The sport of basketball is beloved by men and women of all ages. You can see kids and adults playing at playgrounds, the gym or in their very own driveway. Anyone who plays basketball wants to improve their game. In this article, we will discuss excellent tips that will help you become the best player possible to help your team win.
A lot of novice players mostly focus on their offensive skills, but developing good defensive skills will help you become a better player. Basketball games are won because of good defense. While offensive players sometimes seem like the stars of the show, it is the efforts of defensive players that allow them to shine.
Keep your head up when you dribble. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet. Take the basketball to all the places that you go. Dribble while walking to the store. If you look at the ball, you’re unable to see what’s going on down the court before you.
It is important that you practice layups. Layups account for up to 80 percent of the shots taken during a game. When practicing this technique, run toward the goal and shoot. This running and jumping technique will help you learn how to jump and shoot better during the game.
Practice catching passes as often as you can. When you’re practicing, you should drill in being able to catch random throws in addition to passes that are perfect. In the middle of a heated game, not all attempted passes will go exactly where you want them to go. Be a better teammate by anticipating a bad pass to make sure it doesn’t get into the opponents hands.
A good tip about passing is try doing it without dribbling the ball. It is hard to play a game when you don’t dribble, but it will help you to be sure that everyone is passing accurately. This may be hard and frustrating at first, but as you get the hang of it your entire team will begin to excel at passing.
If you want to be a master of the jump shot, do not make weight lifting a priority. It’s important to be strong, but not too strong. There have been instances where great shooters bulk up so much that it adversely affects their shooting percentage.
Ask teammates what they admire about your playing skills? Do you have an area where you excel? They may say you’re fast or that you share well. See what others view as your own natural skills, then be sure you retain and develop them more.
When trying to improve your strength to have better basketball footwork, work on building up your core. When you have strong core muscles, your body will be better balanced and will move faster. Exercise your abdominal muscles as well as those of the hips, buttocks and back. Similar to boxers, jumping rope can better your speed and footwork.
If an opponent is staying with you, try passing the ball between your legs. To practice this skill, bounce the ball between your legs so that it passes through as you step back and forth. Mastering this move can give you an advantage on the court.
Practice passing while looking the opposite direction. This will make your actions very confusing to the other team. The look will cause your guard to turn away. This can be a great play if it is done correctly.
A consistent pre-shot routine when at the line will increase your chance at success. Your shot could be off if you are inconsistent. The simplest way to get better at shooting free throws is through constant repetitive motions when shooting the ball. If the routine is off in any way, then you’ll miss the shot.
Workout to increase flexibility and strength in your hands and forearms. Wrist curls are great for working wrist muscles and improving your dribbling. Do not remain in one place. It’s not likely that you will be able to successfully catch and shoot without moving. While this does happen on occasion, you should be moving in order to execute the play.
Only stop dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass the ball. You are limited once you cease dribbling. If you choose against passing or shooting, you are stuck pivoting in place. This causes you to be wide open to some double teaming by the other team and increase your chances of having the ball stolen.
Make sure that you are exercising properly for basketball. 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. Resistance training or lifting weights will increase muscle strength and shooting abilities. The resulting sense of confidence and power will help when you shoot.
As you can see, your game can be improved in many ways. A lot of them are easy as learning the techniques and practicing them. It’s important to practice to become the best you can be at basketball. Any kind of playing will be beneficial to your skill. Play for your love of the game. Don’t hesitate to go for a casual game with your friends or join in with the neighborhood kids.