TIP! Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while you’re dribbling.

The inventor of basketball was Dr. It is an extremely popular sport all over the world today. Since that time, it has grown into a sport beloved by many people. So many great personalities have played this game. Most of the world has heard of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. If learning from their success is what you want, then you should read this article.

TIP! Always work on your layups. Since layups account for the majority of scoring in a game.

Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. A huge percentage of successful shots are layups. Run as fast as possible, while jumping and performing a smooth shot. This will assist you in perfecting your ability to jump and then shoot.

TIP! Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. Learn how to play a man-to-man defense and a zone defense to get the best understanding of how the game works.

Perfect your bounce pass. A good bounce pass should hit the player on the receiving end at waist level. The ideal bounce pass should land about 3/4 of the way between you and the receiver. Many other factors will affect it, too.

TIP! Completing passes to your teammates is just as important as dribbling the ball. It is hard to play with no dribbling, but it will help your team make great passes.

Better your basketball skills by watching the pros play. You can follow the pros in online videos, on TV and you can also attend a basketball game if there is a pro team in your area. Watch great players to learn the specific skills that make them exceptional.

TIP! Want to trick the other team? Back passes can give your team the opportunity to score while the other team is still wondering what happened. Hold the ball using your dominant hand.

You should practice against a variety of defense types, not just zone. Most of the basketball game will probably be played in this zone, but the other team might decide to surprise you and do some man-to-man coverage. If you haven’t trained yourself to counter this, you could lose any control you have over the game.

TIP! One of the best ways to play a strong defensive game is to know your opponent. Review tapes and keep up with scouting reports.

Want to make the other team not know what’s going on? Back passes can give your team the opportunity to score while the other team is still wondering what happened. To accomplish this, grab the ball with the dominant hand. Next get the ball pulled up behind the back. The last step is to flick your wrist in the direction you want the ball to land. This is a good way to trick your opponents.

TIP! Build your core strength and work on your footwork. Your body will maintain balance and move more quickly when your core muscles are strong.

Basketball players of all ages benefit from exercises that strengthen their core. The core muscles are the hips, lower back muscles and the abdominal muscles. These muscles form a bridge across the lower and upper parts of your body. When the core is weak, it is difficult to coordinate the movements of both halves. A core that’s solid and strong will allow you to use force that comes from your legs so you can jump higher and run faster.

TIP! If you slump when you shoot, look at what your shoulders are doing. If your shoulders aren’t correct, you may not be able to make the shots.

Work on core strength when you work out. With strong core muscles, you will have better balance. Work your ab, back, hip and buttocks muscles. Practicing with a jump rope is a great way to increase your foot speed.

TIP! You want to always be aware of foot placement and what you’re doing. This can help you avoid going out of bounds or making a bad pass.

Basketball players must be fast. Speed always gives you an edge over your opponent. Regular drilling will increase your speed. But don’t try to go even faster than you actually are. Doing so can cause the game to spin out of control as turnovers and faulty passes are made.

TIP! Ask someone to take a video of you playing and watch it. Looking at tapes can help you identify strengths and weaknesses.

To maximize your layups, take off with the foot that opposes your shooting hand. If you play to use your right hand to shoot, you’ll want to use your left foot to take off. Doing this lets you maintain balance and movement towards the goal, while keeping your body in between your defender and your shot.

TIP! A routine can enable your free throw percentage to rise. Inconsistent shooting will lead to inconsistent results.

All you need is a hoop that is 10 feet high, a long court and ten team members to make a team. A thorough understanding of the game is necessary if you are going to become a great player. The tips here will help, but continue reading to find out as much as you can.