No one would attempt to fix a car’s transmission without knowing how to do it. How can you succeed at basketball without researching the sport first? This article will teach you the basics so you can get up to speed on the game of basketball.
When learning the game of basketball, it’s easy to get caught up in offensive play. But you should also give plenty of attention to defense. In the end, it’s defense that consistently wins you games. Offense may score points but defense keeps the other team from scoring points that your team will have to match.
Learn how to hit a free throw shot. It looks simple to do, but it isn’t that easy. You should practice as often as possible with this technique. Hold the ball level to your face. Use visualization to imagine the goal occurring. Shoot the ball how you imagine it going in.
When dribbling, make sure you hold your head high and look straight ahead. Lack of practice will manifest itself in looking down towards the ball when dribbling. Take the basketball around off-court wherever you are. If you are heading down to the market, dribble as you go. By looking forward instead of at the basketball, you are able to see the happenings on the court.
You have to know how to bounce pass properly. Bouncing the pass to the receiver should be at their waist. It’s best to bounce the basketball about 75 percent of the way towards your teammate. There are other variables to consider though.
Lifting weights too much can actually take away from your jump shot. Muscle strength can be great for basketball players, but it is actually possible to have excessive amounts for playing on the perimeter. Some shooting guards that play professionally have such big arms that their field goal rate went down.
Hand signals will help you avoid those errant passes. 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 get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. Without a signal, you should not attempt to pass the ball to a player.
If you get hurt during a basketball game, don’t try to play while in pain. Basketball is very physical and there’s always a risk of injury. Trying to play through the pain could just cause more damage. Don’t hesitate to see the doctor if you feel the injury warrants it.
Proper handling of the ball requires that your fingers be spread apart. This makes sure that it does not escape away from your grip. Do not allow the palm of your hand to make contact with the ball. Your fingers must be the only things contacting it when you shoot or pass the ball at the target.
Have a friend or family member videotape your games, then view the video to see the result. You’ll likely see ways that you can improve. Appraise your performance honestly but don’t be overly harsh with yourself. The reality of your play is often very different from your perception.
Workout to increase flexibility and strength in your hands and forearms. Wrist curls are great for bettering your ball handling in basketball to the point where you could practically do it sleepwalking. Don’t just think you’re able to stand around, catch the ball and then shoot it. Strength and flexibility in your hands will allow you to move the ball more gracefully and swiftly.
Good footwork can really help you to get those rebounds. Slip around the defender moving your way and get the ball. This helps you avoid the foul call and also grab the rebound.
Make sure your vision is good. You don’t need great vision just to keep score. Your peripheral vision should be the best it can be. It allows you to view the game as a whole rather than simply watching the ball. In this way, you can be aware of the players around you.
Change your pace up to throw the offense off. Try to block the net by planting your foot hard. The guard will assume you’re slowing down and start to straighten up, too. As they do, push forward hard and run by them.
Use a 2-3 zone as a way to trap opponents. You can do this by having guards wait for the point guard to come at least 10 feet past midcourt. Then they need to get to the guard on point to trap him. It also lets you have forwards on blocks sprint to the wing players. The point guard will then probably throw an easily interceptable pass.
Nba Range
One way to increase your three-point skill is to practice at the NBA range. Remember that high school, college and international standard lines are all shorter than the NBA distance. Hitting from the NBA range makes you get deeper-ranged looks than the defense will be guarding you at.
Make sure your dribble is consistent until you decide to shake up the opposing player. You can for instance suddenly speed up your dribbling to get past an opponent and get the edge you need for a shot. When they are focused on stealing the ball, your change in rhythm can really throw them off.
Learning to improve things on your own initiative imparts a feeling of pride. Learning what you need to better your game is the icing on the cake. With that information at hand, you will be impressing your team, and winning all of your games.