in speed and sound can surprise your opponent.

TIP! Exercise off the court. Running for short quick bursts at a time will help you become quicker, and running long distance can help with stamina.

You should be have ways to alter the path your opponent is planning on taking. With practice, you can learn how to control the path of others players with your footwork. The will help you get to where you want to go and will deter them.

TIP! One way to force turnovers is to make your opponent change course. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing defense of offense.

When guarding a player who exceeds you in size, attempt to stay in between that player and the one with the ball. This will make them not available for a pass which can help you to be sure that they can’t just get the ball and shoot over you.

TIP! When shooting, try to keep your nerves under control. It’s important to focus.

Always know where the basketball is headed when it leaves a players hands. Rebounds are very important in the game. If you are unable to rebound, it doesn’t matter how good you are at defense.

TIP! Always pay attention to where the ball goes once your teammate or your opponent sends it out of their hands. Rebounds are an integral part of the game.

Whether you play competitively or for fun, learning to be a better ball player is paramount. Now that you have read these tips, it is time to take the next step and make use of them. Learning more will make you a better player.