TIP! Learn how to maneuver a crossover if you have the ball fairly often. Crossovers involve sending the basketball from one of your hands over to the other one.

To become a star in basketball, you need a lot of practice and a good work ethic. Even when playing for fun, you would like to play well, right? Well here are some great ways to develop those skills and learn new ones.

Practice your defense more than your offense. Victory requires the ability to play defense. While offense seems to get the praise, defense must be stellar in order to win.

TIP! Watching the pros play is a great way to see how great basketball players use their skills in the game. You can follow the pros in online videos, on TV and you can also attend a basketball game if there is a pro team in your area.

You need good balance when you shoot. Everyone has seen professional basketball players make a shot from 20 feet away as they are falling. They are not doing it right. By focusing on balance in your shot, you will develop the consistency needed to be a great scorer.

TIP! If you’re going to be a jump shooter, don’t lift too many weights. You do need muscle conditioning and strength, but you can have too much when it comes to shooting field goals.

Make layups a part of your daily practice regimen. Layups sometimes wind up being 4 out of every 5 shots in basketball. When you are practicing, run full speed at the goal and make the shot. This method will teach you to improve your jumps and shots throughout the game.

TIP! If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, ensure they’re training core muscles in the right way. Core muscles include hips, abs and the lower back.

Remember to practice a lot of different possibilities so that you will not limit your game. While a good chunk of the game will most likely be played in zone, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you. If you are unprepared, you may lose the match fast.

TIP! Make better passes through the use of coordinated hand signals. It can be frustrating passing to a teammate when you’re both heading to the basket.

Practice basketball in season and out of season. Even though you play on a team, practicing alone can be helpful. There is nothing wrong with that. Solo games can help you immensely. Go to the free throw line and work on your shots. You can always practice something.

TIP! Seek advice from your teammates about how you play the game. Are you great at any one thing? It could be your speed, or it could be your back-up abilities.

Speed is everything in the sport of basketball. If you want the advantage, you need to be quicker than your opponents. Regular drilling will increase your speed. Although being fast is important, avoid playing faster than your capabilities. If you try to rush your play, and can’t keep up, you will turn the ball over or make unforced mistakes.

TIP! Speed is one of the best virtues when playing basketball. Always stay ahead of the opposition.

It’s important to know where you have your feet and also what they’re doing. Placing even a single toe atop the baseline while holding the ball will result in you being ruled out of bounds. You could also be the reason for a turnover if you get called for walking when you take more steps than allowed without dribbling. Moving your feet as you are setting a screen or pick usually results in you being called for a foul.

TIP! Be aware of what your feet are doing and where they are. When you are in possession of the ball, touching the baseline will get you out of bounds.

To get better at shooting free throws, make sure to keep a consistent pre-shot routine. Always dribble the same way, or with the same movements. This consistency will get your body in tune to do the same thing every time, increasing your chance to make shot after shot.

TIP! Practice passing while looking in other directions. This is a simple thing that could easily confuse your opponents.

To generate consistency with layups, leap from the opposite foot from the hand you use to shoot. This means that if you shoot with your right hand, take off from your left foot. This helps to maintain balance throughout your body and allows you to use yourself as a barrier between the defender and yourself.

Free Throw

TIP! Strength training can be a major help in basketball. Strength and stamina are both needed to excel at basketball.

A routine can enable your free throw percentage to rise. If you aren’t consistent, you will find that your shooting is off. Practice makes perfect when shooting free throws. If your free throw routine is out of whack, you will miss.

TIP! Keep low as you defend. That helps you stay quick when it comes to the jump and will help you react more quickly to the person just ahead of you.

To dribble the ball better, it is important that you practice dribbling with the hand that’s weaker. Dribbling with both hands helps you gain the upper one. Exercise your non-dominant hand by securing your dominant hand at your side or behind your back. Your weak hand won’t be that for long!

TIP! To improve three-point shooting, do it from NBA distance at the very least. High school lines, International standard lines, and college lines are closer.

The trick to grabbing a rebound on a teammate’s missed free-throw is to plan your footwork in advance. The defender in your path will be moving at you, so be sure you’re thinking of how to get past that defender. This gets you the rebound without you committing a foul.

TIP! To make your shooting skills better, shoot from all around the court. Become better and better by practicing your fast dribble then stopping abruptly to make a shot.

Dribble very hard to prevent the opposing team players from stealing the ball. This will make the ball come back to you faster, and the opponent will have a hard time to get it from you. If the defense gets to be too much, look to pass the ball to someone who is open.

TIP! What you eat can affect how you play. You need to eat carbs, fats and protein on game days.

Perform drills in which you move the ball up the court in just five dribbles. This seems an impossible feat when you start. By working on this drill regularly you develop speed and great, lengthy strides. This drill can help you to have success with lay-ups during a fast break.

TIP! You need to learn how to change your opponent’s personal path. Whether you are playing defense or offense, you must be capable of controlling the directions of opposing players.

Stay low when playing defense. This helps your reaction time against your opponent. Remain in a correct defensive pose always. You may have to break your stance if you must block a shot, but return as fast as you can.

TIP! Keep your eye on the ball, no matter whose hands it was in before it started to move. Rebounding will help you win the game.

Here is how you can change a normal two-three zone to become a trapping machine. You will need for the top two guards to wait until the time when the point guard is approximately 10 feet beyond the midcourt. The guards must then rush the opposing team’s point guard and create a trap. While they are doing that, the forwards should move out to the wings. A pass should be thrown by the point guard for forwards to steal.

TIP! Passing should be a focus if you want to improve your game. Effective passing can trip up the opposing team.

Follow the advice presented here to improve your game and become the best player possible. As you work on your skills, they will improve bit by bit. Use what you have learned here to help become the best player possible.