TIP! Free throw practice is vitally important. As easy as these shots may seem, they are rather hard.

Nobody wants to attempt an auto repair without a bit of research and training. So how do you expect to turn into a good basketball player without learning the game? The following paragraphs contain information that good players already use to play the game well.

TIP! Practice your bounce pass. The bounce pass needs to reach the player at waist level.

It is important that you perfect dribbling the ball. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm. Using your fingertips will allow you to have better control when dribbling the ball. Keep the ball by your side as you dribble instead of right in front your body. Don’t look down, always look up.

TIP! Passing the ball is an important part of playing basketball so practice making and receiving passes. When practicing make sure you drill yourself to catch errant throws as well as picture perfect passes.

When you dribble, look forward, keeping your head up. If you’ve got your eye on the ball while you’re dribbling, you haven’t mastered it yet. One of the best ways to improve your dribbling is to bring your ball along anytime you need to walk somewhere. Dribble as you walk to the market. If you are looking at the ball, you cannot see what is happening down the court in front of you.

TIP! Whenever you work out, practice footwork and work on your core strength. With strong core muscles, you will have better balance.

In order to help you improve your basketball acumen you should watch how the pros play. Try to go to games, watch televised games, or check out videos of the pros playing. You’ll notice that each player has a skill that they are great at. Choose a move that you like and start practicing it.

TIP! If your shooting is in a slump, take a look at your shoulders. When your shoulders are not properly positioned, then it is almost impossible to perform at your best.

Avoid errant passes by the use of hand signals. Oftentimes frustration occurs when trying you aren’t on the same page with a teammate who cuts to the basketball when you try to pass him the ball. You can stay away from doing this if you use a hand signal to see if someone is ready for a pass. If you don’t see a signal, try to find someone else to pass to.

TIP! Having a pre-free-throw shot routine will help you become dependable at free throws. You could dribble twice, touch your forehead, bend your knees, or some other kinds of movements.

If you experience a slump in your scoring and shooting, your shoulders may be the cause of the problem. When the shoulders are wrongly positioned, your shot is unlikely to succeed. One area of focus should be to keep your shoulders aligned straight toward the hoop. Your shooting arm’s shoulder also needs to be exactly lined up with the rim.

TIP! Be slick with your feet so you can get a rebound from a teammate. The more quickly you get under the basket, the better you chance of grabbing the rebound.

Have a friend or family member videotape your games, then view the video to see the result. Do you see anything you could do differently? Stay honest when you’re assessing yourself, but don’t over criticize yourself either. You can learn a lot by watching your plays instead of just trying to remember what you did.

TIP! Do drills where you try and get the basketball up a full-court in five dribbles or less. This might not seem possible, but if you can do it your speed and length will strengthen.

To help perfect your free throw abilities you should perform a consistent routine. Whatever you do before each shot, from dribbles to body motions, should be the same each time. As you adopt this routine, it becomes easier for your mind and body to prepare for the shot.

TIP! In order to confuse the offense, try changing your pace. When you approach the goal, put your front foot in firm place and start straightening up.

If the opposing team is breathing down your neck, it’s a good idea to pass the ball between your legs. To practice this skill, bounce the ball between your legs so that it passes through as you step back and forth. Mastering this skill will provide you with a major advantage on the court.

TIP! When dribbling you want to keep your knees bent. Standing straight up lessens your ability to control the ball and increases the chances that it will be stolen.

Practice looking in the opposite direction when you make a pass. This is a great technique in order to help confuse the opponents. This will give the person that you passed the ball to a chance to make their move before your opponent can correct from their mix up. If you can master this move, it can really work in your favor.

TIP! To enhance your skills at shooting the ball from the outside, run drills every day from different locations on the court. For even better results, practice the run-up to your shot in addition to the actual shot.

Being able to fix your own car provides you with great pride unrivaled by other situations. That sense of pride is only rivaled by learning how you can improve your basketball game. This will help you win more and become more impressive.