Becoming a great basketball player takes practice and dedication. Even if your goal is to just have fun, you’ll still want to be a good player. Well, if you read through this article then you’re going to be able to make great improvements towards being the best at the game.
Learn how to hit a free throw shot. This seems like an easy shot, but it is quite hard. Practice constantly using this tip. To start off, hold the ball in front of you. Use visualization to imagine the goal occurring. Shoot the basketball exactly as you saw in your mind.
You must learn how to dribble, how a crossover is done and other important ball handling skills. A crossover means moving the ball between your hands. If order for the maneuver to be a success, it has to be performed with speed. Once you’ve learned how to use it, the crossover dribble makes it easy to navigate the court in a more effective way.
Practice your layup shot often. Layups sometimes wind up being 4 out of every 5 shots in basketball. Dribble the ball in front of you while taking large strides followed by a smooth shot. Drill the jumping technique regularly so you can do layups very smoothly and always stay in control of where the ball is going.
Don’t spend all your time practicing how to confront a zone defense. Though much of the game is sure to be played within a zone pattern, the opposition may try to go man-to-man in order to confuse you. If you have not practiced against this, you may lose your grip of the game for the remainder of it.
If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, be sure they’re working on their core muscles. They should train their lower back, hips, and abs. The core is what holds the body in balance and allows the limbs to work well. A strong core helps you jump higher and run faster.
Stay conscious of your foot motion and placement. Stepping even over a baseline when you’re in possession of the ball will have you called out of bounds. Holding the ball for too many steps and not dribbling will result in a walking call which will cause you to you will lose possession of the ball. You can’t move a foot when you take a charge, pick or screen either, or it’s a foul.
To make your layups count the most, take off from the foot opposite your shooting hand. Thus, if you tend to shoot with the right hand, make sure to jump off with the left. This can help you to remain balanced, continue moving toward the hoop, and will keep your body between the defender and yourself.
A great way to make sure you’re in a good position defensively is to keep yourself in the defensive stance. Keep your feet moving to each side or push your opposing foot off so you can keep yourself in position. Always keep your feet from crossing, and you will make it hard for any opponent to get past.
Strength and flexibility training can help your skills in basketball. In addition, stamina is important to the game, too. It can help young kids get the exercise they need. As the teenage years approach, weights can be used for even greater impact. Once they transition into adulthood, strength training must continue to be a core part of their exercise routine.
When you’re working with defense, staying low is a good idea. This helps your reaction time against your opponent. Remain in a correct defensive pose always. When you need to block, quickly get back into your stance.
A powerful play called the trapping machine, is to have your guards wait for the point guard to come just past midcourt. Then, they ought to trap the point guard. Your forwards can sprint to block the player on both sides. Your forwards should easily be able to steal the pass that the point guard throws.
To boost your ability with the weaker hand, try to use it for all daily tasks. If you’re able to become more ambidextrous, you are going to be able to better control it on the court. This will help you with your basketball game also.
To better your outdoor shooting skills, take about a hundred shots every day from various places on the court. To get even better, try to practice dribbling and quickly shooting. Focus on the target when airborne, but never before. This can help you simulate the conditions of the game and also helps you improve accuracy.
Concentrate your ball-handling below knee level whenever possible. Doing this makes it more difficult for members of the opposing team to steal the ball from you. You will have to bend a little to make this happen, but it will keep you moving down the court quickly, especially since you are thwarting everyone trying to get to you.
If you’re determined to do good at basketball, then you have to watch your diet. Basketball uses a lot of energy; therefore, it is important to fuel your body with lean protein and whole grains. Good things to add to your diet are nuts and nut butters, chicken, and wheat bread. Stay away from salt and sugar.
After catching a ball on the rebound, position your legs so that they are set more widely than your shoulders. This improves your balance upon landing. Put your hands on the sides of the basketball and then put it close to your chest. Keep your elbows in so that you do not hit an opponent and get a foul.
So, take the initiative and learn some new skills and start practicing and playing better today. Over time you will see progress if you stick to a plan, practice regularly and never give up. Use what you have learned here to help become the best player possible.