TIP! Learn the mechanics of a free throw. It looks simple to do, but it isn’t that easy.

Basketball has been around for a long time, since Dr. In 1891, Dr. James Naismith invented basketball. Since that time, it’s exploded into a beloved sport by many. From Doctor J. Indeed, many basketball players are well known celebrities. If you would like to read more about what made them successful, continue to the article below.

TIP! Make sure that you practice your layups frequently. In a typical game, up to four-fifths of all shots are layups.

The way to properly dribble is to keep your head up while looking ahead of you. If you are looking at the ball for any reason while dribbling, you have not put in enough practice. Wherever you go, take your ball with you. Try dribbling even when walking to a store. If you have to watch the ball, you will be unable to see whatever is going on at court level.

TIP! Successful free throws require you to be mentally and physically strong. You may know how to make a free throw but if your focus is off, then you will miss.

You should practice your crossovers a lot. This is when the ball is moved from hand to hand. This should be something you do quickly. Once you have learned how to do a crossover, you can travel down the court quickly.

TIP! Practice playing a man-to-man defense and zone defense. 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.

Hand signals can help stop you from turning the ball over. It can be frustrating making a pass when a player moves away towards the basket. Hand signals can be a great way to find out if a teammate will be able to receive your pass. Without a signal, there shouldn’t be a pass.

TIP! If you want to be a jump shooter, avoid pumping iron excessively. Although it’s true that strong muscles are beneficial, additional bulk can impede your ability to play effectively along the perimeter.

Asking for feedback from coaches and teammates about your playing is important in order to become a stronger player. Can you get better at something? Maybe you are nimble or you are reliably there to support them. By understanding what your teammates see as your best skills, you can ensure that you keep a strong focus and hone these abilities even more.

TIP! If you have a kid wanting to play basketball in high school, be certain that they are properly training their core muscles. They should train their lower back, hips, and abs.

Speed is everything in basketball. You’ll have an advantage if you’re faster than an opponent. You have to be steady as you play quickly. But don’t try to go even faster than you actually are. You will end up in a turnover if you play too fast.

TIP! In order to be more reliable shooting free throws, practice your routine. You could dribble twice, touch your forehead, bend your knees, or some other kinds of movements.

A good way to see yourself playing is to have someone record your games. Are you able to see what you’ve missed or things that you could improve on? Look at how you did and judge yourself. The reality of your play is often very different from your perception.

TIP! To land your layups, jump off the foot opposite the hand you shoot with. Use your left foot when shooting with the right hand.

You must disrupt your opponent’s game when you’re playing defense. Force opposing players into an unfamiliar or unexpected position. Be assertive and focused within the rules, aggressively keeping your player off balance. Which plays are made shouldn’t be up to them. If you allow this, they will run over you. Rather, you make the initial move and break up their flow.

TIP! Your routines must be consistent for free throws. If you’re consistent, your shots will be too.

To avoid having the ball stolen, dribble hard. This means you get the ball back from your opponent faster. When closely guarding another player, cease dribbling and pass it to another play on your team that’s open.

TIP! Using a weaker hand helps improve overall dribbling skills. It will be much easier to blow past your opponent if you can dribble with both hands.

Practice drills that force you to get the basketball to the other end of the court in less than 5 dribbles. This may seem like an impossible challenge, but it will increase your stride length and your speed. It will allow you to execute easy layups.

TIP! For your weaker hand, to build skills, use it off-court for as much as you can, from brushing teeth to opening jars. Using both hands when playing is an important skill if you can develop it when you’re not playing.

Alter your pace to confuse the opposition. You can try faking a jump shot by planting quickly, and straightening your body. Your opponent will assume you are slowing up, and thus will also straighten up. When they do, push ahead hard and outrun them.

TIP! One way to increase your three-point skill is to practice at the NBA range. The established International standard line is closer, as are the high school and college lines.

Practice your dribbling skills while shifting your momentum to alternate sides. During game time, you’ll find yourself dribbling from all sorts of positions. You might be able to go through an open court or have to switch sides to avoid opponents. You have to figure out how you can dribble while you’re working with your body leaning. This allows you to extricate yourself from high-pressure situations.

TIP! Practice shooting hundreds of shots during each training, and you quickly improve shooting skills. Taking quick shots during practice will help you during the game when the pressure is on.

A regulation basketball game consists of just ten players. A thorough understanding of the game is necessary if you are going to become a great player. Reading this article was a great first step. Continue to learn more as you practice your skills.