TIP! It is easy to be focused on offense when you are learning how to play basketball, but you really should focus your practice on defense. Defense ultimately determines the winner of a game of basketball.

Read on to learn more about basketball. You are a player; you love the game. However, you aren’t aware of everything, and all players know that. This article can give you a few helpful pointers to consider. Read on to learn all new tips and tricks to improve your basketball game.

TIP! Teach yourself how a bounce pass can be properly thrown. It needs to get to the player at their waist.

Get good at making free throws. It seems easy to do but surely isn’t. Try using this technique in practicing. First, hold the ball just above your nose, about 8 inches from your face. Eye the basket and imagine the ball swishing down into it. Then try shooting the ball along the trajectory that was in your mind.

TIP! There is a lot of pressure when shooting free throws. You can practice for hours on how to make the shot, but if you over think things or get distracted you will miss every time.

Crossing over is a vital skill to have for handling the basketball. This technique passes the ball back and forth from the right hand to the left hand. Your crossovers should be fast, which is why it is important to practice them. If you do it right, a crossover dribble will assist you in changing directions and getting down the court in an efficient manner.

TIP! One way to help improve your overall basketball skills is to spend some time watching what the pros do. Go to as many pro games as possible, watch them on TV, or watch videos of them playing.

Put the emphasis on your strengths can help you to be a better basketball player. You may not be the star player, but by contributing the best way you can you will win more games. Know your strengths and keep practicing to get even better.

TIP! Want to make the other team not know what’s going on? Back passes can give your team the opportunity to score while the other team is still wondering what happened. Perform this pass by holding the ball using your dominant hand.

Perfect your layup technique. 80% of all shots in a game are usually layups. When you practice, be sure to run at the goal with full speed, jumping and shooting in a smooth series of motions. Running and jumping well in practice means better jump shooting in actual games.

TIP! If you become injured when playing basketball, stop immediately. It’s easy to be hurt when playing basketball.

Bounce passes are important in the game of basketball. Bouncing the pass to the receiver should be at their waist. One good rule is for you to bounce the basketball most of the way toward the other player. Of course, there are also other factors involved.

TIP! If your shooting is in a slump, take a look at your shoulders. If your shoulders aren’t properly positioned, your shot is not going to go in.

Free throws have a huge mental element to them. You are able to train your hands and legs to free throw well, but if you think you will fail, you will. Relax, take your time and be focused.

TIP! When you want consistently good free throws, repeat your routine. It could be that you dribble several times, bend at the knees, brush your hair out of your eyes or do something else.

Completing passes to your teammates is just as important as dribbling the ball. It is a challenge not to dribble while playing, but it will ensure the accuracy of your team’s passes. Don’t get upset if it seems hard, this will improve your team’s passes over time.

TIP! Make layups count by taking off with the foot that is opposite to your shooting hand. What this practically means is that if your right hand is your shooting hand, you need to take off with your left foot.

Make sure your fingers are apart from one another when dribbling. That will ensure that it doesn’t get away from you as you hold it. Additionally, the palm of your hand should not come into contact with the ball. Your fingers should be all that is holding the ball when you pass it or shoot it.

TIP! A good defensive strategy will keep your opponent on their toes. Make them uncomfortable.

You need to constantly disrupt your opponents in order to be a great defensive player. Don’t let your opponent get comfortable out there on the court. An aggressive approach is an effective one for this purpose. This will keep them from being able to choose which plays they will make. If you let them control the game, you will lose. Instead, take the initiative and disrupt their rhythm.

TIP! To avoid turning the ball over to the other team, make sure that you’re dribbling hard. This makes the ball go back to your hand quicker, so offense has reduced chances at taking it from you.

Take every charge you can. Taking a charge allows you a chance to earn a defensive stop, take the ball for your team, and sets up one more foul against the opponent. This does great harm to an opponent’s psyche, and is a truly powerful play.

TIP! You want to keep your vision completely clear at all times. While it will allow you to catch passes and read the score, there is more to it than that.

Stay in your defensive stance while defending your basket against opponents. You need to learn how to slide your feet instead of crossing one foot in front of the other. Stay low and make it hard for opponents to get around you.

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

Stay low when you play defense. This allows you to jump faster and increases your reaction time should the person you’re covering do something. Stay in your defensive stance all the time. When you have to break out of stance to block a shot, get back into form as quickly as possible.

TIP! Be sure that off-court exercises are proper for playing on-court. Running sprints helps you get faster for individual plays, and long-distance running is better for improving your game stamina.

When catching a rebound, be sure to land with legs that are spread wider than your shoulder span, to help keep your balance. Hold the ball next to your chest with your hand on either side. Keep your elbows in so that you do not hit an opponent and get a foul.

TIP! A missed shot from the corner often results in the ball landing on the opposite side of the net. Attempt to catch the resulting rebound by watching the angle from which it was shot.

The position you adopt before, during, and immediately following a rebound has an effect on your ability to keep possession of the ball. Jump with both of your feet to have more balance and power and then get the ball gripped with both of your hands. Following a rebound, land with feet spread wider apart than shoulder width. In this way, you can stay balanced and hold the ball close.

TIP! Having good positioning on the court when trying to grab a rebound will help you keep the ball. Use both feet to jump with power and balance, and use both hands to grab the ball.

These tips should help you dominate on the court. Finding out more about basketball can prove to be helpful. Keep these tips in mind to help you get better at basketball than you ever imagined. Basketball is a terrific and enjoyably sport.