When you set goals to improve your basketball game, the most important thing you can do is practice. You should use your practice time wisely, and follow good advice from experienced teachers. These tips should help you become a much better basketball player.
Make sure to dribble properly. You’ll want to use your fingertips to dribble instead of using your palm. This method gives you much more control of the ball. Be sure to dribble beside your body instead of in front of yourself. Bounce the ball at a level even with your waist. Look up, not down.
When dribbling the basketball you should keep your head up. Looking at your ball when you dribble indicates that you haven’t practiced enough. Carry your basketball everywhere. Dribble as you walk to the market. Don’t look while dribbling, because you won’t be able to see what’s going on.
You should practice pass catching regularly. When you practice, drill yourself to pay attention to errant throws and passes that are picture perfect. Some passes may be too high, too low or off target, so you should practice receiving passes often. Be a better teammate by anticipating a bad pass to make sure it doesn’t get into the opponents hands.
Don’t bulk up if you want to be good as a jump shooter. Muscle strength is beneficial for playing any basketball position, but there is such a thing as too much. You will notice that most basketball players have well-defined muscles that are not overdeveloped.
Your fingers should always be spread out when handling the ball. That will ensure that it doesn’t get away from you as you hold it. However, remember to keep your palm away from the ball. You should only let the fingers touch the ball during passing or shooting.
If you find yourself unable to shoot well, consider your shoulders. When you’re in a shooting slump it usually means that your shoulders are not square to the hoop. Ensure that you line up your shoulders so that they are squared with the basketball net. The dominant shoulder needs to be aligned correctly with the rim.
Alternating your pace is critical to keeping the defense guessing. When you’re moving towards the net, act like you’re going to straighten up. The offense will believe that you’re stopping or slowing down and may follow in your steps. When they do this, run ahead and push yourself forward.
When you’re working with defense, staying low is a good idea. This will aid you as you jump and make it easier to react to the front man. Stay in your defensive stance all the time. When you need to block, quickly get back into your stance.
Make sure the ball doesn’t bounce above your knees when you dribble. Your opponents will find it tougher to steal the ball from you. You’ll have to bend over, but it will be worth the effort.
Your exercise off the court needs to help your game. You can run longer distances to build up stamina. To build speed, try doing wind sprints. Both are necessary for playing good ball. Strength training helps, too. If you can develop your confidence through off-court exercise, this can even help your shooting.
If you want to play better, communicate with your teammates so you know what they intend to do. The sport of basketball is truly a team game. That means offense and defense aren’t one on one. Everyone assists each other. If you communicate your wishes before you go out on the court, the team will work better as a unit.
Whether you play basketball all the time or just once and awhile, the above tips will be of help. Start by mastering one tip and then move on to another. It is possible to attain greater passing ability, master the art of rebounding and shoot with tremendous accuracy.