TIP! If your kid is going to try out for the basketball team, they should be properly training their core muscles. The core muscles are the hips, lower back muscles and the abdominal muscles.

Many people love basketball. The pros make it look easy, but even they practice really hard to be so good. Basketball is a sport that anyone can have fun with. The following article will give you some great basketball tips.

TIP! Being able to anticipate your opponent is a key skill. Study video tape on your opponent and read over any scouting reports.

Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Avoid using your palm while dribbling. Instead, use your fingertips. This way you’ll have a lot more control over the ball. When dribbling the basketball you should bounce it to your side instead of right in front. You should always be looking up instead of at the ground.

TIP! Pay attention closely to the shoulders if you’re starting to slump when you shoot. No matter your skill level, you won’t make shots if your shoulders aren’t in the proper position.

You must have good balance to shoot well. Everyone has seen professional basketball players make a shot from 20 feet away as they are falling. They are professionals, and they are able to improvise successfully. Having a good foundation under you while shooting will always yield better results over time as you keep on practicing and honing your skills.

Free Throw

TIP! To maximize your layups, take off with the foot that opposes your shooting hand. When shooting right-handed, take off using the left foot.

Your mind plays as big a part in making a free throw as your actual body does. You must train both your body and your mind. Stay calm and collected to increase your free throw percentage.

TIP! When you have a chance, take a charge. This strategy can result in your opponent taking a foul and your team getting a defensive stop and taking possession of the ball.

Need to dupe the opposition? The back pass is perfect for this. If you wish to try this pass, get the ball in your dominant hand. The next step is to draw the ball behind you. Flip your wrist towards the site where you want the ball to go. This should trick the opposing team.

TIP! One good way to play good defense is to stay in the defensive stance at all times. Slide your feet to and fro or use your opposing foot to push off to maintain your position.

Footwork is the best way to find an opening shot. While physical positioning is important, it is even more essential to move quicker than an opponent. When you are in position, you must secure your spot. Good footwork is key to a good basketball game.

TIP! To trap with a 2-3 zone, have your guards cover the point guard once he gets a few feet past midcourt. Then your defending guards should encircle the point guard to trap him in place.

What do your teammates admire about your skills? Find out what they perceive as your best skill. Maybe you are quick like lightening or maybe you are a strong defender. See what others view as your own natural skills, then be sure you retain and develop them more.

TIP! You can improve a weak hand by using it in daily life. The more dextrous you become with it in your daily life, the better able you will be to control it.

Your defensive game will be more successful if you know your opponents. Watch taped games, and keep current with scouting reports. Also know which is their dominant and weak hands. This knowledge will help you play the best game possible. A knowledgeable defender is a strong defender.

TIP! Always bend the knees while dribbling. The ball is harder to control dribbling when you stand up straight.

When exercising, concentrate on building up core strength and improving your footwork. Your body will retain balance and move quicker when you have strong core muscles. Work out your hips, back and abdomen. Just like with boxing, you can do a little speed and footwork training with a jump rope.

TIP! To become a better three-point shooter, make sure you attempt shots from where the NBA three-point line would be. High school lines, International standard lines, and college lines are closer.

The best free throws come as a result of routine. Perhaps you will dribble twice, follow up by bending your knees, pulling your earlobe or performing some other ritualistic action for good luck. By developing a quick ritual, you can help train your body to make free throws.

TIP! If someone shoots from the corner of the basketball court and misses, it will bounce over the net onto the opposite side. When someone is going for a corner shot, try to anticipate where a missed shot would land so you can be there for the rebound.

When you are passing the ball, get used to looking in the other direction. This throws your opponents off. If you can do this correctly, you’ll be able to free up time for the person that you’ve passed to. It’s quite a play when done properly.

TIP! You need to be able to alter your opponents path. Whether you are playing offense or defense, gaining control over the path of your opponent is a critical skill.

One good way to play good defense is to stay in the defensive stance at all times. You can shuffle your feet to either side, or push with your opposing foot, so you will be ready and in position. Don’t forget not to cross your feet, and you won’t be easy to get around.

TIP! Avoid double dribbling. You get called for double dribbling if you stop your dribble and then begin again.

Use your weak hand for brushing your hair, doing up your belt and opening bottles so you can build up its strength. These tasks help to make your weaker hand feel more natural when you use it on the court. Your basketball skills will benefit.

TIP! Whether you keep possession of the ball or not is based in your position just before and right after a rebound. Jump using both feet for increased power and stability and grab the ball using both hands.

Keep dribbling until it is time to shoot or pass the ball. When you stop dribbling the ball, you only have a limited amount of plays you can perform. If you opt to not pass or shoot, you’re left with pivoting on your back foot. Once this happens, you are prone to being double-teamed and more likely to turn the ball over.

TIP! If you are aware that the person holding the ball has a weak hand, you should make them use it. For example, if your opponent is right handed, force them to use their left hand.

Switch your body’s weight from side to side while practicing your dribbling. When you’re playing a game, you have to dribble when you’re in a lot of different situations. You may have an open court, by you’re just as likely to be swarmed by multiple opponents. You’ll need to learn how to dribble while your body is leaning in different directions. This allows you to extricate yourself from high-pressure situations.

TIP! A penetrating dribble can help you beat a team that uses a zone defense. If you get around a defender and make it to the shooting lane, the defenders will either break their defense or converge on the ball.

To succeed in basketball you should learn how to change the path of your opponent. Whether you are playing offense or defense, it is important to control the moves of your opponent. The will help you get to where you want to go and will deter them.

Stopped Dribbling

TIP! Do some practice with your footwork. Be aware of where your feet should be, pivoting and trying different positions.

Be careful not to double-dribble. To keep from double dribbling, simply refrain from starting to dribble a second time after you have already stopped dribbling once in that same possession. Remember that if you do stop dribbling, your options are limited to shooting or passing to a teammate. Once you have stopped dribbling you have to get rid of the ball. That’s called a turnover, which will result in you having to hand over the ball to your opponent.

TIP! Always put pressure onto the person with the ball when you’re running defense. If you stay within six feet of him, he’s only allowed to dribble or hold the ball for five seconds each.

If you already know that the ball handler has a weak side, try to force the use of it. If they happen to be right-hand dominant, step at them using your left foot to make them change hands. Keep your head on a parallel with the player’s chest. This will make your stance low and enable you to snatch the ball away.

TIP! Be sure to give your pump fake plenty of practice. The pump fake is an unrivaled shooting technique.

Do you want to get out there and show some skills on the court? Perhaps you need a bit of practice first. Get to work and get to playing! Soon, you are going to notice the improvement in your skills thanks to utilizing the advice that has been told to you.