TIP! It is important to practice catching the ball from others as much as passing. Make sure you get used to catching less than perfect passes smoothly.

Not even pros know everything about basketball. The sport is evolving, which means that even after you’ve become an expert, there’s more to learn. Want to do better than the competition is doing? If you really want that edge, take a good look at the article below.

TIP! Do not wait for any special season to play some basketball. These skills all help with muscle memory so you know just what to do when you’re playing in a game.

Dribble the ball correctly. You want to dribble with the tips of your fingers, not your whole hand. You retain much more ball control this way. Always dribble to your side, not your front. Don’t look at the ground, always keep your eyes focused forward.

TIP! Footwork is what gets you ready for a shot. Getting a great position under the goal is the most important.

In order to be a great shooter, good balance is key. Falling when you make a shot is not the right way to shoot. This is simply an improvised move. You should have proper balance when making your shots, and over time this will lead to consistently making baskets.

TIP! Don’t play while injured or else your injury will worsen. Basketball is hard to play well even when you are healthy, so don’t push it.

Practice your layups a lot. Up to eighty percent of the baskets attempted in a game are layups. It’s critical to practice running towards the basket at full speed and following up with a good jump and smooth shot. Like everything, practicing at game speed will only improve your skill and have you ready to play at the fastest pace.

TIP! One way to get a good understanding of your game is to ask your fellow players about your ability. Are you skilled at something? Perhaps you are quick footed, or you are always ready to lend a hand on the court.

Passing the ball is an important part of playing basketball so practice making and receiving passes. When you practice, be sure to do drills that improve catching wild throws and making great passes. When the game is being played, passes may not be as perfect as we’d like. Help your teammates by learning what you need to haul in those imperfect passes.

TIP! You must know your opponent in order to be tough on defense. Review videotapes and monitor scouting reports.

To keep passes under control, make use of hand signals. It can be frustrating passing to a teammate when you’re both heading to the basket. Avoid this using hand signals to see if they can get the pass. Without a signal, players shouldn’t attempt to pass.

TIP! Pay attention closely to the shoulders if you’re starting to slump when you shoot. No matter your skill level, you won’t make shots if your shoulders aren’t in the proper position.

Quick and solid footwork is what it takes to make the shot when your posting up. 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. If you are just stepping into position, you now have to secure the spot. These will both require powerful footwork.

TIP! A good way to develop ball handling skills is to make your forearms and hands stronger. Wrist curls can be effective at helping you to control the ball as if you’ll be dribbling in your sleep.

If you slump when you shoot, look at what your shoulders are doing. When the shoulders are wrongly positioned, your shot is unlikely to succeed. You’ll want to ensure that your shoulders are squared up towards the hoops. Your dominant shoulder should also be lined up perfectly with the rim.

TIP! If you wish to get a free throw rebound from a teammate, you have to stay on your toes properly. Guards will be attempting to stop you, so get around them.

Have your games taped so you can play them back later and observe your court presence. Can you see chances that you missed or ways that you could have done better? Be honest with yourself, but avoid being too critical. You can learn a lot by watching your plays instead of just trying to remember what you did.

TIP! Keep low when you play defense. This stance will keep you ready for whatever comes your way.

Good footwork will help you get rebounds off your teammates’ foul shots. Use your feet to slip around the opposing player below you, then get into position for a rebound off the rim. You are able to rebound the ball without fouling someone.

TIP! To better three-point shooting, try using NBA distance as the minimum. All other three point lines are closer than what the NBA uses.

Change your pace up to throw the offense off. When running in the direction of the net, straighten up while planting the front foot. The offense will believe that you’re stopping or slowing down and may follow in your steps. Like them, push and run past them.

Strength Training

TIP! Make sure the ball doesn’t bounce above your knees when you dribble. This will make your opponent struggle to steal the ball from you.

Strength training can be a major help in basketball. Being physically tough is as important as having the stamina to keep up with the game. Even little kids who play basketball will develop more overall body strength. As they get older you can use weights to help enhance their performance. The adult years are where strength training is crucial to maintain solid performance on the court.

TIP! Be sure you’re doing the right kinds of exercises off the court to help you on it. You could, for instance, work on your sprint so you can perform plays faster, while running on a longer distance will help you build your stamina.

Increase your weak hand’s capabilities by using it for everything you normally would not. If you’re able to become more ambidextrous, you are going to be able to better control it on the court. Soon enough you will see great improvements on the court.

TIP! Dribble rhythmically until you are ready to throw your opponent’s guarding capabilities into disarray. A consistent pace for your dribble will lull your opponent, and help you move more quickly than they do when the time comes.

You should always bend your knees while dribbling. When you stand straight up, you’ll find that the ball is harder to control and the ball will be a lot easier for an opponent to steal. You will gain a lot of ball control by bending your knees just a bit.

TIP! Always practice from all spots on the court. Begin with practicing your grip and balance.

To improve 3 point shooting, practice from NBA distance, at least. The International standard line, as well as college and high school lines are all closer. Being able to shoot successfully from the NBA range will give you a great advantage.

TIP! Anticipate where the ball will go. For instance, corner shots usually bounce off the rim, ending up on the opposite side.

If you want to improve your outside shooting skills then you need to take hundreds of shots each day from all over the court. Try to practice a hard dribble followed by a quick shot. Try to keep from looking at the rim until you are getting ready to release the ball. This will mimic game conditions and help improve your accuracy.

TIP! You need to be able to alter your opponents path. No matter what position you play, the ability to control other players is essential.

Hopefully, you are more confident with your basketball skill after reading the above tips. These techniques will help improve your game. Never give up on the learning process and stay committed to regular practice. To become a better player, you must use the information you come across, so do so.