TIP! Correct dribbling is key. Don’t use your palm to dribble.

Basketball is one of the most popular sports worldwide. To really get the most from the sport, it is important to truly understand it. The article that follows allows you to do that.

TIP! Teach yourself to throw bounce passes correctly. Bounce passes need to be at waist level when received.

Make sure that you practice your layups frequently. Up to eighty percent of the baskets attempted in a game are layups. Dribble the ball in front of you while taking large strides followed by a smooth shot. Knowing how to run and jump quickly and smoothly will assist you in knowing how to leap and shoot more effectively while playing.

TIP! Practice catching passes often. When you’re practicing, you should drill in being able to catch random throws in addition to passes that are perfect.

Free throws are as much mental as they are physical, like other parts of the game. You must be mentally strong to be a consistent free throw shooter. Stay focused and vigilant to improve your ability to make free throws.

TIP! Interested in tricking your opponents? Trick them using a back pass. Use your dominant hand to palm the basketball.

Practice using different types of defenses. Zone play will be important, but man-to-man will pop up from time to time, too. Failure to prepare for this type of tactic makes you more vulnerable and hurts your team.

TIP! Play by yourself to practice. While basketball is a team sport, sometimes you just can’t find others to play with.

Before, during and after the season, play out games by yourself. While it’s a team sport, you may not be able to find others that will play. There is nothing wrong with that. There are many ways that you can improve your game alone. You can practice many different techniques, such as your free throw routine. There’s always some work to do.

Core Muscles

TIP! Pay close attention to your shoulders if you’ve suddenly developed a shooting slump. No matter your skill level, you won’t make shots if your shoulders aren’t in the proper position.

If you have a high school level basketball player for a kid, be sure their core muscles are properly trained. The core muscles are the hips, lower back muscles and the abdominal muscles. The core is the muscle group that links the arms and legs together. If their core strength is poor, then so will their athletic performance be. By developing a strong core, your legs will follow suit.

TIP! Quickness is a key skill in basketball. Speed always gives you an edge over your opponent.

Consistency in your approach is vital to becoming solid at free throws. Always dribble the same way, or with the same movements. Don’t dilly dally, but do complete your ritual.

TIP! Have your games taped so you can play them back later and observe your court presence. Do you see how you could’ve handled a situation differently? Evaluate what you see honestly, but don’t be too hard on yourself.

Make layups count by taking off with the foot that is opposite to your shooting hand. When shooting right-handed, take off using the left foot. Your body will be better balanced and moving in the direction of the basket. Your body will also be kept between the defender and yourself.

TIP! A consistent routine will help you to achieve great free throws. A routine that is constantly in flux will only open up more opportunities for failure.

If you wish to succeed in a defensive role, you must be able to break your opponents’ concentration. Getting them to do things they aren’t accustomed to doing is ideal. Be assertive and focused within the rules, aggressively keeping your player off balance. Do not let them choose the plays to make. If you do, your opponent will run all over you. Instead, make the first move and interrupt their rhythm.

TIP! Being a good defensive player means disrupting the game of your opponent. Force them into an uncomfortable zone.

To improve ball handling, consider focusing workouts on your forearms and hands. For example, you can improve dribbling skills by adding wrist curls to your routine. Making a goal isn’t just standing there as the ball miraculously comes to you and then shooting it at the basket. You have to start moving the basketball around to get things to happen.

TIP! To nab a rebound from a free throw attempt of a teammate, footwork is key. The defender may be coming toward you, so its important to slip away from him and get the ball.

Basketball is truly unrivaled when it comes to excitement for fans. Without sufficiently knowing the intricacies of basketball, you could feel lost with it. It is our sincere hope that this article contains information that will be helpful to basketball lovers of every skill and ability level.