TIP! Many people only direct their attention to the offensive part of the game without realizing that defense is the key to winning. Defense is what wins basketball games.

Nobody tries to fix a car without understanding what’s wrong. Along the same lines, nobody ought to expect basketball greatness in the absence of know-how and practice. Use the tips from this article to be able to play the greatest game that you can.

TIP! Learn how to hit a free throw shot. There are usually a lot of distractions when you are shooting free throws so you need to concentrate.

Correct dribbling is key. 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. Keeping the ball to your side will help it from getting in the way. Keep your head up and do not look at the ground.

TIP! Successful free throwing requires as much mental skill as it does physical skill. Your body can be trained to make free throws, but your mind has to be focused on success if you want to make the basket.

Dribble while keeping your head upward and looking ahead. By focusing your sight on the ball, you cannot be fully aware of your surroundings. Bring the basketball with you everywhere you go. If you are heading down to the market, dribble as you go. Get used to looking up as you go so that you can focus your attention on the court and not on your hands and the ball.

Core Muscles

TIP! Avoid errant passes by the use of hand signals. It is very frustrating when a teammate isn’t open for the perfect pass.

If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, be sure they’re working on their core muscles. The concept encompasses the abdominal muscles, the hips and the lower back. The core is what holds the body in balance and allows the limbs to work well. When your core muscles are strong, you become a more powerful force on the court. This means greater speed and higher jumping skills.

TIP! Understanding the opponent is key in beating a tough defense. Watch taped games, and keep current with scouting reports.

Make use of hand signals so that wild passes can be avoided. Basketball passes can be really frustrating when shot wrong. Hand signals can be a great way to find out if a teammate will be able to receive your pass. If the signal is not used, then the pass should not be made to that player.

TIP! As you perform your fitness routine, make it a point to target your core and your footwork. Your body will naturally balance well if you have strong core muscles.

When you work out, try focusing on building core strength and bettering your footwork. Your body will be more stable and easier to move when you have strength in your core muscles. Focus on your hip, abdomen, and back muscles. As with boxing, you can increase footwork speed and dexterity by jumping rope.

TIP! If you need some help seeing where you need work, try to get a friend or relative to record your games. You should be able to see what you missed or can do better.

If the opposing team is guarding you to much, you can try a pass between your legs. You can train for this maneuver by stepping forward or backwards as you bounce the ball real hard in-between your legs. Mastering this move can help give you an advantage on the court.

TIP! Learn how to dribble and pass between your legs in case you are being guarded very tightly. Step forward and back while dribbling the ball between your legs hard.

Practice looking in the opposite direction when you make a pass. You can really confuse your opponents this way. When it’s done properly, it will cause the opponents to go to the wrong area so that you can pass to someone that has a good look at a basket before shooting. It’s a powerful play when done right.

TIP! Being a good defensive player involves disrupting your opponent’s concentration. Force them away from their comfort zone.

Have two of your guards wait for the point guard to go past midcourt for the best results. Once your opponent is trapped, he will have no option but to make a pass. Concurrently, have forwards go to the wings. Point guards need to throw up passes that your team’s forwards can steal easily.

TIP! Building strength improves your basketball game. Strength, flexibility and stamina are all important things to have in basketball.

For your weaker hand, to build skills, use it off-court for as much as you can, from brushing teeth to opening jars. By improving your weaker hand’s dexterity, your control over the hand will significantly improve. This also can significantly help your basketball game.

TIP! If you want a 2-3 zone to be turned into a machine that traps, your two defenders that are guarding should wait until your point guard is around ten feet past mid court. At that point, both guards should move in for the trap.

Learning to improve things on your own initiative imparts a feeling of pride. Learning what you need to better your game is the icing on the cake. You will soon be winning every game and surprising those around you.