TIP! Learn to correctly dribble the ball. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm.

Many people share a love for basketball. It is important to make the games exciting for the spectators. Every member of the team plays a part in the excitement, so make sure you do the work of assessing yourself and knowing where you need to improve. Some great tips follow below that can help you become a winner in the game of basketball.

TIP! Practice shooting free throws. It looks simple to do, but it isn’t that easy.

It is easy to be focused on offense when you are learning how to play basketball, but you really should focus your practice on defense. In the end, it’s defense that consistently wins you games. Offense gets attention and praise, but when you lack good defense, any team can lose.

TIP! When you dribble, look forward, keeping your head up. You need more practice if you feel that you cannot dribble without focusing on the ball.

Get good at making free throws. This kind of shot seems easy, but it really is not. Practice this technique regularly. To start off, hold the ball in front of you. Then, look at the ball and visualize it going in the basket. Then, shoot the ball using the trajectory you pictured.

TIP! One of the most important skills when playing basketball is 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.

Improving your balance means improving your shots. You have seen some crazy shots made by professionals, but these shots aren’t going to be based on fundamentals. They are improvising. When you shoot, you should always be properly balanced, which will help you make more baskets more consistently.

TIP! Don’t pump a lot of iron if you wish to become a jump shooter. Muscle strength is great for any position in basketball, you can have too much when it comes to perimeter play.

Practice your bounce pass. Proper bounce passes ought to hit the recipient at the level of their waist. If it helps to measure it out, consider aiming for a mark on the floor about three-fourths of the way between you and your teammate. This all depends on many factors.

TIP! Use hand signals to avoid errant passes. It’s frustrating to pass to your teammate at the very moment they’re heading toward the basket.

If you want to take jump shots, don’t build your arms up too large. Muscle strength can be great for basketball players, but it is actually possible to have excessive amounts for playing on the perimeter. Some professional shooting guards made their arms so big that it started decreasing their field goal percentage.

TIP! If you’re posting up, good footwork is the key to getting open and getting a good shot. While physical presence under a basket is important, finding a decent spot before the opponent is even more so.

Quick and solid footwork is what it takes to make the shot when your posting up. While physical presence under a basket is important, finding a decent spot before the opponent is even more so. Plant your feet and own that spot. These will both require powerful footwork.

TIP! A great way you can prepare for what happens on the basketball court is to avoid having your back to the ball. That will keep you aware, so you don’t get surprised by turnovers or quick passes.

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. You develop a good feel for the game around you, making it much easier to quickly react to your opponent. Always scout the court for areas that will open up and allow you to make a clear shot.

TIP! When your shooting isn’t accurate, check out your shoulder position. You won’t be able to make a shot if your shoulders aren’t in the right position.

Have someone record the games you play so that you can watch it to check out your form. Did you spot something that could be improved? Do not waste time criticizing yourself. Just make an honest assessment. A realistic view of yourself can be quite helpful.

TIP! To rebound a free throw, you have to be quick. Guards will be attempting to stop you, so get around them.

Ensure that you have good court awareness. This means more than just being able to see well enough to play, but “seeing” the court deeply. Your peripheral vision needs to be as strong as possible. 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.

TIP! Perform drills in which you move the ball up the court in just five dribbles. This initially seems undoable, but it helps build speed and stride.

Keep changing up your pace to help keep your opponents on their toes. When running toward the hoop, plant your leading foot and start to straighten up. This will confuse your opponent into adjusting their stance. Once that happens, switch tactics and move forward. You should go right past them.

Strength Training

TIP! Only stop dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass. Standing there without dribbling takes away most of your options on offense.

It can be great help to do strength training when you’re training for basketball. It is impossible to succeed if you lack endurance and strength. Even the youngest players need to have strong arms and legs. As they age, begin adding weights to their exercise routine. When you get to be an adult is when you want to concentrate on strength training to help improve durability on the court.

TIP! Make sure the ball doesn’t bounce above your knees when you dribble. Opponents will have a hard time stealing the ball from you if you keep it low.

When you’re working with defense, staying low is a good idea. This allows you to jump faster and increases your reaction time should the person you’re covering do something. Always maintain a defensive position during game play. If you break the stance to shot-block, then recover the proper form immediately after the pass or shot.

TIP! When dribbling, use your other arm to create a wall between you and your opponent. You can’t push on your opponent, but you should use your non-dribbling arm to protect the ball.

As this article has shown you, you can improve the game you play in many ways. Increasing your skills will also build your team’s success. Many people have a part in basketball, even if they are just cheering in the crowd. As a basketball player, you need all the help that you can get. Therefore, keep this information in mind, and be a player everyone loves having on their team.