TIP! Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Use fingertips to dribble.

The right advice and professional information is all it takes to get started in the right direction. Understand how points are earned. Don’t worry. Basketball can be pretty easy to learn the basics. Read on for some tips to help move your game to the next level.

TIP! One good way to learn good passing is drill often without dribbling. This helps to develop passing skills with your teammates, making it much more difficult if you’re standing in one spot and not dribbling.

Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Don’t use your palm, use your fingers. Using your fingertips provides you with more control. Keep the ball by your side as you dribble instead of right in front your body. Instead of focusing on the ground, gaze upward.

TIP! Want to trick the other team? Try the back pass. To do a back pass, begin by grasping the basketball using your dominant hand.

Learn the best way to make your free throws. It looks simple to do, but it isn’t that easy. The following technique should be practiced often. First, keep the ball in front of you and at eye level. Maintain focus on the basket and try to visualize your basketball falling through the hoop. Then, shoot the ball using the trajectory you pictured.

TIP! When you’re working out, concentrate on core strength building and your footwork. If the core muscles are in good shape, you will feel lighter on your feet.

If you want to improve your game, play up your strengths. While you may have a particular skill that isn’t going to make you stand out as the star player, honing it can help you become an integral part of your team’s success. Learn what your strengths are, then practice to perfection!

TIP! When your shooting isn’t accurate, check out your shoulder position. If they’re in a poor position, no matter your skill level, you will be unable to make the shot.

Always work on your layups. A huge percentage of successful shots are layups. When you are practicing, run full speed at the goal and make the shot. This will assist you in perfecting your ability to jump and then shoot.

TIP! When playing a game of basketball, have a friend tape the game. This way, you can take a look at your game.

Learn how a bounce pass is thrown. Bounce passes need to be at waist level when received. It’s best to bounce the basketball about 75 percent of the way towards your teammate. There can be other factors in play to keep in mind, as well.

Practice Catching

TIP! Be sure that your site is good. Not to just be able to see the scoreboard, but to actually make a shot and catch a pass.

Practice catching passes often. You want to practice catching perfect passes and bad passes. In the middle of a heated game, not all attempted passes will go exactly where you want them to go. Learning how to catch these errant passes will put you at an advantage.

TIP! Whenever possible, take advantage of an attack. By taking a charge, your team will get the ball.

Interested in tricking your opponents? Consider the back pass. Use the dominant hand whenever trying a behind the back pass. The next step is to draw the ball behind you. Lastly, flick the wrist in the direction you want the ball to go. Doing this will trick your opponent.

TIP! To help make the offense flow better it is a good idea to alter the pace. When you approach the goal, put your front foot in firm place and start straightening up.

If your child is training to be a high school basketball player, make sure that they train their core muscles properly. The core is the following areas: abdominal muscles, lower back muscles and hip muscles. The core is the muscle group that links the arms and legs together. If their core strength is poor, then so will their athletic performance be. A solid and strong core lets force that comes from the legs get used for beneficial movements when playing, like faster running and higher jumping.

TIP! When dibbling the ball, bend your knees. When you are rigid, the ball is not only hard to control, it is also an easier target for a rival to steal.

Never try to push through pain after an injury. Basketball is physically demanding, and injuries are relatively common. If you keep playing when you are injured, you could end up with an injury which keeps you from ever playing again. Be sure to seek medical care if you have a serious injury.

TIP! Concentrate your ball-handling below knee level whenever possible. This makes it more difficult for your opponents to steal the ball.

Practice looking the other way when passing. This is a great technique in order to help confuse the opponents. By looking in the opposite direction, your teammate has a few extra seconds to make the shot. It can be quite powerful.

TIP! The best way to become a better player is to talk to your teammates and know what they are going to be doing. It takes the efforts of an entire team to succeed.

A good player on defense will annoy the heck out of the opponent and cause the other team to get flustered. Force them out of their comfort zone. Stay aggressive. Which plays are made shouldn’t be up to them. If you let them control the game, you will lose. Force them to act and their rhythm will get disrupted.

TIP! Foster a positive relationship with your team members regardless of whether you are playing or practicing. Basketball teams that work together well can take the game to a new level.

Make sure that the pace changes when you are on defense. When running in the direction of the net, straighten up while planting the front foot. The guard will think you are slowing down and will also straighten themselves. When that happens, push ahead and run past.

Strength Training

TIP! If you are aware of a weakness in one of your opponent’s hands, make them work with that side. For example, if they’re left handed, step toward them using the right foot and they’ll need to switch sides.

In order to improve your game, make sure you do plenty of strength training. In order to be the best you can at basketball, you need to be strong and hardy. Even young children can benefit from strength training. As they become adolescents, let them start using weights for added benefits. Continue training throughout the adult years to maintain a constant performance.

TIP! If you are playing opposite a much larger player, just keep your body between the ball and them. This way, they won’t be open, so the ball cannot be passed to them.

Wasn’t that easy? Now that you’ve learned a few things, it’s time to enjoy the sport and practice. Take what you have learned here to get better at the sport and develop a more comprehensive understanding of it.