TIP! Dribble while your head is up and your eyes are forward. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet.

No one is born to be a star player. How can you think you’re going to be a wonderful basketball player when you don’t bother to research? In this article, we will discuss some of the top professional tips in the world of basketball.

TIP! Focus on your strengths to get better at basketball. Your talent might not make you a star; however, learning your strengths will help you become a better team player.

If you get possession of the ball a lot, you must learn the crossover technique. A crossover is when you move the ball from one hand to the other. The action must be very swift if it is to be successful. Once you’ve learned how to use it, the crossover dribble makes it easy to navigate the court in a more effective way.

TIP! Watch professionals play to learn from their techniques. Whether seeing an all-pro on YouTube, attending a game in person, or sitting on the couch with buddies to watch your local professional team, there are many chances to observe the best.

Get educated on the way to properly pass the ball on a bounce. Bouncing the pass to the receiver should be at their waist. Remember you should bounce the ball approximately three-quarters of the distance between yourself and the receiving player. There are other things to keep in mind, though.

TIP! Shake things up rather than focusing solely on a zone defense. The majority of game play might take place in the zone, but that doesn’t mean that the opposing team will not try to catch you off guard.

Practice your passes and catches frequently. You want to practice catching perfect passes and bad passes. This will help to improve your game when it gets intense. Learn how to catch any sort of throw.

TIP! Children who aspire to become great basketball players in high school must engage in physical fitness activities that focus on the core muscles. The core is the following areas: abdominal muscles, lower back muscles and hip muscles.

You want to be prepared for any type of defense the other team plays. Most of the basketball game will probably be played in this zone, but the other team might decide to surprise you and do some man-to-man coverage. If you have not practiced enough on this scenario, you could run afoul of the scoreboard very fast.

TIP! Boost your defensive abilities by studying the opposing team and its players. Study video tape on your opponent and read over any scouting reports.

Good footwork is important when you’re posting up in the paint. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop. Once you have a location, it is important that your feet are firmly planted there. Strong footwork skills help to build both types of skills.

TIP! In order to be successful with layups, the foot that is opposite from shooting hand is the one you should take off from. Use your left foot when shooting with the right hand.

Never have your back to the ball so that you’re ready for anything in a basketball game. This will give you court awareness and keep you from being surprised by quick passes or turnover potentials. Be vigilant to detect openings or weaknesses that make it easier to take the shot.

TIP! Build a consistent routine for your free throws. If you stay inconsistent, you miss a shot.

Study you opponent well to give yourself an edge. Make sure that you’ve watched tapes that show the other player. You can also check out scouting reports. Keep track of which players are right hand dominant and which are left hand dominant. Understanding your opponent allows you to effectively play defense. One of the most important keys to being a solid defender is an understanding of your opponent.

TIP! If you wish to succeed in a defensive role, you must be able to break your opponents’ concentration. Make them uncomfortable.

You need to be quick to play good basketball. Try to play faster than your opponents for an advantage. Playing fast requires steady drilling. Don’t attempt to play more quickly than your skills allow. By playing beyond your speed capabilities, you will quickly lose control of the ball, which will lead to bad passes, bad shots, and turnovers.

TIP! Be sure that your site is good. Your eyesight will affect more than just making shots.

For more consistency in making those free throws, stick with the same sequence of motions before you take each shot. Perhaps you will dribble twice, follow up by bending your knees, pulling your earlobe or performing some other ritualistic action for good luck. This consistency will get your body in tune to do the same thing every time, increasing your chance to make shot after shot.

Free Throws

TIP! Keep the lines of communication with other players open. In order to win games, you have to work together as a team.

If you want improve your free throws, you have to develop a routine. Failure to use consistency may make your shots less accurate. Practice makes perfect when shooting free throws. If you are off your game, you will not make the shot.

TIP! Keep dribbling in a particular rhythm until you think it’s time to trick the opponent. Changing your pace quickly can take the other player by surprise and give you an advantage.

When you’re able to fix something on your own, you feel pride in what you have accomplished. The only thing that could make you feel better is to learn all about basketball. You can win games and impress your teammates.