Practice is vital to your success as a basketball player. Nonetheless, technique is also important. Practicing poor technique will not help you. The tips below can help you shoot baskets correctly in no time.
It’s natural to focus on offensive abilities when practicing the sport of basketball, but your practice time needs to focus on defense. Basketball games are won with a good defense. The offense gets lots of attention, but if the defense is lacking no basketball team will ever win a game.
Dribble the ball correctly. Instead of using your palm to dribble focus on using your fingertips. Using your fingertips provides you with more control. Keep the ball by your side as you dribble instead of right in front your body. Do not look at the ground; look up at all times.
If you experience a basketball injury, don’t keep playing. It’s easy to be hurt when playing basketball. You can quickly turn a strain into a debilitating medical issue if you do not take a break from the action. If an injury is serious, go to see a physician.
Boost your defensive abilities by studying the opposing team and its players. Review tapes and keep up with scouting reports. You should know if a player is right or left handed. Studying your opponent is one of the best ways to be able to win the game. A defender that is knowledgeable is an effective defender.
Practice looking the other way when passing. You can really confuse your opponents this way. When you do this right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. It can be quite powerful.
Make sure that you can see clearly. This will enable you to make good shots as well as catching passes that come your way. Your peripheral vision should be at its best. If you view the entire game without focusing on the ball, you’ll see defensive pressure advance, along with open teammates.
In order to improve your weaker hand, make use of it for everyday things, such as brushing your teeth, eating out of a spoon, etc. Try becoming ambidextrous outside of the court, and you will soon find that you do not have a weaker hand when playing basketball. Your basketball skills will benefit.
When dribbling you want to keep your knees bent. Standing straight up lessens your ability to control the ball and increases the chances that it will be stolen. Just a little bending at the knees can make a huge difference in your overall ball control.
Make sure you don’t pick up your dribble unless you are prepared for a shot or pass. Once you stop dribbling, you are extremely limited in your options. If you choose against passing or shooting, you are stuck pivoting in place. Then, you will be vulnerable to being double teamed by the opposition, and you are likely to have the ball stolen.
Keep the activity below the knees if possible. This prevents your opponents from stealing the ball. Bend a little so you can keep the ball closer to the ground and move through the court as quickly as possible.
Keep your dribbling consistent until the time you want to confuse your opponent. Dribbling somewhat slowly, then suddenly dribbling fast might give you the opening you need to take a shot. Changing the speed also changes the sound which can be off-putting.
Make sure that you are not stressed when shooting. Maintain focus on the basket. Specifically, you should train you eyes to concentrate on the backside of the basket rim while you are making the shot. If you are not doing a lay-up, it is best to look at the area from which the ball should bank off.
Keep your eye on the ball, no matter whose hands it was in before it started to move. Rebounds represent a crucial component of any basketball game. Gaining possession on a turnover is always going to be a positive for your team.
Passing must be a crucial element in your game. Good passing skills will help you baffle your opponent. It also shows you value teamwork and this will be appreciated by your teammates. The time in games for you to showcase your personal talents will present itself. You will be able to show off your individual talents but you must also learn to be a team player.
Pivoting is something you must do if you wish to get good at basketball. You have to practice the footwork you do so that you can pivot without giving it a second though. You also want to practice on not getting disoriented or getting your feet tangled up. Practice pivoting stance and work to react quickly when you obtain the ball.
Understand your own weaknesses. Be completely honest with yourself. If you are repeatedly missing foul shots then focus your practice time on those, as opposed to the three pointer shots. If you like to bang in the lane, then you will need to become tougher and also work on your mid-range game. Keep working to build your strengths, as well as your weaknesses, and you will become a better all-around player.
For basketball players with an advanced skill set, dribbling ends up being more mental than it does physical. You must understand the way a ball spins, the force it hits the floor with and how the ball bounce in coordination to how your body is positioned. Change your momentum and shift your body to keep your defenders on their toes.
Even if you only play basketball once in a while, these tips will help you out. Trying even a single new thing can greatly enhance your abilities. You can pass better, shoot better, rebound and make sure you get better all the time.