TIP! It is tempting to concentrate just on offense when just staring out, but defensive practice is absolutely vital. Basketball games are won with a good defense.

Millions of people love the game of basketball. If you want to step up your game or get more out of your game-watching experience, consider taking the time to learn more about the sport. This article can help anyone do that.

TIP! Look forward and hold your head up while you dribble the ball. If you need to look at the ball while dribbling, you’ll need to practice more.

Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Use the fingertips, not the palm, for the best dribbling. Using your fingertips provides you with more control. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. Keep your eyes up.

TIP! If you have the ball a lot, learn to execute a crossover. Being able to dribble the ball with both hands and crossover between the two will make you a better player.

Focus on your strengths to get better at basketball. Your skills might not make you an all-start every time out, but playing up your strengths makes you a great contributor. Understand your strengths and use it to your advantage to help your team win!

TIP! Proper balance is essential when shooting. You’ve seen the pros fall out of bounds when trying to shoot 30 feet from the basket; this is a bad move.

Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player at waist level. Bounce it 3/4 of the distance to the receiver. Of course, there are also other factors involved.

TIP! To be a better basketball player you should concentrate on the things that make you great. Your talent might not make you a star; however, learning your strengths will help you become a better team player.

A good way to practice sound passing is to drill without dribbling. It is tough to play when not dribbling, but your accuracy is sure to inprove. Frustration can be an issue at first, but passing will improve as time goes by.

TIP! Perfect your bounce pass. It is best when the ball hits the receiving player near the waist.

There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. How about the behind the back pass? Perform this pass by holding the ball using your dominant hand. Move the ball so that it is behind you. Then do a wrist flick in the same direction that you want the ball to end up. It can be a dangerous maneuver that catches the other team off guard.

TIP! Work on pass catches. During practice you should come up with drills where you perfect catching bad passes along with the good ones.

If you have a high school level basketball player for a kid, be sure their core muscles are properly trained. They should train their lower back, hips, and abs. A good core leads to a solid foundation and that is required to be very good at basketball. Having a strong base allows the player a solid position from which to jump and accelerate during the game to help speed up their movements.

TIP! Ask your teammates what they like about how you play. Are you great at any one thing? Perhaps you have an excellent understanding of defensive strategies or you are the fastest player on your team.

One thing to consider if your shooting percentage drops is that your shoulders may be inconsistent when you are shooting. If your shoulders aren’t properly positioned, your shot is not going to go in. One area of focus should be to keep your shoulders aligned straight toward the hoop. The shoulder that’s dominant should be in line with the rim.

TIP! You must know your opponent in order to be tough on defense. Pay attention to how they play.

You need to practice dribbling with your weak hand in order to be a more effective player. When you are ambidextrous, you’ll be a better player. You can focus on the strength of your weak hand by tying your dominant hand behind your back. This will train your weaker hand to dribble and control the ball well.

TIP! Speed is everything in the sport of basketball. Speed always gives you an edge over your opponent.

Being a successful defensive player means upsetting and disrupting your opponent’s play. Do not allow your opponent to become comfortable with their style, or yours. Your defensive moves must be aggressive and executed properly. Do not allow them to choose the plays that they make. This will give your opponent the chance to run over you. Try to interrupt their game plan by taking charge and controlling the tempo.

TIP! Stay low when playing defense. This will let you get to the jump quicker and let you react to your opponent easier.

Be certain you are able to see well. This will help you to secure the ball during the game. Peripheral vision is important during game play. If you scan the entire court, not just the location of the ball, it is possible to anticipate defense moves in advance and see which teammates are open.

TIP! It is important to take your diet seriously if you want to be the best player you can be. To play with great frequency, you will need a large amount of carbs combined with a bit of fat and protein.

To build up your skills with your weaker hand, use it for everything from opening jars to brushing your teeth. If you are able to become more dexterous in terms of your weaker hand in general life, you’re going to have better control of it. Soon enough you will see great improvements on the court.

TIP! Make a strong team both off and on the basketball court. Great basketball games happen when teams work together.

When dribbling you want to keep your knees bent. It makes it much easier to control the ball while dribbling as opposed to standing straight up, which makes controlling the ball much harder. You will gain a lot of ball control by bending your knees just a bit.

TIP! You have to know how to change the course of your opponent. With practice, you can learn how to control the path of others players with your footwork.

If you want to improve your outside shooting skills then you need to take hundreds of shots each day from all over the court. For even better results, practice the run-up to your shot in addition to the actual shot. When you are off the ground, keep your eye on the basket, but not earlier. All these techniques give you the feel of actual game play, and this will help you become more accurate.

TIP! Grabbing and keeping a rebound depends on how well you’re positioned before and after the ball comes off the rim. When you jump, use both legs to give yourself a boost.

Be sure your exercise off the court is going to help you on the court. Distance running will help with stamina and sprinting can help with individual plays. Lifting weights can build the muscle you need for shots and the hustle of the game. This will also help you build confidence, a key aspect of performing well in any sport.

TIP! It is important to know what to do when the ball comes to you. Should you shoot it or pass it? It is far better to contribute to the winning shot than be the only person involved in the shot that lost the game.

Make sure your team really meshes together off and on the court. When your team is of one accord, your game will be the best possible. The ability to intuit and appreciate the actions of your teammates can significantly improve your performance as a whole.

TIP! A penetrating dribble can help you beat a team that uses a zone defense. Passing a defensive player and moving into the lane is sure to prompt a defensive shift or even a collapse.

It’s not easy to match the thrills that basketball supplies for many of its fans. Without understanding all these nuances, the game seems confusing. Hopefully the information learned here has helped you to have a better grasp on how to play better basketball.