TIP! It is important that you perfect dribbling the ball. When you dribble, only use your fingertips instead of your palms.

Men, women, and children across the globe are enamored of basketball. It is not so difficult as to exclude large groups. Playing basketball enhances teamwork skills and teaches good sportsmanship. The information below will help teach you what you need to know about basketball.

TIP! Dribble while keeping your head upward and looking ahead. If you start staring at the ball while you dribble, you know you need to practice more.

Dribble the ball the right way. Don’t use your palm to dribble, but use your fingertips instead. Using your fingertips provides you with more control. Bounce the ball no higher than your waist and keep the ball at your side rather than in front. Don’t look down, always look up.

TIP! One great way to pass good is to drill when you can without dribbling. It is a challenge not to dribble while playing, but it will ensure the accuracy of your team’s passes.

The way to properly dribble is to keep your head up while looking ahead of you. Looking at your ball when you dribble indicates that you haven’t practiced enough. Bring the basketball with you everywhere you go. On your way to the grocery store, practice your dribbling. By looking forward instead of at the basketball, you are able to see the happenings on the court.

TIP! Would you like to pull one over on the other team? Back passes are a great way to confuse other players. Perform this pass by holding the ball using your dominant hand.

You must learn how to dribble, how a crossover is done and other important ball handling skills. A crossover is when you move the ball from one hand to the other. 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.

TIP! Play basketball against yourself even during the off-season. Sometimes during off season, or when practicing, you can’t play as a team or find even a single opponent.

Having a good foundation is key when shooting the ball. While the all-time greats have shown time and time again how they can shoot while off-kilter, this is not the ideal way to score. Professional basketball players tend to improvise when need be. If you have correct balance when you are making a shot, you will make more consistent baskets over time.

Receiving Player

TIP! Never play through an injury when playing basketball. This is an aggressive sport, and injuries happen often.

Bounce passes are important in the game of basketball. Executed properly, a bounce pass will connect with the receiving player at the waist. A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the receiving player is. But, there are some factors that can change this.

TIP! What do your teammates admire about your skills? Do they feel you are really good at something? They may say that you are a great team defender or are always playing with excellent speed. Honest feedback can really help you to narrow in on areas where you might need a little extra help practicing.

Practice playing by yourself. While basketball is a team sport, sometimes you just can’t find others to play with. No problem! You are able to do a lot with solo games. Practice pivoting and free throw shooting. You can always practice something.

TIP! If you want to correctly handle the ball, you need to know where to place your fingers. You are more likely to hold onto the ball this way.

Footwork is what gets you ready for a shot. Although physical presence under the basket is important, getting to a good spot before your opponent does is even more important. After establishing good position, you need to make sure you hold it. Both skills rely on some solid footwork.

TIP! Pay attention closely to the shoulders if you’re starting to slump when you shoot. No matter your skill level, you won’t make shots if your shoulders aren’t in the proper position.

A great way you can prepare for what happens on the basketball court is to avoid having your back to the ball. This helps keep you aware of the action, and it takes away the surprise factor. Also, watch for areas to open up so you can make an easy basket.

TIP! Quickness is a virtue in basketball. Speeding up the temp allows you to out-quick your opponent.

If you’re looking to be the best defensive player that you can be, you’ll want to know your opponent. You should be look at scouting reports, practicing techniques and watch tapes. One simple thing to know before the game is if your opponent shoots with their right or left hand. Knowing your opponent well helps you be much more effective. A smart defender is someone who is good at his position.

TIP! A solid routine is necessary for improvement in free throw shooting. Inconsistency will ruin your shots.

If you find yourself unable to shoot well, consider your shoulders. When your shoulders are not properly positioned, then it is almost impossible to perform at your best. You’ll want to ensure that your shoulders are squared up towards the hoops. The shoulder that is dominant should be perfectly aligned with the hoop rim.

Playing Fast

TIP! A powerful play called the trapping machine, is to have your guards wait for the point guard to come just past midcourt. They should then trap the point guard.

One of the most vital attributes one needs to play basketball is quickness. Gaining agility and speed will give you the upper hand when playing a game of basketball. Playing fast takes practice, though, and steady drilling. Don’t try playing fast until you can. This can cause you to get out of control and make careless mistakes.

TIP! Always bend the knees while dribbling. If you are standing straight, you will have a harder time controlling the ball and your opponent will be able to steal it more easily.

A good basketball drill to perform is to see if you can get the ball down the entire court in 5 or less dribbles. This may be difficult in the beginning, but if you manage it, you’ll be a force to be reckoned with. This translates to simple layups, fast breaks or just a general increase in your team’s numbers.

TIP! To make your shooting skills better, shoot from all around the court. For even better results, practice the run-up to your shot in addition to the actual shot.

How come so many people enjoy basketball? For one thing, it’s lots of fun. For another, it’s easy to play. If you adore this sport, the concepts in this piece can be truly valuable to you. Enjoy the game, but also get better at it, by using the ideas in this article in both practice and competition.