TIP! Crossovers are very important if you’re a ball handler. A crossover is when you move the ball from one hand to the other.

Whether you’d rather cheer from bleachers or shoot the ball like a professional, you have to really understand the game if you want to truly enjoy it. Do you know how to tell the score? Don’t worry, you can become a better basketball player. Basketball is a great game, and it is not hard to learn the rules. Read on and gather up some fun tips to help you better your skills and make the game more fun to watch.

TIP! Practice your layup shot often. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game.

Learn to crossover if you get the ball often. A crossover is when you move the ball from one hand to the other. Your crossovers should be fast, which is why it is important to practice them. Once you have learned how to do a crossover, you can travel down the court quickly.

TIP! You should learn the best way to throw a great bounce pass. The bounce pass needs to reach the player at waist level.

Focus on your strengths to get better at basketball. You might not have star ability, but you can be an outstanding team player. Knowing what you excel at and then practicing that can help you become perfect at it!

TIP! Perform skills, practice your ball handling and shoot free throws when you are practicing alone. Sometimes you cannot find a team of people to play basketball with.

Constantly practice layups. In a typical game, up to four-fifths of all shots are layups. Whenever you practice, approach the goal full speed, jump and take a smooth shot. This running and jumping technique will help you learn how to jump and shoot better during the game.

TIP! If posting up is what you’re doing, you have to have good footwork to get open for a shot. You must beat the opposing playing to an open spot.

Free throws are as mental as physical. You can practice for hours on how to make the shot, but if you over think things or get distracted you will miss every time. Relax your mind and keep your concentration centered on the basket to make more of these freebies.

TIP! Don’t play when you are injured! Basketball is physically demanding and you can easily get hurt. If you keep on playing after sustaining an injury, you may make the injury even more serious.

Watching the pros play is a great way to see how great basketball players use their skills in the game. Go to actual games or watch on TV. Each player has their strengths and you can learn a lot from each one.

Practice Catching

TIP! To become a great free thrower, practice and develop a routine you will use during each shot. Perhaps you will dribble twice, follow up by bending your knees, pulling your earlobe or performing some other ritualistic action for good luck.

Practice catching passes often. You want to practice catching perfect passes and bad passes. During the game, not all passes will go where they’re intended. You and your team mates will be happier if you (and they) are more versatile.

TIP! To get more out of layups, take off using the foot that;s the opposite of your shooting hand. When shooting right-handed, take off using the left foot.

A good way to improve team passing to use a no dribbling drill, that is to play the game without dribbling at all. This helps to develop passing skills with your teammates, making it much more difficult if you’re standing in one spot and not dribbling. Don’t get upset if it seems hard, this will improve your team’s passes over time.

TIP! To avoid turning the ball over to the other team, make sure that you’re dribbling hard. The ball bounces faster, giving the guard less time to steal.

Don’t pump a lot of iron if you wish to become a jump shooter. Perimeter players don’t need the muscle strength that is necessary for other team members. Some guards increase their upper body to the point of harming their field goals.

TIP! Be certain you are able to see well. This will help you to secure the ball during the game.

Hand signals will help you avoid those errant passes. You can become easily frustrated when a teammate does a poor job of anticipating your next passing move. Avoid this using hand signals to see if they can get the pass. If you don’t see a signal, you shouldn’t pass the ball.

TIP! A good way to stay defensive is to have a defensive stance. Use a shuffling side to side motion to ensure you are in position.

Find out what your teammates like most about how you play? What are your your best skill areas? Knowing your strengths and weaknesses will allow you to develop your skills to become an all around better player. You can learn a lot about your skills by knowing how others see you on the court.

TIP! If you want to make a 2-3 zone into something special, have the guards remain put until the opposing team’s guard makes their way about ten feet in from mid-court. Then, they ought to trap the point guard.

Always be sure of where you’re placing your feet so you’re aware of what they’re doing. Stepping ever so slightly out of bounds while you have the ball can cause an overturn. If you walk without dribbling, you will be called for walking and this will result in a turnover. Avoid lifting your feet when you are screening or in position for a charge or the foul will be called on you instead of your opponent.

TIP! While you’re dribbling the basketball it is wise to bend your knees. The basketball is much harder to control if you stand tall and the opposing team can snatch it more easily.

It’s not that hard. After taking in the above article you should be aware of the incredible amount of joy it brings to people. Use the information you’ve just been given to perfect your game, or just perfect the contrast on your TV so you can watch the professionals in action.