TIP! Practice your free throw shot. These shots look easy on television, but are actually hard when you are doing the shooting.

Basketball season is an exciting time of year for fans. Give your fans a reason to cheer by improving your game. The members of the team have to work on their own personal weaknesses. Here are some tips to guide you along the way and to help you be a part of a winning team.

TIP! Learn how to maneuver a crossover if you have the ball fairly often. Crossovers involve moving the ball from hand to hand.

When dribbling the basketball you should keep your head up. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while you’re dribbling. Make the basketball an extension of your body, taking it wherever you are. Practice in your home and wherever you walk. You will not be able to see what’s happening before you on the court while beholding the ball.

TIP! Shake things up rather than focusing solely on a 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.

Having a good foundation is key when shooting the ball. Sometimes you’ll see professional players fall out of bounds while making a shot from afar, but this doesn’t work at all times. They are not doing it right. Balance needs to be maintained to consistently make successful shots.

TIP! Playing basketball does not require excessive muscle development. It’s possible to have excessive muscles when you play the perimeter.

To improve your game, concentrate on your strong points. You might not have star ability, but you can be an outstanding team player. Clear self knowledge and dedicated practice will make you the best at what you do.

Bounce Passes

TIP! If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, ensure they’re training core muscles in the right way. Core muscles include the hips, abs, and lower back.

Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. Proper bounce passes ought to hit the recipient at the level of their waist. It’s generally a good idea to pass the ball about three-fourths of the distance between you and the receiving teammate. But, there are some factors that can change this.

TIP! If you slump when you shoot, look at what your shoulders are doing. Regardless of your skill level, if you don’t have your shoulders positioned correctly, you will miss.

Make sure that your regular practice includes catching of passes. When you practice, drill yourself to pay attention to errant throws and passes that are picture perfect. During a game, not all of your passes will hit the mark. Therefore, learn how to catch any type of pass so that you can help lead your team to victory.

TIP! Give your layouts the most by launching from the foot that opposes the hand you are shooting with. That means, if you shoot right-handed, use your left foot for taking off.

Don’t just practice playing against a zone defense. Learn how to play a man-to-man defense and a zone defense to get the best understanding of how the game works. Practice with each type of defense so you will know what to expect.

TIP! Build a routine to improve your free throw game. Inconsistent shooting will lead to inconsistent results.

Learn good passing by drilling often without dribbling. It is hard to play with no dribbling, but it will help your team make great passes. Keep your emotions in check if quality passing is not happening right away as it takes time to perfect this part of the game.

TIP! Keep dribbling when you’re going to switch the body’s momentum from side to side. Basketball games are fast and you will encounter different scenarios while dribbling.

If you are good at shooting the ball then the last thing you want to do is lift weights. While muscle mass is good for any basketball position, perimeter play requires less than other positions. There have been instances where great shooters bulk up so much that it adversely affects their shooting percentage.

Strong Core

TIP! Be sure that off-court exercises are proper for playing on-court. Sprint running can help improve on-court speed, while distance running is sure to boost your stamina.

Children who aspire to become great basketball players in high school must engage in physical fitness activities that focus on the core muscles. Hips, abdomen and back must be worked on. The core links both the lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they will have limited athletic performance. Building strong core muscles will allow your to jump higher, run faster and maintain your balance.

TIP! Keep dribbling in a particular rhythm until you think it’s time to trick the opponent. Consistent dribbling disrupted by a sudden, fast pace will surprise your opponent, giving you the advantage.

You should ask your teammates about your strengths and weaknesses. Do you do something particularly well? It may be that you are quick on your feet or that you are always there to back them up. Honest feedback can really help you to narrow in on areas where you might need a little extra help practicing.

TIP! You have to learn to get your opponent to alter their path. It does not matter if you are on offense or defense, being able to control where the opposing player goes is very important.

When your shooting isn’t accurate, check out your shoulder position. When your shoulders are positioned improperly, you will never make the basket regardless of how good your abilities are. Keep your shoulders square to the hoop. You want your strong-side shoulder in perfect alignment with the rim.

TIP! If you are aware of a weakness in one of your opponent’s hands, make them work with that side. If that player is right-handed, move in the player’s direction on your left foot.

You can practice these ideas to make the most of your basketball game. Better players create better teams, which means lots of happier and larger cheering sections and fan clubs. Learn as much as you can about your particular position and play to the best of your ability. Help your team by playing your position and looking for turnover opportunities. So keep these tips in mind and become a player that everyone can be glad to have on the team.