The right advice and professional information is all it takes to get started in the right direction. What’s the score? Don’t give up! Basketball is not the easiest game to learn but you can do it. These tips will give you a good start in becoming a skilled player.
You must become knowledgeable about hitting a free-throw shot. This kind of shot seems easy, but it really is not. This technique should be practiced often if possible. Hold the ball level to your face. Eye the basket and imagine the ball swishing down into it. Then shoot! Shoot the ball in the trajectory you imagined.
Always work on your layups. You should expect layups to represent about 80% of all the shots you take in a game. Don’t just walk through a layup drill. It is key to go at game tempo to practice the timing needed to maintain accuracy. Running and jumping well in practice means better jump shooting in actual games.
It is important to practice catching the ball from others as much as passing. Try to catch all of the passes that are thrown to you. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. Being able to get imperfect passes will limit turnovers.
You can improve your passing skills by practicing a simple drill where dribbling is forbidden. It is a challenge not to dribble while playing, but it will ensure the accuracy of your team’s passes. The accuracy of passes will greatly improve over time and the drill will become a lot easier.
Play solo basketball in the months leading up to the season, as well as during the season itself. Though basketball is surely a team sport, there may be times when you have nobody to play against. It’s okay! You can still do a lot on your own. Practice pivoting or doing free throws. There are many things you can work on.
If you’re on the offense, you footwork needs to be excellent to stay open for passes and shots. You must be certain to get the good spot ahead of your opponent. Having found a good spot, you must secure it. Strong footwork is key.
Spread your fingers out to handle the ball properly. That makes it less likely that you lose control of the ball. However, remember to keep your palm away from the ball. The only things that should touch the ball are your fingers, as you shoot or pass.
It’s great to be quick in basketball. Gaining agility and speed will give you the upper hand when playing a game of basketball. Playing fast takes practice, though, and steady drilling. However, you should not attempt to play any faster than your abilities permit. By playing beyond your speed capabilities, you will quickly lose control of the ball, which will lead to bad passes, bad shots, and turnovers.
Practice looking in a different direction when you pass. This is a great technique in order to help confuse the opponents. When you do it right, the opponents are going to think you’re moving in one direction. That way, the person you’ve given the ball to has a bit of time to look at the net to taking a shot. When executed properly, this is a powerful play.
That wasn’t too bad, right? With all that you’ve now read about basketball, you really can see that it’s an amazing sport. Using this information can better your game or better your TV experience when watching the pros.