TIP! Look forward when dribbling. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet.

If you have wished you were a basketball star, you know you’ve got to commit and practice enough. You still want to be a good player even if you’re playing just for fun. This article is definitely going to aide you in becoming a better basketball player.

TIP! Balance is important when shooting. Having good balance will allow you to keep better control of the ball as well as play a better defense.

You need good balance when you shoot. While some NBA players are able to launch a ball to the net mid-fall, this is not appropriate for most people. This is simply an improvised move. By focusing on balance in your shot, you will develop the consistency needed to be a great scorer.

TIP! Keep practicing your layups. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game.

Free throws require both mental and physical abilities. You must be mentally strong to be a consistent free throw shooter. Stay focused and vigilant to improve your ability to make free throws.

TIP! Your mind plays as big a part in making a free throw as your actual body does. You must train both your body and your mind.

Don’t dribble during your drills. It is hard to play a game when you don’t dribble, but it will help you to be sure that everyone is passing accurately. Do not get frustrated if it it seems difficult at first, over time your team’s passes will become more accurate.

TIP! Do not wait for any special season to play some basketball. Basketball is a multiple player sport, but other people won’t always be around.

Lifting weights too much can actually take away from your jump shot. While muscle strength is good to have in any basketball position, it is possible to have too much for perimeter play. There have been instances where great shooters bulk up so much that it adversely affects their shooting percentage.

TIP! If you’re on the offense, you footwork needs to be excellent to stay open for passes and shots. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop.

If there’s no one around to play with, it is okay to play a basketball game by yourself. Basketball is usually a team sport, but just because you can’t find others, doesn’t mean you have to just stop thinking about it. That is not a problem. There’s still a lot that you can do playing on your own. Go to the free throw line and work on your shots. You can always find things to work on.

TIP! Ask your teammates what they like about how you play. Can they tell you what you’re really good at? They may say you’re fast or that you share well.

Quality footwork will help you get better shots. Although it’s important to have a physical presence underneath the basket, it’s more important that you get in a good place before your opponent can. Once there, you have to firmly claim the area as your own. Good footwork is key to a good basketball game.

Shooting Slump

TIP! Ask a friend to record your games so that you can see how yourself in action. This way, you have the opportunity to go through your play at a later time and see your mistakes.

Pay close attention to your shoulders if you’ve suddenly developed a shooting slump. When you’re in a shooting slump it usually means that your shoulders are not square to the hoop. One area of focus should be to keep your shoulders aligned straight toward the hoop. Line up your shooting shoulder with the rim as well.

TIP! To help you shoot better free throws you need to come up with a consistent routine. If you stay inconsistent, you miss a shot.

Speed is everything in basketball. Speeding up the temp allows you to out-quick your opponent. Consistent, repetitive drilling is the key to speed. But do not try to play faster than you are able. If you play beyond your speed, the game gets out of control, with errant passes and turnovers.

TIP! Take a charge if you can. 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.

When playing a game of basketball, have a friend tape the game. This way, you can take a look at your game. Looking at tapes can help you identify strengths and weaknesses. Be honest in your assessment but not overly critical. Sometimes you have to face reality about your skills and just not dream about how you want to be.

TIP! To convert the typical 2-3 zone to a trapping machine, get the best pair of defenders available to wait just until the opposing point guard reaches roughly ten feet beyond the mid-court line. After he crosses the midcourt line, they should run and trap him.

To become a great free thrower, practice and develop a routine you will use during each shot. Whatever you do, from bending your knees to dribbling three times, do every time. Just keep things brief, but make sure you always do the same moves.

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. If you gain more mastery of it in all walks of life, you improve overall control.

If the opposition is hot on your tail, pass between your legs. To practice this skill, bounce the ball between your legs so that it passes through as you step back and forth. This technique can really throw off defenders.

TIP! One way to increase your three-point skill is to practice at the NBA range. High school lines, international standard lines, and college lines are much closer.

To land your layups, jump off the foot opposite the hand you shoot with. Use your left foot when shooting with the right hand. This will keep you balanced and going towards the basket.

TIP! Don’t cease dribbling until you get ready to shoot or pass. Once you stop dribbling, you are extremely limited in your options.

To get the rebound from the free throw your teammate is making, you need to do some fancy footwork. Use your feet to slip around the opposing player below you, then get into position for a rebound off the rim. You are able to rebound the ball without fouling someone.

TIP! Try using your non-dribbling hand like a barrier between the ball and your opponent. Be careful not to push your opponent or you may get a foul.

Dribble very hard to prevent the opposing team players from stealing the ball. If you dribble hard, the ball will go back to your hand quickly and the offense will not be able to snatch it easily. If an opposing player is guarding you to the point where you can’t dribble well, it’s time to pass to an open teammate.

TIP! Build your team up at all times. You will be amazed at the difference in the level of your team’s play when everyone is on the same page.

Be sure that you’re able to see clearly. This will help you to secure the ball during the game. Great peripheral vision is an asset. By seeing the court well, you can anticipate defensive moves as well as what all your teammates are doing. Good vision is vital to basketball success.

TIP! You have to learn to get your opponent to alter their path. Regardless of your position, having this control allows you to limit the other player’s options.

Work on your 3 point shot by shooting from the established NBA distance. All the other three point lines are much closer than the NBA line. Being able to shoot successfully from the NBA range will give you a great advantage.

TIP! When shooting the ball you have to be sure not to get nervous. The basket should be the your main focus.

Your workout routine can help you do well in the game. Sprints helps with individual plays, and long-distance running gives you stamina. To play more physically, lift weights to make yourself a more dominating presence. Practicing will also build your confidence when shooting.

TIP! When you have the ball, know when to try to make a shot and then when to pass it off to someone who has a better shot. It is better to be part of a winning shot than to be the sole player in a shot that cost the game.

To become a great player talk with your teammates and learn what they have planned. It takes the efforts of an entire team to succeed. Therefore offense and defense do not play one-on-one. All players on your team are interdependent. If you communicate your wishes before you go out on the court, the team will work better as a unit.

TIP! All great basketball players must master pivoting. It is important that you are able to pivot quickly and smoothly without taking your focus away from the game.

Start using the techniques and tips the next time you play a game of basketball. You will soon become a better player if you apply the tips you just read in this article. Before you know it, you will be a superior player.