TIP! Dribble the ball the right way. You’ll want to use your fingertips to dribble instead of using your palm.

When you want to fix the engine in your car, you do your research first. The same goes for working on your basketball skills. The following tips will help you learn how to play your best.

TIP! Your balance is an important aspect to consider when you are shooting. Even though a professional can hit all sorts of crazy off-balance shots, it is not the ideal method of shooting that you want to learn.

Make sure you dribble properly by keeping your head held up, facing forward. If you have to look at the ball while dribbling, that means you need to practice more. Make the basketball an extension of your body, taking it wherever you are. Whenever you are walking and it is appropriate, dribble there. Always look ahead when you are dribbling the ball.

TIP! Perfect your layup technique. Since layups account for the majority of scoring in a game.

Crossovers are key for ball handlers. A crossover happens when you switch hands the ball is in. You must do it fast for best success. Learn how to perform a crossover dribble will help you get down court quickly.

Bounce Pass

TIP! Frequently practice passing and catching the passes of others. When you practice, be sure to do drills that improve catching wild throws and making great passes.

It is important to know the right way to throw a bounce pass. A bounce pass that’s good is going to end up hitting the other player near their waist. A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the receiving player is. There are other things to keep in mind, though.

TIP! Tricking the other team is a good way to win a game. Try a back pass.

Hitting free throws is a mental challenge as well as a physical one. You may know how to make a free throw but if your focus is off, then you will miss. Stay focused and vigilant to improve your ability to make free throws.

TIP! To make sure there are no errant passes, use hand signals. One things that’s frustrating in basketball is passing to a teammate while they try heading to the basket.

Make sure to practice catching passes. Try to catch all of the passes that are thrown to you. This will help you catch those bad passes during a game. Cover for your teammates’ errant passes by developing the hands to cover their mistakes.

TIP! If you become injured when playing basketball, stop immediately. Basketball is physically demanding and you can easily get hurt.

To make sure there are no errant passes, use hand signals. Basketball passes can be really frustrating when shot wrong. You can avoid this by using hand signals if a player is able to take a pass. Without a signal, players shouldn’t attempt to pass.

TIP! Be aware of your own actions and the position of your feet. You want to make sure you don’t step over the bounds by even a teeny bit.

Have your team mates critique your playing skills. You may have a certain skill that you have perfected. They may say you’re fast or that you share well. You can learn a lot about your skills by knowing how others see you on the court.

TIP! To become a reliable free throw shooter, always go through the same routine before each shot. 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. Just touching the baseline is going to get you called out of bounds. In addition, if you move your feet and you don’t dribble, you will be called for walking. You may need to keep your feet planted to avoid getting called for charging.

TIP! Be sly on your soles to catch rebounds from free-throws your own team members are making. Be aware that the defender who is below you will start moving in your direction.

Ask someone to take a video of you playing and watch it. Are you able to see what you’ve missed or things that you could improve on? You can use this information to improve your game. The reality of your play is often very different from your perception.

TIP! Changing pace can help you keep the offense guessing. When running towards the net, step on your front foot, and start to straighten up your body.

Practice looking the other way when passing. This is a simple thing that could easily confuse your opponents. When done right, the look draws your opponents to the wrong locale so that the person you passed to has a good long look at the basket before shooting. It can be a really powerful play.

TIP! To increase your basketball playing abilities, consider strength training exercises. It is impossible to succeed if you lack endurance and strength.

When you’re able to fix something on your own, you feel pride in what you have accomplished. It pales in comparison to the feeling you’ll have when you learn how to play basketball well, however. This will allow you to win the games you play, along with making sure your teammates are impressed.