Playing Basketball: How To Improve Your Game

by | Mar 28, 2020 | Basketball

TIP! When using the ball a lot, you must relearn a crossover. A crossover means moving the ball between your hands.

When you are thinking about how you can get better at basketball, the thing of most importance is to practice. You shouldn’t be practicing things you do wrong, though. Follow the helpful information presented here to learn how to play basketball consistently well.

TIP! One of the most important skills when playing basketball is balance. While some NBA players are able to launch a ball to the net mid-fall, this is not appropriate for most people.

It’s natural to focus on offensive abilities when practicing the sport of basketball, but your practice time needs to focus on defense. Defense is how you win a basketball game. If your team doesn’t have a good defense, you’re not going to make it far in a game.

TIP! A great way to hone your own basketball abilities is to watch the pros. You can do this by watching games in person and on television.

Make sure you dribble properly by keeping your head held up, facing forward. If you have to ever look at the ball while dribbling, then you haven’t practiced that enough. Bring your ball along when you go out. Try dribbling even when walking to a store. Don’t look while dribbling, because you won’t be able to see what’s going on.

TIP! To keep passes under control, make use of hand signals. One of the most challenging aspects is trying to send the ball to your teammate as they are going for the basket.

Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. You should expect layups to represent about 80% of all the shots you take in a game. During practice you want to get up enough speed to quickly get to the rim then easily lay the ball towards the hoop. Perfecting this skill will enable you to get to the rim effortlessly during a game.

TIP! One of the best ways to play a strong defensive game is to know your opponent. You should be look at scouting reports, practicing techniques and watch tapes.

You should practice pass catching regularly. Practice catching errant throws along with perfect passes. Some passes may be too high, too low or off target, so you should practice receiving passes often. Being able to get imperfect passes will limit turnovers.

TIP! Always have an awareness of the location and movement of your feet. Stepping even a toe on the baseline with the ball in your hands means you are out of bounds.

Improve your passing abilities by challenging yourself to perform drills without actually dribbling. Playing the game without the use of dribbling is a challenge, but it can help you and your team learn to make more precise passes. Don’t get discouraged if it is hard initially’ because the gains you will make are sure to be worthwhile.

TIP! To get more out of layups, take off using the foot that;s the opposite of your shooting hand. Jump off your left foot when you shoot using your right hand.

Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a shot when you are posting up. While physical positioning is important, it is even more essential to move quicker than an opponent. After positioning yourself on the court, make sure that you are secure. Solid footwork can make both of these things happen.

TIP! Good footwork can really help you to get those rebounds. The defender in your path will be moving at you, so be sure you’re thinking of how to get past that defender.

Never play through an injury when playing basketball. This is an aggressive sport, and injuries happen often. Pushing through the pain often results in a more serious injury. Visit a doctor if you think it’s serious.

TIP! Shoot from NBA distances to see your three-point skills improve. The standard line , high school and college lines are all going to be closer.

Ask your teammates what they like about the way you play. What do you need to focus in on and practice more? Perhaps you have good dribbling skills or maybe your footwork is enviable. When you find out what they think, you may learn a lot.

TIP! To see improvement in outside shooting skills, you must practice your shots hundreds of times daily from various points on the court. To improve even more, practice preparing for a shot quickly after dribbling the ball.

A great way to stay prepared at all times is to always face the ball. That will keep you aware, so you don’t get surprised by turnovers or quick passes. Also, watch for areas to open up so you can make an easy basket.

TIP! Switch the weight of your body while you are dribbling. Remember that you must dribble in a variety of situations during a basketball game.

When exercising, concentrate on building up core strength and improving your footwork. Your balance will improve if you strengthen your core. You must work out your hip, back and abdomen muscles. Jump rope like the boxers do to increase your footwork speed.

TIP! Keep the ball below knee level if possible. This will make it harder for opponents to get the ball away from you.

If you are shooting as well, pay attention to the position of your shoulders. If your shoulders are in a bad position, no matter how good you are, you won’t make the shot. Your shoulders should be facing the hoop. The shoulder that’s dominant needs to be lined up with the rim perfectly.

TIP! The hand not used to dribble the ball should serve as a wall separating the ball from the opposing players. You can’t push with that arm, but it can serve as an obstacle that helps keep your opponent from reaching in.

It doesn’t matter how often you play basketball, the tips in this article will better your game every time you play. With one simple tip, your skills can improve. Better offense and defense is yours when you practice using these ideas.