TIP! While focusing on offense is fun, you must also make sure you focus on defense. Defense is what wins basketball games.

Basketball is a great sport and it’s easy to learn about. You can get the basics of basketball down in mere moments. But, you can always stand to gain some additional knowledge, and this piece is here to help.

TIP! Dribbling the ball the right way needs to be done. When you dribble, use the fingertips, not the palm.

When using the ball a lot, you must relearn a crossover. Moving the ball from hand to hand is a crossover. It should be done quickly. After doing so correctly, a crossover gives you greater control over the court’s flow.

Receiving Player

TIP! Your mind plays as big a part in making a free throw as your actual body does. 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.

Perfect your bounce pass. This means your pass should be aimed towards the receiving player at the level of his waist. It’s smart to get the ball to bounce about 75% to the receiving player. Of course, there are also other factors involved.

TIP! You can learn to trick the opposing team. The back pass is just the thing! Use the dominant hand whenever trying a behind the back pass.

Jump shooters should not also be iron pumpers. It’s possible to have excessive muscles when you play the perimeter. Some professionals develop their muscles so much that they are actually having a hard time with shooting.

TIP! Do not wait for any special season to play some basketball. Basketball is a multiple player sport, but other people won’t always be around.

If you have a kid wanting to play basketball in high school, be certain that they are properly training their core muscles. These core muscles for basketball include your lower back, hips and abs. These muscles form a bridge across the lower and upper parts of your body. When the core is weak, it is difficult to coordinate the movements of both halves. A strong core helps the legs move better, like jumping higher and running faster.

TIP! Unseen passes can be avoided when proper hand signals are used by teammates. One things that’s frustrating in basketball is passing to a teammate while they try heading to the basket.

Try using hand signals to prevent passes in error. It can be frustrating passing to a teammate when you’re both heading to the basket. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. No signal, no pass.

TIP! Footwork is what gets you ready for a shot. There are two important points you must remember.

If you’re on the offense, you footwork needs to be excellent to stay open for passes and shots. Securing a good location is critical when playing basketball. Once you have a location, it is important that your feet are firmly planted there. The key to this relies on having good footwork.

TIP! If you find yourself unable to shoot well, consider your shoulders. When they are out of alignment, all shots will fail.

You must know your opponent in order to be tough on defense. You should be look at scouting reports, practicing techniques and watch tapes. Keep track of which players are right hand dominant and which are left hand dominant. If you know their game, you can defend against it. One of the most important keys to being a solid defender is an understanding of your opponent.

TIP! Speed is one of the best virtues when playing basketball. Always stay ahead of the opposition.

Practice looking the other way when passing. This trick can be used successfully to confuse defenders. You give your teammate a better chance to make the shot because the opposing player is moving the wrong direction when you pass the ball. When completed correctly, it creates an awesome play.

TIP! Watch tapes of yourself playing basketball to get a more objective perspective. Can you see chances that you missed or ways that you could have done better? Be honest with yourself, but avoid being too critical.

You may have just learned how to play basketball right before you read the above information. Maybe you have been playing your whole life. Whatever the case may be, you should be able to use what you’ve learned here so you can do better at basketball. When you head out to play the next time, follow the suggestions you’ve learned here.