Get More Out Of Your Basketball Game By Using These Tips

by | Jan 1, 2023 | Basketball

TIP! Practice your layup shot often. Almost 80% of shots will be layups.

Basketball is incredibly popular. From playing a friendly game of hoops in the backyard with friends, to watching professionals on the big stage, the sport of basketball has come a very long way. Everyone who plays basketball for competition wants to win. In this article, we will discuss excellent tips that will help you become the best player possible to help your team win.

TIP! Successful free throwing requires as much mental skill as it does physical skill. You must train both your body and your mind.

When learning the game of basketball, it’s easy to get caught up in offensive play. But you should also give plenty of attention to defense. Defense is what wins basketball games. Offense is flashier, so it draws the attention of fans and journalists, but a team that can’t defend well won’t win any games.

TIP! Perform skills, practice your ball handling and shoot free throws when you are practicing alone. Even though you play on a team, practicing alone can be helpful.

You need to learn the correct way to dribble the ball. You want to dribble with the tips of your fingers, not your whole hand. This provides you with much more ball control. Bounce only at the level of your waist at the side and not in front. Always look upwards, never at the ground.

TIP! When playing basketball, it is important to always keep your eye on the ball. You develop a good feel for the game around you, making it much easier to quickly react to your opponent.

Teach yourself to throw bounce passes correctly. 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 many factors which come into play, though.

Core Muscles

TIP! Create and stick to a routine each time you prepare to shoot a free throw. For example, many people touch their foreheads or tap their chest before making a free throw shot.

If you have a high school level basketball player for a kid, be sure their core muscles are properly trained. That means their hips, lower back and abs. The core muscles link lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they won’t have strong athletic performances. Building strong core muscles will allow your to jump higher, run faster and maintain your balance.

TIP! When moving in for a layup, push off from your weaker foot and lead with your shooting hand. If you play to use your right hand to shoot, you’ll want to use your left foot to take off.

Watch your shoulders and their position if you notice yourself developing a slump in your shooting. Whenever your shoulders aren’t in a good position, you simply will not shoot well, regardless of your skill level. Be sure that your shoulders square up in front of the hoop. Then, make sure that your shooting side is lined up directly to the rim.

Free Throw

TIP! Improve your ball-handling by strengthening your hands and your forearms. For example, you can improve dribbling skills by adding wrist curls to your routine.

Create and stick to a routine each time you prepare to shoot a free throw. This could mean two dribbles before taking your free throw, bending your knees, or some other thing you do to get into a rhythm before shooting. Just remember it has to be fast and consistent. The reason is, this routine will put your body on alert that the next thing coming is a free throw. This will help insure your success.

TIP! To rebound a free throw, you have to be quick. The more quickly you get under the basket, the better you chance of grabbing the rebound.

Learn how to dribble and pass between your legs in case you are being guarded very tightly. Try practicing this by bouncing your ball hard in between your legs while stepping forward or backward. If you can master this move, it will give you quite the advantage when you are on the court.

TIP! To avoid having the ball stolen, dribble hard. A hard dribble returns the ball back to you faster, leaving less chance of it being snatched by the other team.

Using your weak hand to brush your teeth can help you build skills with that hand. Using both hands when playing is an important skill if you can develop it when you’re not playing. This will begin to spill over into your basketball game as well.

TIP! Changing up your pace is something you have to do to make sure the offense is paying attention. Try to block the net by planting your foot hard.

Keep dribbling until you want to shoot or pass. After you halt the dribble, your options become quite limited. If you can’t shoot or pass, then you will have to pivot with your back foot. You leave the ball vulnerable to possible steal attempts and yourself open to being double teamed.

TIP! You can improve your shooting skills by practicing with shots from different spots on the court. To improve even more, practice dribbling the basketball and then pull up fast for a quick shot.

Having good communication on the court with teammates is a great way to play. Basketball is nothing if not a team sport. Neither defense nor offense is a one-on-one matter. Everyone has each others’ backs. Communicate well with your teammates about the help you need, and everyone wins.

TIP! The easiest way to do well at basketball is to speak with the team to see what everyone is up to. Basketball is nothing if not a team sport.

If someone is attempting a shot from one of the court’s corners, that shot (if missed) will probably bounce over to the opposite side of the net. Figure out where it will land to grab the rebound.

TIP! Diet is essential when it comes to playing ball. Playing basketball uses a lot of energy, so it is important that you eat a lot of carbs, lean meats and protein.

Maintain strong team camaraderie both on and away from the court. A team that works together is an unstoppable team. If you get to know and trust your teammates, you’ll see that your game will reach untold levels of excellence!

TIP! If someone shoots from the corner of the basketball court and misses, it will bounce over the net onto the opposite side. In this situation, you must anticipate the path of the ball to gain possession of the rebound.

You have to learn to get your opponent to alter their path. Whether you are playing defense or offense, controlling the movements of your opponents is vital. In this way, you can move as necessary without allowing your opponents to direct you.

TIP! Create teamwork both off and on the basketball court. When a basketball team gels fully, their game can reach entirely new heights.

Avoid double dribbling. A double dribble occurs when you’re done dribbling one time and then begin to do it again a little while afterwards. If dribbling stops, you must pass or shoot the basketball. You cannot return to dribbling again. This creates a turnover, which will cause you to lose the ball to your opponent quickly.

TIP! Always keep your eyes on the ball. One of the biggest key plays in the game is the rebound.

As you come down from catching a rebound, land with your legs spread wider than the span of your shoulders to increase your balance. Make sure that your hands are on both sides of the basketball, and that you hold it close to your chest. Watch that your elbows don’t hit an opponent or a foul will be called.

Position yourself between the ball carrier and your opponent if they are bigger than you. This prevents any easy passes that can go over your head.

TIP! You don’t want to get in an argument with the game officials. Although there might be a disagreement with a ref, instead you should as the ref why he made the call.

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. If you cannot recover the ball, it really makes no difference how well you cover an opponent’s missed shot.

TIP! Practice doing a pump fake. There are a number of tactics you can shoot with, but a pump fake is one of the more powerful ones.

There are many things you can do to improve your moves. It can be easy when you practice. Practice is important to anything worth doing – just do it! No matter if you are practicing with teammates or shooting in your own driveway, the work you do is sure to pay dividends.