TIP! You should practice your crossovers a lot. This is when you switch hands while dribbling.

Basketball is a very loved sport, and people of all ages have passion for the game. Not all people are aware of the true fundamentals of the game. This article should be of help to fans and players of all skill and dedication level.

TIP! Should you receive an injury during the course of the game, never try to continue playing despite the pain. Basketball is challenging physical sport and you can get injured.

Make sure you are dribbling the right way. You’ll want to use your fingertips to dribble instead of using your palm. Using your fingers allows you to better control the basketball. You should be dribbling the ball at your side instead of in front of your body. The ball should always be dribbled at waist level. You should always be looking up instead of at the ground.

TIP! Watch your shoulders and their position if you notice yourself developing a slump in your shooting. Shoulders are the key to a consistently successful shot.

Look forward and hold your head up while you dribble the ball. You need more practice if you feel that you cannot dribble without focusing on the ball. You can practice dribbling almost anywhere. Whenever you are walking and it is appropriate, dribble there. If you look at the ball, you’re unable to see what’s going on down the court before you.

TIP! If your opponent is pressing hard, you can give yourself some room to work by dribbling the ball between your legs. Go forwards and backwards with the ball to practice bouncing it.

You should often work on your layups. Layups account for up to 80 percent of the shots taken during a game. When you practice, run toward the net, and then get a high jump in so you can smoothly shoot. That technique of running and jumping helps you get ready for an actual game.

TIP! To help improve your ball handling skills, start incorporating your weak hand into your dribbling. Being ambidextrous on the court makes it more difficult for defenders to figure out what you will do next.

A good way to get your basketball game up to speed is to start trying to see how the pros are playing. Try to go to games, watch televised games, or check out videos of the pros playing. You’ll see that every great player has specific skills that cause them to be great and you have the opportunity to practice what you’re watching them do.

TIP! Prevent the opposing team from stealing the ball by dribbling hard. This speeds up the dribbling cycle, which means the person covering you has less of a chance to steal the ball each cycle.

Don’t pump a lot of iron if you wish to become a jump shooter. Muscle strength can be great for basketball players, but it is actually possible to have excessive amounts for playing on the perimeter. Some guards increase their upper body to the point of harming their field goals.

TIP! Be certain you are able to see well. This is so that you’re able to catch passes, get shots in, and look at the scoreboard.

How would you like to trick the opposing team? Consider the back pass. You want to grip the basketball with your strongest hand. Then, put the ball around your back. Finally, flick your wrist towards the direction in which you wish that ball to travel. This will confuse the other team into wondering where the ball went.

TIP! In order to confuse the offense, try changing your pace. Try to block the net by planting your foot hard.

If there’s no one around to play with, it is okay to play a basketball game by yourself. Basketball is usually a team sport, but just because you can’t find others, doesn’t mean you have to just stop thinking about it. That is okay. It is possible to get a lot done even when playing alone. Work on free throws or practice pivot moves. You can always do something.

TIP! To increase your basketball playing abilities, consider strength training exercises. Being physically tough is as important as having the stamina to keep up with the game.

Unseen passes can be avoided when proper hand signals are used by teammates. It can be frustrating passing to a teammate when you’re both heading to the basket. You can avoid this by using hand signals if a player is able to take a pass. If the player does not flash the signal, then the player can avoid an errant pass.

TIP! To trap someone in a 2-3 zone, get your guards to wait for the point guard to get about 10 feet past midcourt. Then your defending guards should encircle the point guard to trap him in place.

If you get hurt during a basketball game, don’t try to play while in pain. Basketball is very challenging physically, and this can cause further serious injury. Trying to be tough so you can keep going, even when you’re just a little uncomfortable, can make an injury worse. Don’t hesitate to see the doctor if you feel the injury warrants it.

TIP! To better three-point shooting, try using NBA distance as the minimum. All other distance lines, high school, college and International, are not as far.

No one can deny that basketball is loved by many cultures. You have to have the right information to truly enjoy and play the game, though. Use these tips to become an even better basketball player.