TIP! Correct dribbling is key. Use fingertips to dribble.

Basketball was created by Dr. Although it wasn’t a hit straight off, it is very popular now. These days, basketball is a wildly popular sport to watch and play. From Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant, it has turned people into celebrities because of the game. Most of the world has heard of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Check out more of this article to understand more about their success.

TIP! Dribble while your head is up and your eyes are forward. You should never be looking at the basketball while dribbling.

When dribbling, make sure that you look forward and keep your head up. If you need to look at the ball while dribbling, you’ll need to practice more. Bring the ball no matter where you go. Dribble while walking to the store. Don’t look while dribbling, because you won’t be able to see what’s going on.

TIP! Practice layups often. Layup shots make up nearly 80% of a game’s shots.

In order to be a great shooter, good balance is key. You have seen how pros shoot a basket from thirty feet away and fall out of bounds, which is not the right technique. This kind of improvisation is the result of years of practice and loads of ability. Consider proper balance when you shoot, and eventually you’ll consistently make baskets.

There is a lot of pressure when shooting free throws. You must train both your body and your mind. Stay calm and collected to increase your free throw percentage.

TIP! If you’re a jump shooter, don’t lift weights too often. While muscle strength is good to have in any basketball position, it is possible to have too much for perimeter play.

Ask fellow team members what they like about your skills on the court. Can they tell you what you’re really good at? They may say that you are a great team defender or are always playing with excellent speed. When you find out what they think, you may learn a lot.

TIP! If your kid is going to try out for the basketball team, they should be properly training their core muscles. This includes their abs, lower back, and hips.

You can play a great defensive game if you know the opposition well. Monitor scouting news and watch footage of other teams in action. Keep track of which players are right hand dominant and which are left hand dominant. This knowledge will help you play the best game possible. Smart defenders are good defenders.

TIP! Between the leg passes are usually helpful when another team’s players are riding you hard. To practice this skill, bounce the ball between your legs so that it passes through as you step back and forth.

If you experience a slump in your scoring and shooting, your shoulders may be the cause of the problem. You won’t be able to make a shot if your shoulders aren’t in the right position. Keep your shoulders square to the hoop. The dominant shoulder needs to be lined up with the rim.

TIP! Being a good defensive player involves disrupting your opponent’s concentration. Force them away from their comfort zone.

To land your layups, jump off the foot opposite the hand you shoot with. If you normally shoot using your right hand, jump with your left. This can help you to remain balanced, continue moving toward the hoop, and will keep your body between the defender and yourself.

TIP! Strength training can be a major help in basketball. In order to be the best you can at basketball, you need to be strong and hardy.

Dribbling the ball fast and hard will help you to keep better control of it. A good hard dribble brings the ball back to you much faster, leaving less time for the opponent to steal it from you. When you are being guarded closely, pass the ball.

TIP! Bend your knees when dribbling the basketball. The farther the ball has to bounce, the less control you will have of it.

Maintain a lower position as you play defense. Staying low will help you to be a more swift opponent when you mirror the man standing in your path. You must always utilize the proper defensive stance. The only time you should be out of your stance is when you are jumping to block an opponent shooting.

TIP! To better three-point shooting, try using NBA distance as the minimum. The International standard line, as well as college and high school lines are all closer.

To improve 3 point shooting, practice from NBA distance, at least. College, as well as high school three-point lines are set at a shorter distance. If you’re able to get the shot from where the NBA shoots, then you can start working from a range further than the defense expects.

TIP! Try different shots from different places on the basketball court. The first thing to do is to practice on your balance and your grip.

Be sure that off-court exercises are proper for playing on-court. For example, you can improve individual plays with sprinting. You can improve overall game performance and endurance with long distance running. You can build muscle to support your shots and ability to hustle by lifting weights and engaging in resistance training. The resulting confidence helps you have more reliable shooting.

TIP! It is necessary for you to change the path of your opponent. This is an ability you need on both defense and offense, since you get to control where your opponent goes in either case.

You need to learn how to change your opponent’s personal path. It is irrelevant whether you are playing defense or offense; in both cases, your ability to control the direction of your opponent is critical. This enable you to make the choices on where you are going rather than letting them decide.

TIP! You must know how to pivot correctly when playing basketball. Practice your footwork until you aren’t even aware of what you are doing.

If you are playing opposite a much larger player, just keep your body between the ball and them. This will stop them from being open for a pass, ensuring that they don’t get the ball as they would likely be able to shoot it right over you.

TIP! If a team is good at defending their zone, you need to attack with a penetrating dribble. If you are able to get past your defender, the opposing team will have no option but to switch up their zones.

Watch where the ball goes whenever someone releases it. Rebounds are very important in the game. When you are unable to get the basketball back, the way you defended the opponent is not important.

TIP! Understand your own personal weaknesses. Make an honest assessment.

Learn to master the art of passing during game play. Good passing throws the other team off. It also shows you value teamwork and this will be appreciated by your teammates. There will be time in the game for you to show your individual abilities. That time will come; just be patient and allow others to shine as well.

TIP! When you’re working out, you should jot down what needs to get done. A lot of players have no plan for working out.

When you’re on defense, a good thing to do would be to get your opponent to be near the sideline. If you leave the middle part of the court open, it gives them more options to stop you or make plays on offense. If they can be shifted toward the sidelines, they will have fewer options.

TIP! Dribbling takes more than physical action, it is also mental. You have to be able to do the math in your head about how to control the ball.

If you seek a regulation basketball game, there are a few things you will need: 10 players, a hoop 10 feet off the ground and a basketball court that is just about the size of a football field. You will become a better player if you learn more about basketball. This article has been a great start, so continue learning and practicing until you master the game.