TIP! Many people forget that defense is as important as offense during practice. Defense is essential to winning these games.

The happiness that basketball brings to so many is really quite amazing. In truth, most players still have things they can learn about the game that makes it more fun for them. Keep reading to learn more about this great sport.

TIP! Balance is important when shooting. Falling when you make a shot is not the right way to shoot.

Make sure that you’re dribbling the ball correctly. You’ll want to use your fingertips to dribble instead of using your palm. Doing so will allow you a greater degree of ball control. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. Keep your eyes up.

TIP! Don’t spend all your time practicing how to confront a zone defense. You can count on quite a bit of the game being played in zone; however, you should not be surprised if it becomes one-on-one coverage just for the sake of confusion.

When dribbling, make sure you hold your head high and look straight ahead. If you have to ever look at the ball while dribbling, then you haven’t practiced that enough. Bring your ball along when you go out. If you walk to the store, dribble the ball. You will not be able to see what’s happening before you on the court while beholding the ball.

TIP! If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. Basketball is hard to play well even when you are healthy, so don’t push it.

Pay attention to what you are good at. Your skills might not make you an all-start every time out, but playing up your strengths makes you a great contributor. Realize your limitations, and roll with your talents.

TIP! Have your team mates critique your playing skills. What are your your best skill areas? They may say that you are a great team defender or are always playing with excellent speed.

Practice your layup shot as frequently as possible. Eighty percent of the shots taken in a game are layups. Practice running while dribbling, jumping and shooting as smoothly as you can. Practicing the running and jumping method will help you shoot better this way in a game.

TIP! As you perform your fitness routine, make it a point to target your core and your footwork. You will stay balanced if your core is strong.

Practice the skill of pass catching. Practice catching errant throws along with perfect passes. When the game is going on, every pass isn’t going to make it to its target. Help your team by learning to catch those bad passes, as well as those perfect passes.

TIP! When you want consistently good free throws, repeat your routine. This can be any combination of movements that makes you feel comfortable and prepare for the shot.

Never practice only against the zone. Zone play will be important, but man-to-man will pop up from time to time, too. Practice with each type of defense so you will know what to expect.

TIP! Passing between the legs is something that helps when you have defense all over you. Go forwards and backwards with the ball to practice bouncing it.

Want to make the other team not know what’s going on? How about the behind the back pass? To start, grab the ball using your good hand. Then, put the ball around your back. And last, flick the wrist in the direction you want the ball to go. This is a good way to trick your opponents.

Core Muscles

TIP! If you don’t want someone to steal the ball, dribble hard. A hard dribble returns the ball back to you faster, leaving less chance of it being snatched by the other team.

If you have a kid wanting to play basketball in high school, be certain that they are properly training their core muscles. Core muscles are comprised of the hips, lower back, and abdominal muscles. Without a strong core, a player’s performance may not be as good as it could be. If your core is solid, you will have greater strength in your legs. This helps with fast running and high jumping.

TIP! Change up your pace so that you are not predictable to the offense. When running towards the net, step on your front foot, and start to straighten up your body.

Footwork is what gets you ready for a shot. You need to have physical presence beneath the net, but you also have to choose the right spot to be in. Once you have a location, it is important that your feet are firmly planted there. Footwork, therefore, is crucial.

TIP! Stay low when playing defense. Doing this allows you to have quick reactions, especially to your opponent.

Ask your teammates what they like about how you play. Are you skilled at something? You may be quick with your footwork or are always there for backing them up. See what others view as your own natural skills, then be sure you retain and develop them more.

TIP! Be sure to be well acquainted with your team mates so that you can all work well in cooperation. It takes the efforts of an entire team to succeed.

If you experience a slump in your scoring and shooting, your shoulders may be the cause of the problem. Whenever your shoulders aren’t in a good position, you simply will not shoot well, regardless of your skill level. You’ll want to ensure that your shoulders are squared up towards the hoops. Try to line your dominant shoulder up with the rim.

TIP! To succeed in basketball you should learn how to change the path of your opponent. No matter what position you play, the ability to control other players is essential.

The game of basketball is one that offers great exercise to play and lots of enjoyment to watch. To make sure that you’re getting the most out of the game, you should know all that you can about the sport. Use what you learned here to keep you at the top of the game.