TIP! Learn proper dribbling. Avoid using your palm while dribbling.

Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. From watching the NBA to playing, it’s so much fun to participate in. If you enjoy playing the game, you can enjoy it even more if you improve your skills. In this article, we will discuss excellent tips that will help you become the best player possible to help your team win.

TIP! Constantly practice layups. Four out of every five shots taken in a given game will be layups.

Focusing on the offense may come easily but you need to be able to focus on the defense as well., Basketball games are won with a good defense. Offense is flashier, so it draws the attention of fans and journalists, but a team that can’t defend well won’t win any games.

TIP! A great way to hone your own basketball abilities is to watch the pros. Watch professionals play or go check out talented local teams to see who has the moves that you want to learn.

Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Finger tips, not palms, are the key to successful dribbling. You retain much more ball control this way. You should be dribbling the ball at your side instead of in front of your body. The ball should always be dribbled at waist level. Never look at the ground. Always look up.

TIP! Practice using different types of defenses. While you might see a zone defense mostly, a team can switch defenses to man-to-man quickly in order to confuse you.

Your balance is an important aspect to consider when you are shooting. Sometimes you’ll see professional players fall out of bounds while making a shot from afar, but this doesn’t work at all times. This kind of improvisation is the result of years of practice and loads of ability. Balance needs to be maintained to consistently make successful shots.

TIP! Quick and solid footwork is what it takes to make the shot when your posting up. Securing a good location is critical when playing basketball.

Bounce passes are important in the game of basketball. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player at waist level. Try bouncing it about three-quarters to them. There are, however, other factors that influence the pass.

TIP! A great way you can prepare for what happens on the basketball court is to avoid having your back to the ball. This provides court awareness and prevents you from unexpected turnovers or quick passes.

Playing basketball does not require excessive muscle development. Although it’s true that strong muscles are beneficial, additional bulk can impede your ability to play effectively along the perimeter. Some professionals develop their muscles so much that they are actually having a hard time with shooting.

TIP! The key to ball control is to spread your fingers out. This keeps it under control.

Prior to basketball season, and even during it, you can play solo games. Basketball is usually a team sport, but just because you can’t find others, doesn’t mean you have to just stop thinking about it. No problem. Playing on your own can give you the chance to work on isolated areas of your game. You can practice many different techniques, such as your free throw routine. There’s always some work to do.

TIP! When you want consistently good free throws, repeat your routine. Always dribble the same way, or with the same movements.

Footwork is the best way to find an opening shot. While physical presence under a basket is important, finding a decent spot before the opponent is even more so. Once there, you have to firmly claim the area as your own. Each of these skills is reliant on good footwork.

TIP! A good player on defense will annoy the heck out of the opponent and cause the other team to get flustered. Do not allow your opponent to become comfortable with their style, or yours.

Don’t let the ball go behind your back. This provides court awareness and prevents you from unexpected turnovers or quick passes. When your eyes are constantly assessing the game, you will be better able to make easy shots.

TIP! Try to strengthen your forearms and hands to better handle the ball. Wrist curls can be effective at helping you to control the ball as if you’ll be dribbling in your sleep.

When trying to improve your strength to have better basketball footwork, work on building up your core. With strong core muscles, you will have better balance. Work your ab, back, hip and buttocks muscles. Much like boxers do, you have the ability to bolster your footwork and agility by using a jump rope.

TIP! Dribble very hard to prevent the opposing team players from stealing the ball. A hard dribble returns the ball back to you faster, leaving less chance of it being snatched by the other team.

Videotape your games to see what you do right and wrong. You should be able to see what you missed or can do better. Evaluate what you see honestly, but don’t be too hard on yourself. It can be an eye-opener to see how you’re playing the game really, not just what you picture it to be.

TIP! Be sure that your site is good. While it will allow you to catch passes and read the score, there is more to it than that.

Clearly, there are quite a few ways to help yourself play a better game. A lot of them are easy as learning the techniques and practicing them. Practice is really the secret to becoming a master of anything, so be sure you have a hoop, ball and free time available regularly. Whether you are practicing to play competitively or just for fun, the information in this article will improve your game.