It is hard to forget the first time you played basketball. You were exploring how to shoot, dribble and pass. After playing for awhile, you may feel you have learned all you need to know. The tips below can show you that there’s much more to learn.
Learn proper dribbling. Don’t use your palm to dribble. Instead, use your fingertips. This helps you to control the ball better. Dribble to your body’s side instead of doing it out front, and bounce the ball at your waist’s level. Instead of focusing on the ground, gaze upward.
The way to properly dribble is to keep your head up while looking ahead of you. If you are looking at the ball for any reason while dribbling, you have not put in enough practice. Take the basketball around off-court wherever you are. On your way to the grocery store, practice your dribbling. Maintaining unbroken visual contact with the ball makes it difficult to be aware of your surroundings.
Perfect your bounce pass. Bounce passes need to be at waist level when received. One thing you should do is always remember the ball should be bounced three quarters on its way towards the person you’re passing too. But, there are some factors that can change this.
One way to help improve your overall basketball skills is to spend some time watching what the pros do. Watch pro games on TV, or attend games in person. When you find a player who has the skills that you want, then watch them and emulate.
Work on pass catches. Make sure you get used to catching less than perfect passes smoothly. When a game is underway, not every throw will be perfect. Learning how to catch these errant passes will put you at an advantage.
Practice playing a man-to-man defense and zone defense. Always try to anticipate when your opponent is going to switch up their game to catch you off guard. You may lose control of the game if you aren’t prepared.
In order to handle the ball correctly, spread your fingers out. You will have better luck holding onto the ball as well. You should avoid having your palm touching the ball. You should only use your fingers to touch the ball when passing or shooting.
If you’ve developed somewhat of a shooting slump, focus on your shoulders. If your shoulders aren’t correct, you may not be able to make the shots. One area of focus should be to keep your shoulders aligned straight toward the hoop. The shoulder that’s dominant should be in line with the rim.
A consistent pre-shot routine when at the line will increase your chance at success. A consistent routine enables the shooter to have a perfect motion every time. If you want to perfect free throw shooting, pick a routine and repeat it continuously. If your routine is off, then you will miss the shot.
Upset and disrupt your opponent’s play. All successful basketball players do this. Getting them to do things they aren’t accustomed to doing is ideal. Always move aggressively as they try to maneuver around you. Never allow them to decide what plays will be made. You should never let an opponent control what you do on the court. You make the moves, which helps shift the momentum.
With all the advice you have now, there is no limit to where you can go. Practice makes perfect and use it to attain all your goals. Put putting these tips to use, along with your plan, you will notice the difference in your game.