TIP! Practice your defense more than your offense. You can win a game, thanks to good defense.

Basketball is a great sport beloved by many people around the world. The pros make it look easy, but even they practice really hard to be so good. Genetics, athleticism and practice may make you a star, but everyone can enjoy a game of b-ball. The following tips will help you learn more about the sport in general.

TIP! A bounce pass is an important technique to learn. It needs to get to the player at their waist.

Make it a point to concentrate on both your defensive and offensive skills. Focusing only on offense does not make you a well-rounded player. Defense ultimately determines the winner of a game of basketball. While offensive players sometimes seem like the stars of the show, it is the efforts of defensive players that allow them to shine.

TIP! Work on pass catches. Practice catching errant throws along with perfect passes.

Correct dribbling is key. Use fingertips to dribble. Dribbling this way improves your ball control dramatically. Always dribble to your side, not your front. Do not look at the ground; look up at all times.

TIP! Make better passes through the use of coordinated hand signals. Often in basketball, a player makes a pass at the exact same time the receiving player heads to another part of the court.

Practice hitting your free throws. This looks easy, but it is actually very hard to do. Use good technique when shooting foul shots. Begin by bringing the ball up to eye level. There may be a number of distractions so you need to focus on your goal. Once you’ve visualized this, take your shot as you just saw it in your head.

TIP! If posting up is what you’re doing, you have to have good footwork to get open for a shot. While physical presence under a basket is important, finding a decent spot before the opponent is even more so.

Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. The bounce pass needs to reach the player at waist level. Letting the ball bounce close to the other person will help the accuracy of your pass. There can be other factors in play to keep in mind, as well.

Jumping Rope

TIP! Be aware of your own actions and the position of your feet. When you are in possession of the ball, touching the baseline will get you out of bounds.

During your workouts, concentrate on improving your footwork as well as your core strength. If the core muscles are in good shape, you will feel lighter on your feet. You should get a good workout in your hips, buttocks, back and abs. Jumping rope is a favorite amongst professionals when practicing. By jumping rope, you improve speed and footwork.

TIP! If an opponent is staying with you, try passing the ball between your legs. Refine this skill by bouncing a ball with force between the legs while stepping backwards or forwards.

Watch your shoulders and their position if you notice yourself developing a slump in your shooting. If they’re in a poor position, no matter your skill level, you will be unable to make the shot. Keep your shoulders square to the hoop. Also, allow your dominant shoulder to line up with the rim.

TIP! A routine can enable your free throw percentage to rise. Your shot could be off if you are inconsistent.

Practice dribbling with both hands, dribble on both sides of your body and learn to dribble in front of you while taking large strides. Utilizing both hands to dribble the basketball and switching effortlessly is key to advantage over an opponent. Tie your dominant hand behind your back and force yourself only to use your weak hand. Eventually, your weak hand will be able to dribble well.

TIP! You want to strive in practice to bring the ball all the way up the court in no more than five dribbles. You will need to learn how to push the basketball in front of you while making long strides.

You need to constantly disrupt your opponents in order to be a great defensive player. Force them out of their comfort zone. Make aggressive plays. Don’t let them dictate the game. If you allow this, they will run over you. Instead, disrupt their rhythm by making the first move.

TIP! Once you are in your defensive stance, remember to hold your ground. Slide your feet to and fro or use your opposing foot to push off to maintain your position.

If you wish to do better a shooting three pointers, you should do it from where NBA players shoot from. The international line is much closer. By learning to shoot from NBA distances, you improve your range tremendously.

TIP! When on defense, try to keep yourself low whenever you can. Staying low gives you a better chance to play the ball and helps you move more quickly.

Be sure that off-court exercises are proper for playing on-court. You can run longer distances to build up stamina. To build speed, try doing wind sprints. Both are necessary for playing good ball. Strength training helps, too. This is also good for making you much more relaxed while you’re shooting the ball.

TIP! In order to better your shooting skills, you must practice shooting hundreds of times each day from various position on the court. An even better way to improve your accuracy is to practice shooting after pulling up from a dribble.

Do you want to show off your new skills? Consider first practicing the pointers in this article. Get motivated, get energized and get excited; then, show your stuff on the basketball court. The skills you work on will improve in no time.