TIP! To be a great basketball player you need to work on your balance. You’ve seen the pros fall out-of-bounds and shoot a basket up to 300 feet away, however, this isn’t proper technique.

Basketball isn’t very complex, but it is a lot of fun. All players have skill that they use to assist their team in winning. If you’d like to figure out what you can do to get better at basketball, keep reading this article.

TIP! Don’t dribble during your drills. It is hard to play a game when you don’t dribble, but it will help you to be sure that everyone is passing accurately.

Make sure to dribble properly. Don’t use your palm to dribble, but use your fingertips instead. This helps you to control the ball better. Bounce only at the level of your waist at the side and not in front. Keep your eyes up.

TIP! Lay off the weights if you are trying to become a jump shooter. Although it’s true that strong muscles are beneficial, additional bulk can impede your ability to play effectively along the perimeter.

Make layups a part of your daily practice regimen. Up to eighty percent of the baskets attempted in a game are layups. Run as fast as possible, while jumping and performing a smooth shot. This technique helps improve your on-court layup skills.

TIP! Would you like to fool the opposing team? Try the back pass. To accomplish this pass, grasp the ball using your dominant hand.

Practice your bounce pass. If done properly, the pass will land near waist level with the opposite player. Remember you should bounce the ball approximately three-quarters of the distance between yourself and the receiving player. It does depend on a variety of other factors, however.

TIP! Basketball players of all ages benefit from exercises that strengthen their core. The core muscles include the lower back, hips and abdonimals.

If you want to take jump shots, don’t spend time pumping iron. Perimeter players don’t need the muscle strength that is necessary for other team members. Some professional shooting guards made their arms so big that it started decreasing their field goal percentage.

TIP! Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a shot when you are posting up. Although physical presence under the basket is important, getting to a good spot before your opponent does is even more important.

Make it your goal to never turn away from the ball on the court. This helps keep you aware of the action, and it takes away the surprise factor. Also, you need to stay aware of areas which might open up and give you an easy basket.

TIP! To hold the ball right, spread your fingers out. This will help prevent the ball from getting away from you while dribbling.

Play a good defense by knowing your opponent. Study video tape on your opponent and read over any scouting reports. Learn who the left handed players are and who the right handed ones are. This knowledge will help you play the best game possible. A defender that is knowledgeable is an effective defender.

TIP! Focus on your footwork and core strength when working out. Your body will maintain balance and move more quickly when your core muscles are strong.

Watch your shoulders if you obtain a shooting slump. Shoulders are the key to a consistently successful shot. Your shoulders should always be square towards the basket. The dominant shoulder must be perfectly aligned with the rim.

TIP! Having a pre-free-throw shot routine will help you become dependable at free throws. You could dribble twice, touch your forehead, bend your knees, or some other kinds of movements.

You should always be aware of the position of your feet and their actions. Stepping even over a baseline when you’re in possession of the ball will have you called out of bounds. Going too many steps with no dribbling is a waking call and turnover situation. You can’t move a foot when you take a charge, pick or screen either, or it’s a foul.

TIP! To get more out of layups, take off using the foot that;s the opposite of your shooting hand. So, if you shoot using your left hand, launch with your right foot.

If your opponent is pressing hard, you can give yourself some room to work by dribbling the ball between your legs. This can be practiced by dribbling the ball as hard as you can between the legs while you step in either direction. Perfecting this technique will help thwart the opposing team while you’re trying to advance the ball.

TIP! Perform exercises to strengthen the muscles in your forearms and hands in order to maximize your ability to handle the ball. Wrist curls are especially effective at making you better able to handle a basketball like you could dribble sleepwalking.

Use the foot opposite of the hand you shoot with for a better layup. Thus, if you tend to shoot with the right hand, make sure to jump off with the left. This keeps your body balanced and moving toward the basket and keeps your body between yourself and your defender.

TIP! Dribble very hard to prevent the opposing team players from stealing the ball. A hard dribble returns the ball back to you faster, leaving less chance of it being snatched by the other team.

Create a routine to improve your free throw success. Failure to use consistency may make your shots less accurate. You have to practice time and time again. Just keep repeating free throws, if you want to perfect that technique. If the routine is off in any way, then you’ll miss the shot.

TIP! A key play on defense is to draw a charge. This strategy can result in your opponent taking a foul and your team getting a defensive stop and taking possession of the ball.

Use a 2-3 zone as a way to trap opponents. You can do this by having guards wait for the point guard to come at least 10 feet past midcourt. Once he passes mid court the guards should rush up on him. Your forwards should sprint to cover the other players on the outside. The point guard throws a pass that can be easily stolen by your forwards.

TIP! Always attempt to remain low when you are playing defense. Staying low will help you to be a more swift opponent when you mirror the man standing in your path.

While you dribble, alternate your momentum from your left to right side. This will have you ready for a game, when you will need to move any direction on a moment’s notice. It would be great if you are always able to go full speed ahead, but more times than not you will need to move and flow with the defense in front of you. You’ll need to learn how to dribble while your body is leaning in different directions. By nailing this skill, you have a better chance to avoid a turnover.

TIP! Shoot from NBA distances to see your three-point skills improve. School and the international standard lines are nearer than that.

To help ward off your opponent, practice using your other hand to help shield him away from you. It’s a foul to push your opponents, but using your arm as a barrier is allowed and will help you to secure the ball. Keep it slightly up when you dribble with your opposite hand.

TIP! Maintain a rhythm to the dribble until you are ready to surprise the opponent. A consistent dribbling broken up by a fast paced dribble can surprise your opponent and give you a major edge for a shot.

Everyone who plays basketball works on finding ways to improve the skills they have. By now, you have a firm grasp of what it takes to improve your skills. Keep practicing and you’ll get better.