TIP! In order to be a great shooter, good balance is key. Even though a professional can hit all sorts of crazy off-balance shots, it is not the ideal method of shooting that you want to learn.

Would you let just anyone work on your car, or try to do it yourself without finding out the proper way to do things? Along the same lines, nobody ought to expect basketball greatness in the absence of know-how and practice. This article has many great expert basketball tips in it.

TIP! Watch the pro’s play if you want to improve your game. Watch as many games on TV as you can.

Watch your form while you dribble the ball. Avoid using your palm while dribbling. Instead, use your fingertips. This will give you better control of the basketball. Keep the ball by your side as you dribble instead of right in front your body. Don’t look down, always look up.

TIP! Do not practice solely against zone defense. Most of the basketball game will probably be played in this zone, but the other team might decide to surprise you and do some man-to-man coverage.

When dribbling, your head must be up, and you need to look forward. You should never be looking at the basketball while dribbling. The ball can go with you when you go anywhere. Dribble as you walk down the street. If you look at the ball, you’re unable to see what’s going on down the court before you.

TIP! Keep your weight lifting to a minimum as a jump shooter. Being weighed down by too much bulky muscle can have a negative impact on your jump shot.

If you get possession of the ball a lot, you must learn the crossover technique. Moving the ball from hand to hand is a crossover. The action needs to be performed quickly in order to be successful. When done properly, crossover dribbling is a great way to quickly switch direction or move around the court in an efficient manner.

TIP! Need to dupe the opposition? Back passes can give your team the opportunity to score while the other team is still wondering what happened. To accomplish this, grab the ball with the dominant hand.

Constantly practice layups. A huge percentage of successful shots are layups. When you practice, run full speed ahead at the basket, jump, and shoot. Practicing this technique helps you learn to make layups during a game.

TIP! A smart tip to follow while playing basketball is to always keep your eye on the ball and not away from the play. This will give you court awareness and keep you from being surprised by quick passes or turnover potentials.

A great way to hone your own basketball abilities is to watch the pros. Go to actual games or watch on TV. This is a great way to learn new techniques to try out on the court.

TIP! Quickness is something you have to have when playing basketball. Try to outplay your opponents by being fast to win the game.

Try playing basketball games alone before and during the season. Sometimes you cannot find a team of people to play basketball with. It’s okay! There is still much you can accomplish playing alone. You can work on pivots and free throws. You can always work on something.

Core Muscles

TIP! To get the rebound from the free throw your teammate is making, you need to do some fancy footwork. You need to seek out a way to quickly slide around your opponent and be able to quickly react to the ball.

Your child should work on their core muscles if they want to become a basketball player in high school. They should train their lower back, hips, and abs. The core connects the lower extremities to the upper extremities. Without a strong core, your performance may be limited. Building strong core muscles will allow your to jump higher, run faster and maintain your balance.

TIP! If you don’t want someone to steal the ball, dribble hard. This causes the ball to return to your hand more quickly, so the offense has less time to try to get it away from you.

Concentrate on your shoulders if you have gotten into a shooting slump. If you do not have your shoulders positioned properly, you will not make the shot. One area of focus should be to keep your shoulders aligned straight toward the hoop. The dominant shoulder must be perfectly aligned with the rim.

TIP! Make sure that you can see clearly. Vision is an integral part of making shots and catching passes.

Make sure you know what is going on with your feet. When you are in possession of the ball, touching the baseline will get you out of bounds. If you travel without dribbling, you’re going to get yourself into a turnover situation. You may get a foul call if you move your foot while you are attempting to take a charge, pick a charge or set a screen.

TIP! Changing your pace is key to keeping the offense on their toes. When you’re going towards the net you should plant the foot in front and start straightening up.

Passing the ball through your legs is a useful maneuver if the opposing team is right on top of you. Step forward and back while dribbling the ball between your legs hard. If you can master this move, it will give you quite the advantage when you are on the court.

TIP! Basketball players need to engage in strength training. Being physically tough is as important as having the stamina to keep up with the game.

Practice passing while looking in the opposite direction. This can go a long way toward confusing the opposition. You give your teammate a better chance to make the shot because the opposing player is moving the wrong direction when you pass the ball. It can be a really powerful move in the game.

TIP! Always stay low when playing defensively. Doing this allows you to have quick reactions, especially to your opponent.

If you want to better your dribble, start practicing with your weaker hand. If you use both your hands to dribble, it is easier to control. Force yourself to not use your stronger hand. You will quickly strengthen your non-dominant hand for dribbling.

TIP! You can improve your shooting skills by practicing with shots from different spots on the court. Also practice transitioning from dribbling to a quick shot.

To get the rebound from the free throw your teammate is making, you need to do some fancy footwork. You’ll have a defender coming at you and this means you have to figure out what can be done to get around them. Then you gain the ball without the foul.

Strength Training

TIP! When rebounding, hit the floor with your legs wide apart. Put one hand on each side of the basketball, and hold it against your chest.

It can be great help to do strength training when you’re training for basketball. In addition to strength, stamina is key in basketball. Even little kids who play basketball will develop more overall body strength. As they grow and become teenagers, weight-lifting can be beneficial. Once they transition into adulthood, strength training must continue to be a core part of their exercise routine.

TIP! You need to control your nerves when shooting the ball. Concentrate on the basket throughout your shot.

To turn a normal 2-3 zone into a trapping machine, have your top two defenders (your guards) wait until the point guard has come about ten feet past the time line (midcourt). Once he passes mid court the guards should rush up on him. At the same time, have your forwards on the blocks sprint out to the players on the wings. The guard on point should make a pass that can easily be stolen by the forwards.

TIP! If you have to guard a taller or bigger player, concentrate on remaining between that person and the player with the ball. In this way, you will prevent the larger player from being able to receive a pass.

If possible, keep action beneath the knees. This will lower the chances of your opponent being able to steal the ball. It will be necessary to bend over, but you should be able to get down the court faster.

TIP! When it comes to playing defense, the name of the game is forcing the opposing player to the sidelines. Letting them come down the middle leaves them with a lot of options.

When you learn by developing a skill, you will be proud. To help improve your knowledge you should keep studying and remember to practice what you’ve learned. Not only will your own skills improve, but so will your team’s chances of winning.