No matter how you enjoy basketball, whether playing or watching, knowing more about it can help. Is it hard for you to understand the game? Do not waste time in despair. Basketball is a very simple game that is very enjoyable. Read on and gather up some fun tips to help you better your skills and make the game more fun to watch.
When learning the game of basketball, it’s easy to get caught up in offensive play. But you should also give plenty of attention to defense. Defense is essential to winning these games. Even though everyone loves to watch offense, defense is what wins you most games.
If you hold the ball a lot, you have to learn crossovers. In a crossover, you transfer the basketball from hand to hand. If order for the maneuver to be a success, it has to be performed with speed. A good crossover dribble can give you the opportunity to switch directions and progress on the court much faster.
To improve your game, concentrate on your strong points. Your talents might not make you a star, but when you make the most of your strengths, you might better contribute to your team. Perfect what you can do well by practicing and developing the strengths you already have.
You should often work on your layups. 80% of all shots in a game are usually layups. When you practice, be sure to run at the goal with full speed, jumping and shooting in a smooth series of motions. This technique helps improve your on-court layup skills.
Watching the pros play is a great way to see how great basketball players use their skills in the game. Watch pro games on TV, or attend games in person. Every player has a skill that allows him to succeed. Practice their moves to become better.
Work on being able to receive a pass. Make sure you get used to catching less than perfect passes smoothly. During the game, not all passes will go where they’re intended. You’ll be helping out your team a great deal if you can catch their not so perfect passes.
Completing passes to your teammates is just as important as dribbling the ball. It is difficult playing without dribbling; however, it helps the team make better passes. Work through the initial frustration and see how the challenge will improve your game in the long run.
Make sure your fingers are apart from one another when dribbling. That makes it less likely that you lose control of the ball. Your palm should not be touching the ball. When passing and shooting the ball toward its target, the sole contact point should be fingers.
Basketball players must be fast. Try to play faster than your opponents for an advantage. Playing fast takes practice, though, and steady drilling. Never try though to get too fast that you can’t make any plays. By playing beyond your speed capabilities, you will quickly lose control of the ball, which will lead to bad passes, bad shots, and turnovers.
Work on passing in a direction you are not looking. You are able to confuse opponents with this technique. When done right, the look draws your opponents to the wrong locale so that the person you passed to has a good long look at the basket before shooting. It really can be a powerful technique.
Prevent the opposing team from stealing the ball by dribbling hard. The ball will get back to the hand faster, giving the other team less of an opportunity to grab it away. If another player is getting too close to you, it is best to pass the ball if a teammate is open.
A good basketball drill to perform is to see if you can get the ball down the entire court in 5 or less dribbles. This seems an impossible feat when you start. By working on this drill regularly you develop speed and great, lengthy strides. It can mean easier lay-ups when dealing with fast breaks and it can help your teammates for just a moment.
Accept a charge when you can. Taking a charge allows you a chance to earn a defensive stop, take the ball for your team, and sets up one more foul against the opponent. This can devastate a competitor psychologically as well as being a powerful play on the court.
Always maintain a defensive stance when you are trying to properly defend the goal. Shifting your weight back and forth between your feet will help you to stay in position. Remember to never let your feet cross and you will be a difficult player to get around.
Keep your knees loose when you dribble the ball. If you are standing straight, you will have a harder time controlling the ball and your opponent will be able to steal it more easily. Just a slight bend in your knees can have a huge impact on ball control.
Only cease dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass. After you halt the dribble, your options become quite limited. You can’t do anything but pivot if you don’t shoot or pass. When you do this, your opponents can double team you and steal the ball.
Reading that article was easy and fun. Now that you know some things about basketball, you can see how much fun the sport is. Using this information can better your game or better your TV experience when watching the pros.