
Basketball is a beloved sport worldwide. You can play a quick pickup game at the park any time. Also, you can have a career in basketball if you get an early start. The following information will help you learn more about basketball.
Make sure that you’re dribbling the ball correctly. You want to dribble with the tips of your fingers, not your whole hand. Dribbling this way improves your ball control dramatically. Keeping the ball to your side will help it from getting in the way. Instead of focusing on the ground, gaze upward.
You must become knowledgeable about hitting a free-throw shot. As easy as these shots may seem, they are rather hard. Practice frequently using these techniques. Hold the ball level to your face. Focus on the ball and visualize it going toward the goal. Bend your knees to control the arc of the ball.
Learn what a crossover is and how to do it. Crossovers involve moving the ball from hand to hand. It has to be done fast to be effective. Once you have learned how to do a crossover, you can travel down the court quickly.
Bounce Passes
Teach yourself to throw bounce passes correctly. Bounce passes should not go above or below the receiving players waist. The ideal bounce pass should land about 3/4 of the way between you and the receiver. There are many factors which come into play, though.
If you have a child who has expressed interest in becoming a basketball player in high school, make sure he trains his core muscles. Core muscles are comprised of the hips, lower back, and abdominal muscles. These muscles form a bridge across the lower and upper parts of your body. When the core is weak, it is difficult to coordinate the movements of both halves. A strong core helps you jump higher and run faster.
Never turn away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for what’s coming. 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. Keep an eye open for easy shots.
Remember to spread your fingers when handling the ball. This will help you keep a better grip on the ball. Keep your palm off the ball, too. You should try your best to only hold onto the ball with your fingertips when passing and shooting.
Watch your shoulders and their position if you notice yourself developing a slump in your shooting. If your shoulders aren’t properly positioned, your shot is not going to go in. Your shoulders need to be squared up towards where you’re shooting. The shoulder that’s dominant should be in line with the rim.
Always be aware of your feet. When you are in possession of the ball, touching the baseline will get you out of bounds. If you take too many steps and don’t dribble, then you are walking. Being aware of your body movements can give you an advantage on the court.
The key to great defense is being a nuisance to the player you are guarding. Force opposing players into an unfamiliar or unexpected position. Make aggressive plays. Other players should not influence the plays you make. Your opponent will take any opportunity to give you the run around. Force them to act and their rhythm will get disrupted.
Remain low when playing defense. This allows you to jump or react quicker. Make sure you always maintain your defensive stance. When you block a shot, go back to a defensive form quickly.
In order to improve your weaker hand, make use of it for everyday things, such as brushing your teeth, eating out of a spoon, etc. If you gain more mastery of it in all walks of life, you improve overall control. This will start to appear in the game of basketball, too.
To help practice three-point shooting you should practice shooting at the NBA distance. School and the international standard lines are nearer than that. By learning to shoot from NBA distances, you improve your range tremendously.
Use the hand that doesn’t have the ball as a block. However, you’re not actually going to push with this hand; instead, you’re going to separate yourself using this hand. When dribbling, use it as a shield.
Always anticipate where a missed basket might go so you can grab the resulting rebound. Figure out where it will land to grab the rebound.
If you’re guarding a taller person, try to keep your body between that opponent and the person with the ball. This will limit their ability to pass the ball.
Focus on the ball and where it is going. Rebounds are an essential component of basketball. You defending the opponent will be pointless if you’re not able to get the ball once he’s missed a shot.
Passing is an important part of basketball. Good passing helps beat your opponent. It also builds your team’s camaraderie. The time will come for you to share your individual abilities. You’ll have this time appear, so take your time and allow other to shine as well.
Hopefully you have a better understanding of what it takes to play basketball. Practice often to perfect your skills and fine tune your natural talents. Once you start playing you probably will start to do so regularly. Whatever you do, remember to have fun!