TIP! Shooting has much to do with proper balance. Everyone has watched a pro player drift out of bounds while still making their shot, but this isn’t something to emulate.

It is so easy to learn basic basketball. That’s probably why it is so popular. The fundamentals can be learned in a matter of minutes. But there’s still a lot to learn, and thee tips can help you get there.

TIP! A good tip about passing is try doing it without dribbling the ball. 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.

Many people only direct their attention to the offensive part of the game without realizing that defense is the key to winning. In the end, it’s defense that consistently wins you games. If your team doesn’t have a good defense, you’re not going to make it far in a game.

TIP! Interested in tricking your opponents? Try doing a back pass! Use the dominant hand to hold onto the basketball when trying this pass. Then you will want to pull the ball into position behind your back.

Even professional basketball players spend a lot of time watching other people play basketball. Go to as many pro games as possible, watch them on TV, or watch videos of them playing. Watch great players to learn the specific skills that make them exceptional.

TIP! Try using hand signals to prevent passes in error. It can be frustrating making a pass when a player moves away towards the basket.

Ask fellow team members what they like about your skills on the court. What do you need to focus in on and practice more? Continue to develop the skills that play into your natural abilities. Find out how your game appears to others and develop your skills accordingly.

TIP! Don’t play while injured or else your injury will worsen. Basketball is very challenging physically, and this can cause further serious injury.

You can improve your control of the ball by spreading your fingers. This will help you keep a better grip on the ball. Don’t allow yourself to have your palm touching the ball either. Your fingers must be the only things contacting it when you shoot or pass the ball at the target.

TIP! The key for controlling the ball well is to spread your fingers. This will help you keep a better grip on the ball.

Pay close attention to your shoulders if you’ve suddenly developed a shooting slump. Regardless of your skill level, if you don’t have your shoulders positioned correctly, you will miss. To help improve your shot, focus on squaring up on each of your shots. If your right hand is your dominant hand, your right shoulder must be aligned with the rim. For left-handedness, the opposite is true.

TIP! Passing between the legs is something that helps when you have defense all over you. This will make it very hard for your defender to get it.

In order to be more reliable shooting free throws, practice your routine. Whatever you do before each shot, from dribbles to body motions, should be the same each time. As long as it’s quick, using a consistent routine can help your body retain the memory to make those shots after your “ritual.”

TIP! When playing defense, always try to stay low. Doing so improves your reaction time with regards to your opponents’ actions.

Develop and use a consistent routine for shooting free throws. Failure to use consistency may make your shots less accurate. Free throw shooting is best improved by lengthy sessions of repetitive practice. If you have a glitch in the routine, you are likely to miss your shot.

TIP! A powerful play called the trapping machine, is to have your guards wait for the point guard to come just past midcourt. Once your opponent is trapped, he will have no option but to make a pass.

Practice dribbling with your weak hand as much as possible. If you’re using both hands to dribble the ball well then you can get by an opponent easily. Try tying the dominant hand behind you and forcing yourself to just using your weak hand. After a while, your weak hand will be able to dribble better.

TIP! You should make sure when practicing dribbling that you shift from one hand to the other. Expect to encounter many different situations in a game.

A great drill to try is to see how many dribbles it takes for you to make it across the court. The ideal number of dribbles is five. This may not seem feasible, but once you master it, your speed and stride will be truly impressive. This translates to simple layups, fast breaks or just a general increase in your team’s numbers.

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 on your opponent, but you should use your non-dribbling arm to protect the ball.

Maybe you just learned how to play the game of basketball before you read this article. Perhaps you have played the game ever since you were that wee tyke on the court. Whatever the case, all the information here is going to make you a better player. Use this information the very next time you play.