You probably felt like you entered an alternate universe the first time you played basketball. There is more to the game that learning to shooting, dribbling and passing. Today, it may feel like you’re someone who knows everything about the game. The information below will teach you to be a better ball player.
Balance is essential to shooting. We have all seen the professional basketball player falling out of bounds and making a basket from 30 feet away, but this is not proper technique. They have just improvised, is all. You need to be balanced properly if you’re going to be making shots, so that over time you’ll be able to always hit the basket.
Practice layups often. Layups account for up to 80 percent of the shots taken during a game. Whenever you practice, approach the goal full speed, jump and take a smooth shot. Practicing this technique helps you learn to make layups during a game.
Don’t limit your practice to just playing against the zone defense. You can count on quite a bit of the game being played in zone; however, you should not be surprised if it becomes one-on-one coverage just for the sake of confusion. If you are unprepared, you may lose the match fast.
When an injury occurs while you are playing ball, don’t keep playing with pain. Basketball is hard to play well even when you are healthy, so don’t push it. If you keep on playing after sustaining an injury, you may make the injury even more serious. Don’t hesitate to see the doctor if you feel the injury warrants it.
One way to get a good understanding of your game is to ask your fellow players about your ability. Find out what they perceive as your best skill. Perhaps they see you as someone who is fast on the court, or that you’re a really good teammate. By understanding what your teammates see as your best skills, you can ensure that you keep a strong focus and hone these abilities even more.
When you’re working out, concentrate on core strength building and your footwork. With a stronger core, you’ll be able to balance better. You should get a good workout in your hips, buttocks, back and abs. To help get even quicker and have better footwork you can jump rope.
When doing a layup, start running using the weaker of your two feet. Jump off your left foot when you shoot using your right hand. This keeps your body balanced and moving toward the basket and keeps your body between yourself and your defender.
Practice dribbling with your weaker hand. Dribbling with both hands helps you gain the upper one. You can focus on the strength of your weak hand by tying your dominant hand behind your back. You will quickly strengthen your non-dominant hand for dribbling.
Be sure that you’re able to see clearly. This will prepare you for unexpected passes and help you evade defenders. Try making your peripheral vision the best it can be. This will help you see the whole game better and anticipate openings and defense players.
You now have the knowledge you need to master the game. Put some goals into play and practice all that you can. When you add the tips and use them in your game, you’ll see the results you have always wanted.