Don’t worry about becoming Michael Jordan or LeBron James, focus on becoming the best player you can be. Work on your technique, practice your skills and perfect your ball handling skills. Keep on reading and see how your dreams of playing ball can become reality in the near future.
A bounce pass is an important technique to learn. Bounce passes need to be at waist level when received. One good rule is for you to bounce the basketball most of the way toward the other player. This all depends on many factors.
Even professional basketball players spend a lot of time watching other people play basketball. Get tickets to some pro games, if possible, or catch some games on television. Every truly great player has unique skills that you can learn from.
Spreading the fingers is something you have to do to handle the ball right. This keeps it under control. Also, keep your palm off the ball. The only things that should touch the ball are your fingers, as you shoot or pass.
Watch tapes of yourself playing basketball to get a more objective perspective. You can see where you can improve and what plays you missed. Look at how you did and judge yourself. It can be an eye-opener to see how you’re playing the game really, not just what you picture it to be.
Practice looking the other way when passing. You can really confuse your opponents this way. When done properly, this technique distracts the opposition and gives your pass recipient a chance to focus on the basket. It’s quite a play when done properly.
To generate consistency with layups, leap from the opposite foot from the hand you use to shoot. That means, if you shoot right-handed, use your left foot for taking off. This helps to maintain balance throughout your body and allows you to use yourself as a barrier between the defender and yourself.
A good way to develop ball handling skills is to make your forearms and hands stronger. An exercise to help develop your basketball skills is to perform wrist curls. Don’t stay stopped; always move around the court. You need to be able to move the basketball to make things happen.
An excellent way to have proper defensive posture is to remain in the correct stance. To do this, avoid lurching or stepping across the floor; instead use smaller, shuffling steps to move with your opponent. Stay low and make it hard for opponents to get around you.
Always bend the knees while dribbling. Opposing players can steal the ball more easily if you stand up straight because you can’t control the ball as well. Just a little bending at the knees can make a huge difference in your overall ball control.
You can improve your shooting skills by practicing with shots from different spots on the court. Also practice transitioning from dribbling to a quick shot. Once in the air, keep an eye on the target. But, be sure not to look at it beforehand. This can help to improve your accuracy by simulating actual game conditions.
While you dribble, alternate your momentum from your left to right side. Basketball games are fast and you will encounter different scenarios while dribbling. You might have a truly open court, but you might also be dealing with an onslaught of opposition. Going through the court will be easier if you can quickly adjust your direction without interrupting your dribbling. It will help you when you need it most.
Use the hand that doesn’t have the ball as a block. Be careful not to push your opponent or you may get a foul. Keep it up and dribble with your other hand.
You will be more balanced when landing after catching a rebound if you will land with legs spaced wider than shoulder-width apart. Hold the ball next to your chest with your hand on either side. Watch where your elbows are because if you hit someone with them, that is a foul.
When you shoot, do what you can to temper your nerves. Keep your view on the basket. Specifically, keep your eyes trained on the rim’s back. If you’re going to shoot a lay-up, focus your eyes on the places on the backboard that you’re going to need to hit.
To be very good at basketball you need to learn how to pivot. Practicing pivoting will be able to help prevent you from tangling your feet or getting disoriented. Practice this stance until you get really fast at pivoting with the ball.
Understand your own personal weaknesses. Make sure you’re honest with yourself. If you are repeatedly missing foul shots then focus your practice time on those, as opposed to the three pointer shots. Focus on playing more physically and making your short shots if that’s your weakness. To be the best player possible you have to acknowledge your weaknesses.
Now that you have had a chance to read up on some great pointers, it’s time to get out and practice. It’s important to practice regularly and be confident with what you are doing. Keep these tips in mind and show off your newly acquired skills.