TIP! Get good at making free throws. These shots look easy on television, but are actually hard when you are doing the shooting.

It’s important that you understand basketball if you want to truly appreciate it. Not sure of the score? Don’t despair. Basket is really fun and not too hard to pick up. Read on for some basketball tips that will have you calling all the shots and making the slam-dunks for your team.

TIP! Crossovers are key for ball handlers. Moving the ball from hand to hand is a crossover.

Watch how the pros play basketball. Watch some games on TV, view videos of professional games, and go to some games. By doing this, you will quickly find that players all have their unique subset of skills, allowing you the best chance to see what areas are the best fit for your personal game.

TIP! Do not practice solely against zone defense. Though much of the game is sure to be played within a zone pattern, the opposition may try to go man-to-man in order to confuse you.

You can learn how to pass well by drilling on it separately from dribbling. While this may be difficult, it gets you used to finding teammates and thinking on the run. Frustration can be an issue at first, but passing will improve as time goes by.

TIP! Find out what your teammates like most about how you play? What do you need to focus in on and practice more? You might be quick, or you might always be around to support them. It’s great to get an idea of how your teammates think of your skills, this way you know what areas of the game to focus on.

If you have a kid wanting to play basketball in high school, be certain that they are properly training their core muscles. Show them how to exercise their hips, lower back and abs. The lower and upper extremities are linked by the core, and athletes with a weak core will exhibit limited performance. A strong, sturdy core allows force from the legs to fuel movements like running and jumping.

TIP! Spread your fingers out to handle the ball properly. This keeps it under control.

Get someone to analyze how you play on tape. On tape, you can see all the opportunities you passed and how things could have gone better. Assess yourself honestly, but don’t be a harsh critic. You can learn a lot by watching how you play and what you need to concentrate practicing on.

TIP! Build your core strength and focus on your legwork when you train for basketball. When you have strong core muscles, your body will be better balanced and will move faster.

To become a reliable free throw shooter, always go through the same routine before each shot. Whatever you do before each shot, from dribbles to body motions, should be the same each time. Don’t dilly dally, but do complete your ritual.

TIP! Work on passing through your legs to add another skill to your arsenal. This will make it very hard for your defender to get it.

It can help you when you pass through your legs. Take a step back or forward and bounce the ball hard through your legs. This is a tricky move, but it will provide you a good advantage when you play.

TIP! Work on passing in a direction you are not looking. Doing this is a great way to confuse your opponents.

Try to strengthen your forearms and hands to better handle the ball. Consider wrist curls and and exercise machine that focuses on strengthening each finger individually. Don’t think you can just go somewhere on the court, catch a ball and then make a successful shot. The ball should always be in control and moving.

TIP! In order to be successful with layups, the foot that is opposite from shooting hand is the one you should take off from. So, your left foot should be the one you take off from if you use your right hand to shoot.

To convert the typical 2-3 zone to a trapping machine, get the best pair of defenders available to wait just until the opposing point guard reaches roughly ten feet beyond the mid-court line. At this point, your guards must rush the point guard thus trapping him. Simultaneously, forwards should block sprint toward wing players. Point guards need to throw up passes that your team’s forwards can steal easily.

TIP! To be a good dribbler, and a more versatile player, you have to develop not only your dominant hand but your weaker side as well. If both hands are useful for dribbling, your opponents will not stand much of a chance.

When dibbling the ball, bend your knees. When you are rigid, the ball is not only hard to control, it is also an easier target for a rival to steal. Merely bending your knees a bit can provide you with much better ball control.

TIP! To get the rebound from the free throw your teammate is making, you need to do some fancy footwork. You need to seek out a way to quickly slide around your opponent and be able to quickly react to the ball.

You should practice your dribbling while switching your balance from right to left. Expect to encounter many different situations in a game. While the court may be open at times, this only means you’re likely to get swarmed. Practice dribbling while leaning in many different directions. By nailing this skill, you have a better chance to avoid a turnover.

TIP! You want to strive in practice to bring the ball all the way up the court in no more than five dribbles. You may find this very challenging, but once accomplished it will give you a real edge.

Try to contain the action to the area below your knees. The opposing team will have a harder time separating the ball from you. You need to bend a bit more for this to succeed, but you will be able to traverse the court rapidly while keeping opponents at bay.

TIP! Only cease dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass. You do not have many options after you stop dribbling.

That was a lot easier than you thought it would be, wasn’t it! With all that you’ve now read about basketball, you really can see that it’s an amazing sport. Use the knowledge you have gained from this article to enjoy the sport even more.