TIP! Make better passes through the use of coordinated hand signals. It is very frustrating when a teammate isn’t open for the perfect pass.

Do you know everything you want to know about the popular game of basketball? You’re not the only one! Few people know what it takes to shoot, pass, and block like professional players. In this article, you will learn some professional basketball tricks.

TIP! When injuries occur on the court, it is unwise to keep on playing. You can easily tear a muscle or even break a finger while playing.

Keep your head up when you dribble. Anyone who watching the ball while they dribble surely needs to spend more time in the gym practicing. One of the best ways to improve your dribbling is to bring your ball along anytime you need to walk somewhere. Dribble the ball when you’re walking to the shops. Don’t look while dribbling, because you won’t be able to see what’s going on.

TIP! Never turn away from the ball, so that you can always stay ready for anything. It’s all about court awareness, and always facing the ball will make it so you are less surprised by passes.

Start out with proper balance before attempting to take a shot. We have all seen the professional basketball player falling out of bounds and making a basket from 30 feet away, but this is not proper technique. They are improvising. Good balance while shooting will lead to landing more baskets.

TIP! Figuring out the opponent is a great way to do well against a tight defense. Study video tape on your opponent and read over any scouting reports.

Know your strengths and they’ll help you become a better player. You can contribute to the team by consolidating your best skills, even if these skills do not make you one of the star players. Knowing what you excel at and then practicing that can help you become perfect at it!

Free throws are mental as well as physical. You must train both your body and your mind. Stay focused and vigilant to improve your ability to make free throws.

TIP! Watch your shoulders if you obtain a shooting slump. If they’re in a poor position, no matter your skill level, you will be unable to make the shot.

Try using hand signals to prevent passes in error. You can become easily frustrated when a teammate does a poor job of anticipating your next passing move. You can avoid this by using hand signals if a player is able to take a pass. Without a signal, players shouldn’t attempt to pass.

TIP! Basketball players must be fast. If you can play quicker than the opposing team can, then you will be at an advantage.

If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. Basketball is hard to play well even when you are healthy, so don’t push it. You can quickly turn a strain into a debilitating medical issue if you do not take a break from the action. If the injury feels too bad then seek medical attention right away.

TIP! Practice dribbling with your weak hand as much as possible. Dribbling with both hands helps you gain the upper one.

One of the best ways to play a strong defensive game is to know your opponent. Watch tapes and stay up on scouting reports. Also know which is their dominant and weak hands. This knowledge will help you play the best game possible. The more knowledgeable a defender is, the stronger he is.

TIP! Your forearms and hands should be strengthened in order for you to handle the ball better. For example, you can improve dribbling skills by adding wrist curls to your routine.

It is important to be aware of the location of your feet and just what they are up to. You will be called out of bounds if even one toe is touching the baseline as you hold the ball. You could also be the reason for a turnover if you get called for walking when you take more steps than allowed without dribbling. You can’t move a foot when you take a charge, pick or screen either, or it’s a foul.

TIP! To nab a rebound from a free throw attempt of a teammate, footwork is key. Your defender will move towards you, so figure out how to slither past him and grab the ball.

A good way to stay defensive is to have a defensive stance. You need to learn how to slide your feet instead of crossing one foot in front of the other. Don’t allow your feet to cross, and this will make you a hard defender to beat.

TIP! Ensure that you have good court awareness. This isn’t just so you can read the scoreboard and be able to make shots and catch passes.

Make sure that the pace changes when you are on defense. While you run at the net, plant the front foot and start straightening your body. The guard will assume you’re slowing down and start to straighten up, too. Push forward and blast by them.

TIP! A great way to make sure you’re in a good position defensively is to keep yourself in the defensive stance. Keep your feet moving to each side or push your opposing foot off so you can keep yourself in position.

In order to help develop your non-dominant hand, you should use that hand only when trying to open things, and also when brushing your teeth. Try becoming ambidextrous outside of the court, and you will soon find that you do not have a weaker hand when playing basketball. As a result, your basketball game will significantly improve.

TIP! Strength and flexibility training can help your skills in basketball. You need both strength and endurance if you are going to excel.

Keep dribbling when you’re going to switch the body’s momentum from side to side. When you’re playing a game, you have to dribble when you’re in a lot of different situations. There may be times when you are covered by multiple opponents; however, there may be times when you have the whole court in front of you. Practice dribbling while leaning in many different directions. This can help you out of jams.

TIP! Avoid dribbling above your knees. This will lower the chances of your opponent being able to steal the ball.

Your off-court practice should mimic your on-court playing. Sprinting exercises can help you to become faster, while running for long distances can assist you in making it through the whole game. To play more physically, lift weights to make yourself a more dominating presence. Practicing will also build your confidence when shooting.

TIP! If you’re training to become a very good basketball player then start changing your diet. Carbs, fats and proteins all keep your energy levels at the right place.

Forge a strong bond between teammates, whether you are playing the game or off the court. Basketball is one of those games that goes to another level when a team gels completely. The ability to intuit and appreciate the actions of your teammates can significantly improve your performance as a whole.

TIP! Make strong team environments off and on the court. Basketball is something that can work in a team’s favor if they all work together well.

If you find yourself guarding against a large opponent, just stay in between the ball and them. This prevents them from getting easy passes, and hopefully prevents them from catching the ball and shooting it over your head.

TIP! To succeed in basketball you should learn how to change the path of your opponent. Whether you are playing defense or offense, controlling the movements of your opponents is vital.

Now you should know all about how to play basketball like a pro and enjoy it. Now that you possess some new tips on the subject, you should feel prepared to play with greater confidence. Go ahead and start a game so you can make use of this advice.