TIP! When dribbling, make sure that you look forward and keep your head up. If you are looking at the ball for any reason while dribbling, you have not put in enough practice.

Basketball can be enjoyed by everyone. All different types of people can enjoy an exciting game of basketball. Have your friends take a look at your new skills. What new moves, you ask? This article will teach you some great new moves!

TIP! Frequently train yourself on your pass catching moves. Try to catch all of the passes that are thrown to you.

Try learning how to hit free throw shots. This looks easy, but it is actually very hard to do. When practicing your free throw, concentrate on where you want the ball to go when it leaves your hands. Start with the ball positioned right before your face. Keep looking at the goal while visualizing the basketball going through the hoop. Then throw the ball just as you had visualized.

TIP! Don’t just practice playing against a zone defense. Usually, a big part of the game is probably going to be in zone; however, the opposing team can suddenly switch to man-to-man to catch you off guard.

Passing the ball is an important part of playing basketball so practice making and receiving passes. When practicing, try catching great passes as well as really bad passes. This will help you catch those bad passes during a game. Help your teammates by learning what you need to haul in those imperfect passes.

TIP! Improve your passing abilities by challenging yourself to perform drills without actually dribbling. It is quite challenging to play the game without dribbling, but it does make sure you and your teammates make accurate passes.

Don’t spend all your time practicing how to confront a zone defense. While a good chunk of the game will most likely be played in zone, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you. You may lose control of the game if you aren’t prepared.

TIP! Need to dupe the opposition? Try doing a back pass! Use the dominant hand whenever trying a behind the back pass. Move the ball so that it is behind you.

Learn good passing by drilling often without dribbling. Playing without any dribbling is very hard, but builds your passing skills. Try not to lose yourself in frustration if you do not master it immediately, with the more time that passes with you and your team practicing, the more accurate they will become.

TIP! If you have a high school level basketball player for a kid, be sure their core muscles are properly trained. This will involve their lower back, hips, and abs.

Don’t pump too much iron if you plan on being a jump shooter. You do need muscle conditioning and strength, but you can have too much when it comes to shooting field goals. Some guards increase their upper body to the point of harming their field goals.

Core Muscles

TIP! If you’re on the offense, you footwork needs to be excellent to stay open for passes and shots. Securing a good location is critical when playing basketball.

Children who aspire to become great basketball players in high school must engage in physical fitness activities that focus on the core muscles. The core muscles are the hips, lower back muscles and the abdominal muscles. A good core leads to a solid foundation and that is required to be very good at basketball. Building a solid core helps maintain the leg strength that lies at the core of a strong game.

TIP! Don’t play while injured or else your injury will worsen. Basketball is physically demanding and you can easily get hurt.

If you’re injured in a basketball game, don’t attempt to play while in pain. Basketball is physically demanding, and it is easy to get hurt. Trying to play while injured will just make your situation worse. If you are seriously injured, obtain medical care.

TIP! Never have your back to the ball so that you’re ready for anything in a basketball game. You develop a good feel for the game around you, making it much easier to quickly react to your opponent.

One great thing to do if you wish to be prepared while playing is to make sure your back isn’t turned to the ball. This helps you become aware of the court and lowers chances for surprises from turnovers and quick passes. Always watch for areas opening up where you can go for a quick basket.

TIP! Work on core strength when you work out. With a stronger core, you’ll be able to balance better.

Use deception by looking elsewhere when you make passes. This throws your opponents off. You give your teammate a better chance to make the shot because the opposing player is moving the wrong direction when you pass the ball. Practicing this pass can really help to give your team the winning edge.

TIP! For more consistency in making those free throws, stick with the same sequence of motions before you take each shot. This might mean that you dribble the ball twice, bend your knees, touch your forehead, or any other movement.

In order to perfect your layup shooting technique practice, take off with your left foot if you shoot with your right hand and vice versa. Thus, if you use your right hand for shooting, you need to push off using your left foot. This gives you better balance, while keeping you poised toward the basket.

TIP! If the opposing team is guarding you to much, you can try a pass between your legs. Take a step back or forward and bounce the ball hard through your legs.

If you want to put pressure on the offense, you need to change the pace of things. When running towards the net, step on your front foot, and start to straighten up your body. You will have the guard think that you’re slowing down. In turn, they will straighten themselves. When they do, try pushing forward hard and running right past them.

TIP! Practice looking in the opposite direction when you make a pass. This will easily confuse your opponents.

Have two of your guards wait for the point guard to go past midcourt for the best results. Once your opponent is trapped, he will have no option but to make a pass. As your guards are doing this, send your forwards out to the outside opponents. You will see the opposing point guard make a bad pass that anyone on your team can steal.

TIP! Be sure your vision is unobstructed. You will need it for more than checking the scoreboard or passing and shooting.

Now you can show your stuff off on the court. Knowing skills and tricks that others are unaware of will give you an edge. The point of playing basketball is not only to win, but to have fun playing the game. Apply the knowledge you have learned here and you will be winning games and having fun in no time!