
Basketball is a beloved sport worldwide. You can play at your local park or in your driveway. Read this article to learn more about the sport of basketball.
It is tempting to concentrate just on offense when just staring out, but defensive practice is absolutely vital. Defense ultimately determines the winner of a game of basketball. Offensive skills are usually the most impressive ones but defense is something every team should work on.
Dribble while keeping your head upward and looking ahead. If you have to keep your eye on the ball when you’re dribbling, practice can remedy that. Take the basketball to all the places that you go. If you are heading down to the market, dribble as you go. If you have to watch the ball, you will be unable to see whatever is going on at court level.
Crossovers are key for ball handlers. This term refers to switching the hand you use. That action has to be done fast to be successful. A good crossover dribble can give you the opportunity to switch directions and progress on the court much faster.
A bounce pass is essential to learn. Proper bounce passes ought to hit the recipient at the level of their waist. Try bouncing it about three-quarters to them. There can be other factors in play to keep in mind, as well.
Don’t spend all your time practicing how to confront a zone defense. While a great portion of a game will be concentrated in the zone, your rivals could opt to go to man-to-man covering to keep you guessing. If you haven’t prepared yourself for that, you might lose your game very quickly.
Would you like to completely fool the opposing team, making them look silly? Try doing what is known as a back pass. Use the dominant hand to hold onto the basketball when trying this pass. Then, bring the ball back behind you. Then you will use your wrist and flip it in the direction you want the ball to be going. This should should thoroughly fool your opponent.
If you’ve developed somewhat of a shooting slump, focus on your shoulders. Regardless of your skill level, if you don’t have your shoulders positioned correctly, you will miss. Your shoulders need to be squared up towards where you’re shooting. The dominant shoulder needs to be lined up with the rim.
If an opponent is staying with you, try passing the ball between your legs. Practice bouncing the basketball forcefully between your legs while stepping forwards and backwards. If you get this down, you will have a major advantage on the court.
Free Throws
You must have a consistent practice routine if you want to learn to shoot free throws well. If you stay inconsistent, you miss a shot. A great way to get better at free throws is to practice, practice and then practice the same routine some more. If you are off your game, you will not make the shot.
To help improve your ball handling skills, start incorporating your weak hand into your dribbling. By being able to easily dribble with two hands rather than one, you have a huge advantage over your defenders. Make an effort to dribble with your weak hand by keeping your dominant hand away from the front. Your dribbling skills will improve with your weaker hand.
A good way to develop ball handling skills is to make your forearms and hands stronger. Wrist curls can be great for honing ball handling skills. You will not be able to stand in one place and shoot. You have to learn to move the ball if you want something to happen.
Dribble hard to make it less likely for the ball to be stolen. The harder you dribble, the faster the ball will return to the cup of you hand. If someone is close to you and is really good at guarding you, pass to another person that’s open.
After reading this article, you should better understand how to play basketball effectively. It isn’t hard, but does take some effort. Once you start playing you probably will start to do so regularly. Have fun and play basketball.