TIP! Dribble the ball the right way. Use the fingertips, not the palm, for the best dribbling.

Who invented the game of basketball? Dr. Dr. James Naismith was his name and he invented it in 1891. It’s now a hugely popular sport. Celebrities such as Doctor J and Magic Johnson have made the game fun for everyone. Shaquille O’Neill is another celebrity forged by the sport. If you would like to read more about what made them successful, continue to the article below.

TIP! You must learn how to dribble, how a crossover is done and other important ball handling skills. When you do a crossover, you move the basketball very fast from one hand over to the other hand.

Learn how a bounce pass is thrown. In order for a bounce pass to be sufficient, the person should receive the ball around their waist. Bounce the ball so that it lands near your teammate. There are many factors which come into play, though.

TIP! Never practice only against the zone. 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.

Free throws require both mental and physical abilities. Training your body is important, but you also have to be mentally ready for the shot. Relax your mind and keep your concentration centered on the basket to make more of these freebies.

TIP! There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. Try doing a back pass! To properly perform this pass you will need to have the ball in your dominant hand.

Playing basketball does not require excessive muscle development. Muscle strength is beneficial for playing any basketball position, but there is such a thing as too much. Some pro shooting guards make their arms large enough to decrease their own field goal percentage.

Core Muscles

TIP! Avoid errant passes by the use of hand signals. One things that’s frustrating in basketball is passing to a teammate while they try heading to the basket.

If you have a kid wanting to play basketball in high school, be certain that they are properly training their core muscles. The core muscles are the hips, lower back muscles and the abdominal muscles. The lower and upper extremities are linked by the core, and athletes with a weak core will exhibit limited performance. If your core is solid, you will have greater strength in your legs. This helps with fast running and high jumping.

TIP! Good footwork is important when you’re posting up in the paint. Getting a great position under the goal is the most important.

Watch your shoulders if you obtain a shooting slump. If your shoulders aren’t properly positioned, your shot is not going to go in. Keep your shoulders square in line with the basket. Try to line your dominant shoulder up with the rim.

TIP! Asking for feedback from coaches and teammates about your playing is important in order to become a stronger player. Do you have an area where you excel? It could be your speed, or it could be your back-up abilities.

Basketball players must be fast. Try to outplay your opponents by being fast to win the game. It takes steady drilling to play fast. Make sure you never play past the speed you are comfortable. If you play too quickly, you lose control over the ball and the match.

TIP! Keep low when you play defense. This allows you to jump or react quicker.

Practice passing while looking the opposite direction. Doing this is a great way to confuse your opponents. When done properly, this technique distracts the opposition and gives your pass recipient a chance to focus on the basket. You must practice this move with your teammates so that everyone on your team understands what is going on.

TIP! In order to improve your weaker hand, make use of it for everyday things, such as brushing your teeth, eating out of a spoon, etc. By improving your weaker hand’s dexterity, your control over the hand will significantly improve.

Launch your layup jumps from the foot that is opposite the hand you shoot with. Jump off your left foot when you shoot using your right hand. That will build your balance and help you stay in the right position.

TIP! While you’re dribbling the basketball it is wise to bend your knees. If you are standing up straight, you will have more difficulty controlling the ball.

You need to mess with your opponent’s head. Take them out of their own comfort zone. Be aggressive in the moves you execute. Do not allow them to pick and choose their plays. If you do, your opponent will run all over you. You should make the initial move and throw them off.

TIP! Use the NBA three point line when practicing your shots. High school lines, International standard lines, and college lines are closer.

You can improve your ability to handle the ball by working out your forearms and hands. Wrist curls can be great for honing ball handling skills. You will not be able to stand in one place and shoot. It is essential to move the ball around in order to succeed.

TIP! Don’t discontinue dribbling until you have the chance to shoot or pass. When you cease dribbling, you’re really limiting your options.

As soon as the ball leaves your teammate’s hands after a free throw, start moving into position. The person defending the position down-court from you will be coming at you, so you need to find any way you can to slide around him that gets you to the ball. This gets you the rebound without you committing a foul.

TIP! Make sure your team really meshes together off and on the court. Basketball is one of those games that goes to another level when a team gels completely.

When you are on the defense, the key is to stay as low as you can. You will be able to react more quickly and jump higher because of this. Stay in your defensive stance. When you must break from your stance in order to block shots, make sure to return to form right away.

TIP! Avoid double dribbling. You get called for double dribbling if you stop your dribble and then begin again.

All you need to have a game of basketball is a team, a ball and a hoop. In order to play basketball well, you need to have a lot of knowledge. This article provided you with a good start, so keep learning and practicing to become a master at it.