TIP! Always dribble with your head up and looking forward. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while you’re dribbling.

Many people love basketball. Playing it well, however, requires practice and skill. The game of basketball can still be a fun game even if you don’t rank at the top in genetics and athleticism. The following tips will help you learn more about the sport in general.

TIP! Balance is essential to shooting. Your knees should be bent with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders.

Watch your form while you dribble the ball. You’ll want to use your fingertips to dribble instead of using your palm. This way you’ll have a lot more control over the ball. Dribble off to the side waist high. Keep your head up, do not stare down towards the ground.

TIP! Teach yourself how a bounce pass can be properly thrown. Bouncing the pass to the receiver should be at their waist.

To improve your game, concentrate on your strong points. Your talent might not make you a star; however, learning your strengths will help you become a better team player. Ask others to help you identify your strengths and practice until you fully master these skills.

TIP! One way to help improve your overall basketball skills is to spend some time watching what the pros do. Watch professionals play or go check out talented local teams to see who has the moves that you want to learn.

Connecting on your free throws is as much mental as it is physical. You can practice for hours on how to make the shot, but if you over think things or get distracted you will miss every time. Relax and concentrate on your basket to increase your free throws.

Strong Core

TIP! If you are posting up, strategic footwork is important to becoming open and making a good shot. You always want to beat your opponent to the open spot.

If you have student that wants to play basketball for their high school team, they will need to spend some time training their core muscles. Show them how to exercise their hips, lower back and abs. Without a strong core, a player’s performance may not be as good as it could be. By developing a strong core, your legs will follow suit.

TIP! Should you receive an injury during the course of the game, never try to continue playing despite the pain. Basketball is physically demanding and you can easily get hurt.

Try using hand signals to prevent passes in error. Passing is tough, especially if you and your teammate are not in sync with one another. A simple hand gesture can let your teammate know you’re ready for the pass. If the player does not flash the signal, then the player can avoid an errant pass.

TIP! Always have an awareness of the location and movement of your feet. Stepping ever so slightly out of bounds while you have the ball can cause an overturn.

When posting up, solid footwork is essential to getting yourself into position to shoot. There are two important points you must remember. You must create a physical presence below the basket, and you must secure a good spot in advance of your opponent. When you are in position, you must secure your spot. Both skills rely on some solid footwork.

TIP! The best free throws come as a result of routine. For example, many people touch their foreheads or tap their chest before making a free throw shot.

Watch your shoulders if you obtain a shooting slump. Whenever your shoulders aren’t in a good position, you simply will not shoot well, regardless of your skill level. 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! If you wish to dribble the ball better, you have to start using your hand that’s considered the weak one. It will be much easier to blow past your opponent if you can dribble with both hands.

Always know where your feet are and what they are doing. Just touching the baseline is going to get you called out of bounds. You could also be the reason for a turnover if you get called for walking when you take more steps than allowed without dribbling. Being aware of your body movements can give you an advantage on the court.

TIP! The key to great defense is being a nuisance to the player you are guarding. Make them uncomfortable.

Video tape your games, and then review your technique later. You’ll likely see ways that you can improve. It is important that your assessment is an honest one, but isn’t overly critical. At times, it can help to see the truth of who you are, not as you imagine yourself.

TIP! Work on making your forearms and hands stronger in order to improve ball handling. For example, you can improve dribbling skills by adding wrist curls to your routine.

Perform exercises to strengthen the muscles in your forearms and hands in order to maximize your ability to handle the ball. Wrist curls are especially effective at making you better able to handle a basketball like you could dribble sleepwalking. Don’t stay stopped; always move around the court. Learning how to pass the ball ensures that you can get the ball safely to a teammate who has better position on the court.

TIP! When playing defense, always try to stay low. This helps your jumps become quicker and betters your reaction to the person before you simpler.

If you wish to get a free throw rebound from a teammate, you have to stay on your toes properly. Defenders will start to move at you, so you need to get around them to grab the ball. You are able to rebound the ball without fouling someone.

TIP! Only cease dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass. After you halt the dribble, your options become quite limited.

Do you feel as though it’s time to show off your new skills? Well, perhaps you would like to practice first. Use these tips to take your game to a whole new level. Before long, you will be a much better player, thanks to these amazing tips.