Basketball is a popular game that is easy to start playing. Every player has their own skills that contribute to wins for their team. The following article will help you improve your basketball skills.
Many people only direct their attention to the offensive part of the game without realizing that defense is the key to winning. Basketball games are often won by the defense. Offense receives all the glory, but it is nothing without the best defense.
Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Proper dribbling technique involves use of the fingertips, not the palm of the hand. This will give you better control of the basketball. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. Keep your head up and do not look at the ground.
Dribble while keeping your head upward and looking ahead. If you have to look at the ball while dribbling, that means you need to practice more. You can practice dribbling almost anywhere. Dribble the ball while you’re walking around. Get used to looking up as you go so that you can focus your attention on the court and not on your hands and the ball.
Would you like to pull one over on the other team? Trick them using a back pass. Use the dominant hand whenever trying a behind the back pass. Now hold the ball behind you. Next, snap your wrist in the direction you want the ball to be moved to. It is an effective means of confusing your opponents.
If you post up, you need to use good footwork to get open and make sure you get a good shot. Although it’s important to have a physical presence underneath the basket, it’s more important that you get in a good place before your opponent can. You need to be sure your spot is secure. Footwork, therefore, is crucial.
Talk to your teammates and find out what they like about your game. What areas are your strong points? It may be that you are quick on your feet or that you are always there to back them up. Find out what others perceive as your natural gifts and build upon those more completely.
To become a great free thrower, practice and develop a routine you will use during each shot. This can include the number of times you dribble, how you position your feet, or anything else. Keep it simple and consistent, and the routine will become a part of your muscle memory.
When you’re practicing passing, try to look the other way. Doing this is a great way to confuse your opponents. When you do this right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. It really can be a powerful technique.
To get the rebound from the free throw your teammate is making, you need to do some fancy footwork. The defender may be coming toward you, so its important to slip away from him and get the ball. This helps you avoid the foul call and also grab the rebound.
Practice drills that force you to get the basketball to the other end of the court in less than 5 dribbles. This might seem impossible at first, but if you achieve it, you will have remarkable stride length and speed. You will have easy layups on fast breaks and you will be able to advance your team easily.
Changing up your pace is something you have to do to make sure the offense is paying attention. When you are getting closer to the net, put your foot out and straighten up your body. Your opponent will assume you are slowing up, and thus will also straighten up. Once they slow their momentum, you can shoot past them with a burst of speed.
As the point guard approaches within 10 feet of the middle of the court, your guards should take action and create a 2-3 trap. They can then run toward the point guard to trap him. While that is happening, your forwards should race out to the opposing wing players. This will likely cause the point guard to make a high, short pass, which your forwards will steal quite easily.
Nba Distance
To improve three-point shooting, do it from NBA distance at the very least. Remember that high school, college and international standard lines are all shorter than the NBA distance. If you can hit from NBA range, you can get open looks at a deeper range than a defense is probably going to mind you (until you start hitting).
Improving yourself and sharpening your skills goes a long way toward becoming a better basketball player. The tips included above should have given you ideas on how to become better at your chosen sport. Keep these tips in mind during your next practice to improve your game.