TIP! You may have better luck honing your passing skills if you forgo dribbling during practice. It is quite challenging to play the game without dribbling, but it does make sure you and your teammates make accurate passes.

Basketball is not just a game you play in gym class or intramural competition. It is possible to play this at home or in the park. If you love the game of basketball, you should keep reading to learn all that you can about this exciting game!

Free Throw

TIP! If your kid is going to try out for the basketball team, they should be properly training their core muscles. Show them how to exercise their hips, lower back and abs.

Practice your free throw shot. The execution of a free throw is not as simple as it may appear. Practice regularly and employe the technique that follows. Start with the ball ahead of your face. Visualize the ball sailing into the hoop. Shoot the basketball exactly as you saw in your mind.

TIP! Good footwork remains a vital part of basketball. You must be certain to get the good spot ahead of your opponent.

When dribbling, make sure that you look forward and keep your head up. If you’ve got your eye on the ball while you’re dribbling, you haven’t mastered it yet. Take you ball with you everywhere. Whenever you are walking and it is appropriate, dribble there. 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.

TIP! When playing basketball, it is important to always keep your eye on the ball. It’s all about court awareness, and always facing the ball will make it so you are less surprised by passes.

Free throws are mental as well as physical. You may know how to make a free throw but if your focus is off, then you will miss. Take a deep breathe, relax and block out all outside distractions before taking the shot.

TIP! Quickness is a blessing in basketball. Try to outplay your opponents by being fast to win the game.

Don’t limit your practice to just playing against the 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. If your practice hasn’t included this type of scenario, you might lose control rapidly.

TIP! Be aware of what your feet are doing and where they are. This can help you avoid going out of bounds or making a bad pass.

Find out what your teammates like most about how you play? What do you need to focus in on and practice more? You could potentially be excellent in one area while you are busy focusing on another, unaware. See what others view as your own natural skills, then be sure you retain and develop them more.

TIP! Practice passing while looking the opposite direction. Doing this is a great way to confuse your opponents.

Concentrate on your shoulders if you have gotten into a shooting slump. When they are out of alignment, all shots will fail. Shoulders should be towards the hoop. Your dominant shoulder must be lined up with the rim.

TIP! Get into a consistent routine to improve your free throw shots. Inconsistent shooting will lead to inconsistent results.

Have someone taper your games and then watch it to see how you look on the court. Are you able to look at your skills in a different light? When looking at the tape, don’t be too critical, but be honest. It can help you to see how you really are instead of what you imagine you are.

TIP! When you have a chance, take a charge. Taking charges gives you a chance for earning a defensive stop, gives your team the ball, and gives one more foul called in your favor.

When doing a layup, start running using the weaker of your two feet. This means that when you’re shooting from your right hand you have to use your left foot to take off. That way, the body stays balanced while it moves toward the hoop.

TIP! An excellent way to have proper defensive posture is to remain in the correct stance. You will always be in a defensive position if you slide your feet one way and then the other and push off using your opposing foot.

If you wish to dribble the ball better, you have to start using your hand that’s considered the weak one. If you use both your hands to dribble, it is easier to control. Hold the dominant hand behind the back and make certain you use just the weak hand. Your weak hand won’t be that for long!

TIP! Changing up your pace is something you have to do to make sure the offense is paying attention. When you running towards the basket, try planting the front foot and start straightening up.

A good player on defense will annoy the heck out of the opponent and cause the other team to get flustered. Take them out of their own comfort zone. Be aggressive in the moves you execute. You don’t want the defense choosing your plays so to speak. By doing so, the opponent will take advantage of you. To avoid this, stay aggressive and try to interrupt their thought patterns and rhythm.

TIP! Building strength improves your basketball game. In addition, stamina is important to the game, too.

Strengthen your hands and forearms for better ball handling. Wrist curls can work good if you wish to start handling the ball like you’re able to dribble in any situation. You can’t just stand and shoot for the whole game. It is essential to move the ball around in order to succeed.

TIP! To trap with a 2-3 zone, have your guards cover the point guard once he gets a few feet past midcourt. Once your opponent is trapped, he will have no option but to make a pass.

Prevent the opposing team from stealing the ball by dribbling hard. If you dribble hard, the ball will go back to your hand quickly and the offense will not be able to snatch it easily. Stop dribbling when people guard you too closely.

TIP! To build up your skills with your weaker hand, use it for everything from opening jars to brushing your teeth. Being able to dribble and shoot the ball with both hands will make it much more difficult for opponents to defend you.

A key play on defense is to draw a charge. By taking charge you can create a defensive stop so you can get the ball, and allows you to create setups so that the opponent will foul you. Not only that, your opponents may become confused or frustrated and stop playing their game plan.

TIP! One way to increase your three-point skill is to practice at the NBA range. School and the international standard lines are nearer than that.

Whether for casual play, for competition, or just for a shoot around, improving your basketball skills will make it more fun to play. Use the information you have learned here. The more you know, the better player you’ll be.