TIP! It is tempting to concentrate just on offense when just staring out, but defensive practice is absolutely vital. Defense is what keep the other team from scoring.

Have you imagined you were LeBron James, Michael Jordan or another celeb on the court? It takes years to be world-class players like they are, but you can improve your skills with hard work and dedication. Keep reading for tips that can help you to do that.

TIP! Learn the mechanics of a free throw. This is one of those shots that seem easy but in real life are difficult.

Practice catching passes often. Don’t just work on waist-level, perfect passes, though, work on receiving tougher passes as well. During a game, not all of your passes will hit the mark. Help your teammates by learning what you need to haul in those imperfect passes.

TIP! Keep practicing your layups. Eighty percent of the shots taken in a game are layups.

You can improve your passing skills by practicing a simple drill where dribbling is forbidden. Playing the game without the use of dribbling is a challenge, but it can help you and your team learn to make more precise passes. This is very challenging at first, but eventually it will really improve your entire team’s passing game.

TIP! Perfect your bounce pass. Executed properly, a bounce pass will connect with the receiving player at the waist.

Make better passes through the use of coordinated hand signals. Basketball passes can be really frustrating when shot wrong. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. If there is no signal, the player should not make the pass to them.

TIP! Watch the pro’s play if you want to improve your game. Watch pro games on TV, or attend games in person.

If you’re injured when playing basketball, don’t push through the pain. This is an aggressive sport, and injuries happen often. 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 talk to a doctor if you feel that the injury isn’t going away.

TIP! It is important to practice catching the ball from others as much as passing. Practice catching errant throws along with perfect passes.

Quickness is a key skill in basketball. If you can play quicker than the opposing team can, then you will be at an advantage. Regular drilling will increase your speed. But do not try to play faster than you are able. It’s easy to lose control when you play fast.

TIP! You can learn how to pass well by drilling on it separately from dribbling. Playing without any dribbling is very hard, but builds your passing skills.

If you have someone who can tape your game, you can view the recording to see how well you performed on the court. Can you see chances that you missed or ways that you could have done better? 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! Lay off the weights if you are trying to become a jump shooter. Being weighed down by too much bulky muscle can have a negative impact on your jump shot.

You should ensure that you can clearly see. This isn’t just for reading the score, but for catching passes and making shots. You want to make sure that you see what is going on to the sides of you. If you’re looking around the whole court and not only at the ball, you’ll be able to look to the defense to see if pressure is coming and you can see who’s open.

TIP! If you’re injured when playing basketball, don’t push through the pain. Basketball is physically demanding and you can easily get hurt.

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. Have forwards sprint to players on the wing. A pass should be thrown by the point guard for forwards to steal.

TIP! Never have your back to the ball so that you’re ready for anything in a basketball game. This keeps you aware of what is going on so you aren’t surprised.

If you want to build the dexterity of your weaker hand, start using it for everyday tasks like shining your shoes or opening doors. If you’re able to do more with your other hand daily, you can start controlling it better. This will help you with your basketball game also.

When dibbling the ball, bend your knees. If you are standing up straight, you will have more difficulty controlling the ball. Slightly bending your knees improves ball control significantly.

TIP! If you want improve your free throws, you have to develop a routine. A routine that is constantly in flux will only open up more opportunities for failure.

Be sure that off-court exercises are proper for playing on-court. You could, for instance, work on your sprint so you can perform plays faster, while running on a longer distance will help you build your stamina. Lifting weights can help you get more muscle. The passion which results will help you become a better shooter.

TIP! You need to practice dribbling with your weak hand in order to be a more effective player. You will be able to get past your opponent more easily if you can use either hand to dribble the ball.

Your diet plays a major role in your health and success on the basketball court. When playing regularly, you are going to need lots of carbs for serious energy, along with some fats and protein. You should eat more lean sources of protein, fruits and vegetables. Try not to use too much salt or sugar.

TIP! You must be able to box out other players when attempting to rebound free throws. Your defender will move towards you, so figure out how to slither past him and grab the ball.

Make sure your team really meshes together off and on the court. When a basketball team is totally in sync, the game is taken to a higher level. The better you know your team members, the better you’ll both play.

TIP! Trip up the offense by constantly changing your pace. As you approach the goal, plant your foot and then straighten up.

As you hit the ground after catching a rebound, improve your balance by spreading your legs wider than your shoulder span as you land. You want to bring the ball tight into your body with both hands. Make sure you don’t hit anyone else with your elbows.

TIP! Be sure to keep your knees bent while you dribble. It makes it much easier to control the ball while dribbling as opposed to standing straight up, which makes controlling the ball much harder.

Where you are standing on the court can make a difference as to whether you get a rebound. If you wish to have better balance and power, then make sure you use both feet when you jump. Once you gain possession of the ball, your feet should be positioned more widely than your shoulders. Hold the ball near your chest and regain your balance upon landing.

TIP! Your workout routine can help you do well in the game. Sprinting exercises can help you to become faster, while running for long distances can assist you in making it through the whole game.

If you know your opponent has a weak hand, make them use it. If they happen to be right-hand dominant, step at them using your left foot to make them change hands. Keep your center of gravity low at all times so that your chance to steal the ball remains high at all times.

TIP! You have to know how to change the course of your opponent. Regardless of whether you play defense or offense, the ability to control the other team creates a significant advantage.

Write down your plan for your workouts. People work out without a plan in place. They talk with friends and move around the gym with no direction. Having a solid plan of action that lets you concentrate on improving your skills to help develop the parts of your body to better your game.

TIP! If you already know that the ball handler has a weak side, try to force the use of it. If it is their left hand, come at them and stand on your left foot.

Now you have some things you can work on to improve your game. You need to develop confidence and practice consistently. You can develop your skill far above what you have now if you push yourself and never give up.