Everything You Wanted To Know About Basketball

by | Mar 30, 2020 | Basketball

TIP! Focus on your strengths to get better at basketball. 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.

The first time you played basketball was probably very exciting. You explored passing, dribbling and shooting. Now, you might feel as though you are a pro. But these tips here may show you a few new tricks!

TIP! Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. Since layups account for the majority of scoring in a game.

Be sure to dribble correctly every time. Finger tips, not palms, are the key to successful dribbling. When you do this you will have more control over the ball. Keep the ball by your side as you dribble instead of right in front your body. Look up, not down.

TIP! Teach yourself to throw bounce passes correctly. A bounce pass that’s good is going to end up hitting the other player near their waist.

Free throws are an excellent skill to practice in your spare time. As easy as these shots may seem, they are rather hard. Practice often using the following technique. Place the ball right in line with your face. Use visualization to imagine the goal occurring. Then throw the ball just as you had visualized.

Bounce Pass

TIP! Spreading out your fingers is key to handling the ball correctly. This will help you keep a better grip on the ball.

A bounce pass is essential to learn. A good bounce pass should hit the player on the receiving end at waist level. If it helps to measure it out, consider aiming for a mark on the floor about three-fourths of the way between you and your teammate. There are other variables to consider though.

TIP! Workout to increase flexibility and strength in your hands and forearms. One important exercise is wrist curls, which help you with your dribbling.

There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. Try using a back pass! Use the dominant hand whenever trying a behind the back pass. Keep control of the ball while it is behind your back. After determining which direction you want the ball to go, use a quick flick of your wrist to send it that way. This is a good way to trick your opponents.

TIP! Dribble hard to make it less likely for the ball to be stolen. The harder you dribble, the faster the ball will return to the cup of you hand.

Never play through an injury when playing basketball. It is possible to receive an injury when playing basketball because it is a sport that is physically challenging. By “playing through the pain” you take a huge risk that the injury will become much worse. If the injury feels too bad then seek medical attention right away.

TIP! Mix things up offensively to keep the other team’s defense off-balance. As you approach the goal, plant your foot and then straighten up.

Ask fellow team members what they like about your skills on the court. They will probably notice the things you do best. It may be that you are quick on your feet or that you are always there to back them up. You can learn a lot about your skills by knowing how others see you on the court.

TIP! Strength and flexibility training can help your skills in basketball. It’s important to have stamina and strength when playing basketball.

Keeping your fingers spread wide is important for holding onto the ball. This can help you to remain in control of the ball at all times. Additionally, the palm of your hand should not come into contact with the ball. Fingers should be the only point of contact as you pass or shoot the ball at its target.

TIP! To trap the opposing players in a 2-3 zone, have the defending guards hold back till the opposing point guard has moved beyond the midcourt line by about ten feet. They can then trap the point guard.

Be aware of what your feet are doing and where they are. You want to make sure you don’t step over the bounds by even a teeny bit. If you take several steps while holding the ball, you could be called for traveling. A foul will result if you try to take a charge or set a pick and your feet are moving.

TIP! You can improve a weak hand by using it in daily life. If you are able to become more dexterous in terms of your weaker hand in general life, you’re going to have better control of it.

Practice dribbling with your weaker hand. Opponents are a lot easier to blow by when you can dribble with ease using both hands. Practice with your weak hand by tying your dominant hand behind your back. You will get new dribbling skills with your weak hand.

TIP! Keep all motion below the knees if possible. This will lower the chances of your opponent being able to steal the ball.

You need to put a damper in your opponent’s plan if you want to be successful with defending. Make them feel uncomfortable and to where they’re second guessing their next move. The more aggressive you are the better. Don’t allow them to control the match. If don’t play aggressively, you opponent will run you down. Rather, you make the initial move and break up their flow.

TIP! Mix up different shots from all over the court when you practice shooting. Practice your grip and proper balance.

You should ensure that you can clearly see. You will need it for more than checking the scoreboard or passing and shooting. Try making your peripheral vision the best it can be. 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.

Strength Training

TIP! One way to force turnovers is to make your opponent change course. Whether you’re playing offense or defense, controlling what the other player does is essential.

You can really up your performance on the court by doing strength training. In addition, stamina is important to the game, too. Young children that play can even benefit from strengthening arms and legs through proper exercise. As they start to get older, get them some weights to help them exercise harder. The adult years are where strength training is crucial to maintain solid performance on the court.

TIP! When you return to the floor from a rebound, make sure your legs hit the floor at wider than shoulder-width apart so that you maintain your balance. Put one hand on each side of the basketball, and hold it against your chest.

If you want to boost your weaker hand skills, use it whenever you can, be it opening jars or just brushing your teeth. These tasks help to make your weaker hand feel more natural when you use it on the court. This will show in your next match.

TIP! If you notice that a player is weaker with one hand, put them in a situation where they will have to use that hand. For instance, you could step toward a player on their right side to force them to switch to their left hand.

Make sure you don’t pick up your dribble unless you are prepared for a shot or pass. After you have stopped dribbling, your options are quite limited. You can’t do anything but pivot if you don’t shoot or pass. Then, you will be vulnerable to being double teamed by the opposition, and you are likely to have the ball stolen.

TIP! If the ball is in your hands, you have to be able to judge whether you should take the shot or make a pass. By ignoring other teammates who are open to hog the ball yourself, you could end up costing your team the game.

Create teamwork both off and on the basketball court. A cohesive team is an effective team, and basketball teams are no exception. If you know everyone on your team inside and out and you can trust each other completely, your game will improve exponentially.

TIP! If you want to be an excellent basketball player, you have to learn to pivot. A good basketball player can pivot without thought or tangling.

With all of this great advice at your fingertips, the sky is your limit. Set your goals and practice all you can to better your skills. A little effort and some new strategies can bring your game to a whole new level.