TIP! Always dribble with your head up and looking forward. You should never be looking at the basketball while dribbling.

Basketball is something that tons of people worldwide enjoy. You can remain a happy amateur or maybe even set your sights toward going pro. This article can help you gain the skills you need to excel at the game you love.

TIP! Improve your passing abilities by challenging yourself to perform drills without actually dribbling. Playing basketball without dribbling is very challenging, but your entire team will quickly improve their passing skills.

Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Proper dribbling technique involves use of the fingertips, not the palm of the hand. This helps you to control the ball better. Keep the ball by your side as you dribble instead of right in front your body. Do not look at the ground; look up at all times.

TIP! Do you want to fool the other team? Try a back pass. Hold the basketball with your writing hand.

To be a great basketball player you need to work on your balance. Even though a professional can hit all sorts of crazy off-balance shots, it is not the ideal method of shooting that you want to learn. This kind of improvisation is the result of years of practice and loads of ability. Good balance while shooting will lead to landing more baskets.

Bounce Pass

TIP! Have someone taper your games and then watch it to see how you look on the court. Are you able to see missed opportunities or ways in which you could have improved? Be honest in your assessment but not overly critical.

Practice your bounce pass. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player at waist level. Remember you should bounce the ball approximately three-quarters of the distance between yourself and the receiving player. There can be other factors in play to keep in mind, as well.

TIP! Get into a consistent routine to improve your free throw shots. If you aren’t able to be consistent then you’ll be off when you shoot.

One good way to learn good passing is drill often without dribbling. It is difficult playing without dribbling; however, it helps the team make better passes. Work through the initial frustration and see how the challenge will improve your game in the long run.

TIP! Perform exercises to strengthen the muscles in your forearms and hands in order to maximize your ability to handle the ball. Wrist curls can be great for honing ball handling skills.

If you want to correctly handle the ball, you need to know where to place your fingers. This makes sure that it does not escape away from your grip. Do not allow your palm to come in contact with the ball either. Only use your fingers to dribble, pass or shoot.

TIP! Sly feet will help you get the rebound of your team mates free throw. The defender may be coming toward you, so its important to slip away from him and get the ball.

If you’re quick on the basketball court, you have a built in advantage. Speed always gives you an edge over your opponent. It takes steady drilling to play fast. Don’t try playing fast until you can. If you play beyond your speed, the game gets out of control, with errant passes and turnovers.

TIP! Dribbling the ball fast and hard will help you to keep better control of it. The ball bounces faster, giving the guard less time to steal.

Stay conscious of your foot motion and placement. Stepping even over a baseline when you’re in possession of the ball will have you called out of bounds. The ball will be turned over on a walking call if too many steps are taken with no dribble action. Moving your feet as you are setting a screen or pick usually results in you being called for a foul.

TIP! To boost your ability with the weaker hand, try to use it for all daily tasks. Try becoming ambidextrous outside of the court, and you will soon find that you do not have a weaker hand when playing basketball.

Videotape your games to see what you do right and wrong. Did you spot something that could be improved? Look at how you did and judge yourself. A realistic view of yourself can be quite helpful.

TIP! Communication with your team mates is crucial to your overall success. Your actions and strategies must not be kept to yourself.

Launch your layup jumps from the foot that is opposite the hand you shoot with. Thus, if you tend to shoot with the right hand, make sure to jump off with the left. This can help you to remain balanced, continue moving toward the hoop, and will keep your body between the defender and yourself.

TIP! Try different shots from different places on the basketball court. First, practice your balance and grip.

We hope this article has given you the information you need to enjoy basketball to the fullest. With good knowledge and a little work, you can enjoy the game to the utmost. Once you begin playing basketball, you will probably want to play often. Whatever you do, remember to have fun!