When basketball was something you first learned to play, it probably felt like a new world. It’s then you learned about dribbling, passing, and shooting. If you have been playing for a long time, you might think there is not much more you can learn. Learn about those skills in the following paragraphs.
Free throws are an excellent skill to practice in your spare time. The execution of a free throw is not as simple as it may appear. The following technique should be practiced often. Start with the ball positioned right before your face. Look at the basket and imagine the ball going in it. Then throw the ball just as you had visualized.
Keep your head up when you dribble. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet. Take the ball with you wherever you go. On your way to the grocery store, practice your dribbling. If you’re trying to look at the ball then you’re not concentrating on what’s going on down the court.
Know your strengths and they’ll help you become a better player. Your team will benefit more if you stop trying to be the star of the game and work your best. Know what you are good at, then practice it until you’re absolutely perfect at it!
One good way to learn good passing is drill often without dribbling. It is quite challenging to play the game without dribbling, but it does make sure you and your teammates make accurate passes. This is very challenging at first, but eventually it will really improve your entire team’s passing game.
Build hand signals so passes are more successful. One of the more frustrating aspects of basketball is making a pass to a teammate at the same time they head to the basket. This can be prevented through the use of hand signals. If the signal is absent, do not pass to that player.
If you’re posting up, good footwork is the key to getting open and getting a good shot. There are two important points you must remember. You must create a physical presence below the basket, and you must secure a good spot in advance of your opponent. When you are in position, you must secure your spot. Expert footwork is the key to these skills.
Passing between your legs can be helpful when the other team is riding you hard. You can train for this maneuver by stepping forward or backwards as you bounce the ball real hard in-between your legs. When you’ve mastered this step, you will be at a great advantage.
Practice passing while not looking in the direction of the pass. This can go a long way toward confusing the opposition. If you can pull it off, it’s effective to draw your opponents away from the shooter. That way the shooter gets a great look before shooting. This play can be very powerful.
If you want to better your dribble, start practicing with your weaker hand. If you’re using both hands to dribble the ball well then you can get by an opponent easily. Force yourself to not use your stronger hand. Soon, you will be able dribble with your weaker hand as well as you can with your dominant hand.
In order to play defense successfully, you must be able to disrupt the game of your opponent. Get them outside their comfort zone. Use aggression with your moves. Never let them control the game plays. If you let them, they’ll totally take the control from you. Instead, disrupt their rhythm by making the first move.
Hard dribbling helps avoid stolen balls. This makes the ball come back to you faster so the people on defense aren’t able to steal it as easily. If you are being closely guarded, you should cease dribbling and pass the ball to an open member of your team.
Take a charge if you can. Taking charges gives you an opportunity to get defensive stops, get the ball and lay the groundwork for fouls. This can hurt the other team’s players psychologically and can also be powerful when you’re creating plays.
Keep changing up your pace to help keep your opponents on their toes. When you running towards the basket, try planting the front foot and start straightening up. The guard is going to think you’re starting to slow and will straighten up too. Once they slow their momentum, you can shoot past them with a burst of speed.
Keep low when you play defense. This will aid you as you jump and make it easier to react to the front man. You always want to have a strong defensive stance on the court. If you find you have to abandon your stance to do some blocking, get back into formation as fast as you can.
If a shooter is located at a corner, their missed attempt is likely to waft to the opposite side. It may bounce back right into the opponent’s hands.
You need to learn how to change your opponent’s personal path. Regardless of whether you play defense or offense, the ability to control the other team creates a significant advantage. This enables you to get to the spot that you need to get to without letting your opponents control you.
Always focus on where the ball is going after it leaves your teammates hands or the opposing players hands. Rebounds are one of the most important parts of the game. If you can’t get the ball in your possession, it doesn’t matter how many times your opponent shoots and misses.
These tips can help you advance your abilities on the court. Make sure you practice hard to reach your goals. Apply what you have learned in this article to help yourself become a better basketball player.