Basketball is a game that people enjoy all over the world. Becoming a good basketball player takes practice and dedication. Reading this article in full will provide you with the knowledge you need, so don’t stop now.
Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Proper dribbling technique involves use of the fingertips, not the palm of the hand. Dribbling this way improves your ball control dramatically. Bounce the ball no higher than your waist and keep the ball at your side rather than in front. Always look upwards, never at the ground.
In order to be a great shooter, good balance is key. 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. Those who do this are improvising. If you are able to improve your sense of balance, then you will find that your percentage of successful shots improves.
Watching the pros play is a great way to see how great basketball players use their skills in the game. It is important that you see how other people play the game. Each player has their strengths and you can learn a lot from each one.
Try playing basketball games alone before and during the season. Even if you can’t get a bunch of people together to play, you can still practice on your own. It’s okay! You can still do a lot on your own. Whether focusing on foul shots or how to pivot with the ball, you can look for ways to improve. There’s always some work to do.
You need to be quick to play good basketball. If you can play quicker than the opposing team can, then you will be at an advantage. Regular drilling will increase your speed. Don’t attempt to play more quickly than your skills allow. It’s easy to lose control when you play fast.
Be aware of your own actions and the position of your feet. Placing even a single toe atop the baseline while holding the ball will result in you being ruled out of bounds. If you take too many steps and don’t dribble, then you are walking. Being aware of your body movements can give you an advantage on the court.
Passing the ball through your legs is a useful maneuver if the opposing team is right on top of you. To practice, simply bounce the basketball between your legs while stepping either forward or backwards. Mastering this technique can give you a significant advantage.
Practice passing while looking the opposite direction. This trick can be used successfully to confuse defenders. When it’s done properly, it will cause the opponents to go to the wrong area so that you can pass to someone that has a good look at a basket before shooting. Practicing this pass can really help to give your team the winning edge.
As soon as the ball leaves your teammate’s hands after a free throw, start moving into position. Try to anticipate the move of the defender between yourself and the basket so that you can maneuver around him and to the hoop. This will get you a rebound without having to commit a foul.
Dribbling hard helps you protect the ball. This makes the ball come back to you faster so the people on defense aren’t able to steal it as easily. If someone is guarding you closely, stop dribbling and pass to someone else who is open on your team.
You want to keep your vision completely clear at all times. This is so that you’re able to catch passes, get shots in, and look at the scoreboard. Peripheral vision is important during game play. This will help you to find open teammates and keep an eye out for the defensive players.
Stay low when you play defense. This allows you to jump faster and increases your reaction time should the person you’re covering do something. Maintain proper defensive position at all times. If you need to block the opposing team’s shot, resume your stance as soon as you can.
When you dribble while playing basketball, focus on bending your knees. If your knees are not bent, the basketball will be more difficult to control. Bending your knees will make a big difference in the way you can control the ball.
Improve your shooting skills by taking hundreds of different shots from all angles and distances. You should also practice starting with a dribble and then taking a shot. Be sure you look at the target as you’re in mid air. This can help you simulate the conditions of the game and also helps you improve accuracy.
When you use these tips, you will have more fun when playing basketball. Take the time to read more articles and check out blogs and videos so that your learning doesn’t end here. The next time you are on the court, think back to what you’ve just read.