Improve Your Basketball Skills By Using These Techniques!

by | Jan 28, 2022 | Basketball

TIP! Learn to correctly dribble the ball. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm.

The basics of paying basketball are not really hard to learn. You can pick them up after just a minute or two. But the finer points are what the game is all about, and if you would like to know more than check out this advice to get started.

TIP! Perfect your layup technique. This will make up about eighty percent of shots during any basketball game.

Learn proper dribbling. You’ll want to use your fingertips to dribble instead of using your palm. This provides you with much more ball control. Dribble off to the side waist high. Never look at the ball; instead, look forward.

TIP! Don’t limit your practice to just playing against the zone defense. Though much of the game is sure to be played within a zone pattern, the opposition may try to go man-to-man in order to confuse you.

When you dribble, look forward, keeping your head up. Lack of practice will manifest itself in looking down towards the ball when dribbling. Take the ball with you wherever you go. Dribble as you walk down the street. Remember, if you are directly staring at the ball, there’s no way for you to see what’s happening on the court.

TIP! Asking for feedback from coaches and teammates about your playing is important in order to become a stronger player. What do you need to focus in on and practice more? Perhaps you are quick footed, or you are always ready to lend a hand on the court.

To be a better basketball player you should concentrate on the things that make you great. You might not have star ability, but you can be an outstanding team player. Know your strengths and keep practicing to get even better.

TIP! Avoid turning away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for what occurs on the court. It’s all about court awareness, and always facing the ball will make it so you are less surprised by passes.

Get someone to analyze how you play on tape. You should be able to see what you missed or can do better. Appraise your performance honestly but don’t be overly harsh with yourself. You can learn a lot by watching how you play and what you need to concentrate practicing on.

TIP! Spreading out your fingers is key to handling the ball correctly. That makes sure that you don’t lose the ball when you hold it.

Practice looking the other way when passing. This will confuse your opponents. You give your teammate a better chance to make the shot because the opposing player is moving the wrong direction when you pass the ball. When executed properly, this is a powerful play.

TIP! If you experience a slump in your scoring and shooting, your shoulders may be the cause of the problem. Regardless of your skill level, if you don’t have your shoulders positioned correctly, you will miss.

Build a consistent routine for your free throws. If you aren’t able to be consistent then you’ll be off when you shoot. You should work on your free throw techniques as much as possible until they become a second nature. If you alter your routine then chances are the shot will not be good.

TIP! Videotape your games to see what you do right and wrong. Do you see anything you could do differently? Stay honest when you’re assessing yourself, but don’t over criticize yourself either.

You need to take charge when the opportunity presents itself. The charge lets you build a defensive stop and get control of the ball. That can be psychologically disturbing, and is a power play.

TIP! Practice passing while not looking in the direction of the pass. This can go a long way toward confusing the opposition.

To boost your ability with the weaker hand, try to use it for all daily tasks. If you’re able to become more ambidextrous, you are going to be able to better control it on the court. Soon enough you will see great improvements on the court.

TIP! To improve ball handling, consider focusing workouts on your forearms and hands. Try doing some wrist curls as they are particularly effective in honing your dribble skills.

Only stop dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass the ball. If you stop, you limit your options. If you opt to not pass or shoot, you’re left with pivoting on your back foot. The opposition will cling onto you like a magnet.

TIP! A great way to make sure you’re in a good position defensively is to keep yourself in the defensive stance. Use your opposite foot to push with or slide your feet around.

Practice your dribbling skills while shifting your momentum to alternate sides. Remember that you must dribble in a variety of situations during a basketball game. You might be swarmed by various opponents or get an open court. It helps to master control of your body as you dribble in a variety of positions. It can help you get out of a jam.

TIP! Make sure the ball doesn’t bounce above your knees when you dribble. This prevents your opponents from stealing the ball.

Use the hand you’re not dribbling with to create a barrier between the ball and the opponent. Don’t push your opponent because that is a foul; however, you may use your free arm to create a barrier that keeps your opponent away from the ball. Just keep it raised a little while you dribble with your dribbling hand.

TIP! Use the hand you aren’t dribbling with to keep the opponent away from the ball. It’s a foul to push your opponents, but using your arm as a barrier is allowed and will help you to secure the ball.

Exercise off the court. For example, you can improve individual plays with sprinting. You can improve overall game performance and endurance with long distance running. Lift weights to build your power. The confidence and aggression that result also help you more than anything when shooting.

TIP! The best way to become a better player is to talk to your teammates and know what they are going to be doing. You are sure to understand that it takes teamwork to play basketball.

The goal to improving a game is building conversation with your teammates. It is a sport that requires team work. Do not look at playing defense or offense as something to be undertaken by just you and a single opponent. All players on your team are interdependent. Discuss your strengths and weaknesses with teammates so you know where you need improvement.

TIP! Learn to control where your opponent can and can’t move. It is irrelevant whether you are playing defense or offense; in both cases, your ability to control the direction of your opponent is critical.

If you want to perform your best in basketball, you need to eat well. You need to eat carbs, fats and protein on game days. Good additions to your daily diet include whole grain bread, lean chicken and nuts. Stay away from salt and sugar as much as possible.

Double Dribbling

TIP! The position you adopt before, during, and immediately following a rebound has an effect on your ability to keep possession of the ball. If you wish to have better balance and power, then make sure you use both feet when you jump.

Double dribbling is considered a foul. Double dribbling occurs after a pause in dribbling. If you have stopped dribbling, you’ll need to either shoot or pass the ball. You are not allowed to resume dribbling. If you double dribble the ball will be given to the other team.

TIP! Once you have possession of the basketball, know when to pass and when to take a shot. Better to be responsible for a shot that leads to a win, than to be that one player whose bad shot cost the team a win.

After catching a ball that has rebounded, land on your feet, spreading legs wider than your shoulders in order to get greater balance. Keep your elbows out to protect the ball and keep it close to your chest. Make sure you don’t hit anyone else with your elbows.

TIP! Follow the path of the ball once it has left the hands of your teammate or the opposing player. One of the biggest key plays in the game is the rebound.

Positioning is key in picking up an essential rebound. Jump with both feet for improved power and balance and retrieve the ball with both hands. Once you get the rebound, come down with both feet wider apart than your shoulders in order to secure good balance, and make sure the ball is held close to the chest.

TIP! A penetrating dribble can help you beat a team that uses a zone defense. If you get around a defender and make it to the shooting lane, the defenders will either break their defense or converge on the ball.

Learn about your opponents so you can force them to play your game, not theirs. If that player is right-handed, move in the player’s direction on your left foot. This will force the player to switch hands. Keep your knees bent and body low in order to increase your chance to steal the ball.

TIP! Communicate with your teammates to avoid unnecessary turnovers. This should be done during your practices as well.

Maybe you just started playing the game before looking up this article. Perhaps you were good at basketball already. Regardless of your skill level, what you have read will provide you with new information. Try this advice out whenever you can play.