Basketball is a very loved sport, and people of all ages have passion for the game. However, just because people love the sport doesn’t mean they play well. No matter your skill level, this article will provide you with some helpful tips.
Learn the best way to make your free throws. There are usually a lot of distractions when you are shooting free throws so you need to concentrate. Practice frequently using these techniques. Hold the ball level with your face. Focus on the basket and picture the ball slipping into the net. Bend your knees to control the arc of the ball.
Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. In a typical game, up to four-fifths of all shots are layups. Run as fast as possible, while jumping and performing a smooth shot. Like everything, practicing at game speed will only improve your skill and have you ready to play at the fastest pace.
Connecting on your free throws is as much mental as it is physical. You can teach your body to make a free throw properly, but unless you are properly prepared mentally, you may not succeed. Relax and focus on the net, and you’ll be able to make more.
Work on pass catches. While you are practicing, you should be sure to drill yourself on catching errant throws, as well as catching those perfect passes. When the game is going on, every pass isn’t going to make it to its target. So you should do the team a favor by knowing how to take in any kind of a pass that comes from someone.
Basketball players need to build strong core muscles. That means their hips, lower back and abs. The core links the upper and lower extremities and without a strong one, their athletic performance will be limited. The stronger your core, the higher you will jump.
Being able to anticipate your opponent is a key skill. Follow the scouting reports and watch tapes of their games. Keep track of which players are right hand dominant and which are left hand dominant. Knowing your opponent well helps you be much more effective. Knowledge can make you a strong defender.
Have a friend or family member tape your games so you can view how you appear on the court. Did you spot something that could be improved? Do not waste time criticizing yourself. Just make an honest assessment. Sometimes, it helps a lot to see yourself as you really are and not as just you imagine yourself to be.
Passing between your legs can be helpful when the other team is riding you hard. Go forwards and backwards with the ball to practice bouncing it. Mastering this skill will provide you with a major advantage on the court.
You need to work on your forearms and your hands to handle the ball more efficiently. An exercise to help develop your basketball skills is to perform wrist curls. One thing that is important to remember is that it is difficult to be static and be a scorer. Strength and flexibility in your hands will allow you to move the ball more gracefully and swiftly.
Good footwork will help you get rebounds off your teammates’ foul shots. Try to anticipate the move of the defender between yourself and the basket so that you can maneuver around him and to the hoop. In this way you can get the rebound without a foul.
You need to take charge when the opportunity presents itself. The charge lets you build a defensive stop and get control of the ball. This can devastate a competitor psychologically as well as being a powerful play on the court.
A good way to stay defensive is to have a defensive stance. Use your opposite foot to push with or slide your feet around. Keep in mind that your feet shouldn’t cross and this should make you good at defense.
Strength Training
If you play basketball, you should incorporate strength training into your workout routine. In addition to strength, stamina is key in basketball. Even kids can benefit by getting stronger through exercise. As they grow and become teenagers, weight-lifting can be beneficial. As an adult, a player must continue strength training for optimum performance.
To turn a normal 2-3 zone into a trapping machine, have your top two defenders (your guards) wait until the point guard has come about ten feet past the time line (midcourt). This is when they should trap him. Your forwards should sprint to cover the other players on the outside. The point guard should throw up a pass that your forwards can easily steal.
To make your three-point shot better, practice it from the minimum NBA approved distance. Remember that high school, college and international standard lines are all shorter than the NBA distance. By learning to shoot from NBA distances, you improve your range tremendously.
Don’t just practice while static; try to move around while shifting your weight to learn how to best control the ball. Dribbling during game play requires you to adopt a variety of dribbling skills. The court might be wide open, but you could just as easily be swarmed by many opponents. You must dribble while you make your body lean in various directions. In this way, you can escape all kinds of difficult situations.
Basketball is enjoyed by people from all different backgrounds. Knowledge is what makes or breaks a player. Use these tips to become an even better basketball player.