Are you struggling with understanding the rules of basketball, but you love watching it anyway? It’s not just you! A lot of people watch others play the game and wish to know how to play just like them. In this article, you will learn some professional basketball tricks.
Learn what a crossover is and how to do it. A crossover happens when you switch hands the ball is in. Speed determines the success of the crossover move. One done the right way, the crossover dribble can help you change directions and get down the court more efficiently.
Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. This means your pass should be aimed towards the receiving player at the level of his waist. One good rule is for you to bounce the basketball most of the way toward the other player. But, there are some factors that can change this.
There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. Try using a back pass! Perform this pass by holding the ball using your dominant hand. Now hold the ball behind you. Lastly, flick your wrist in the direction that you want the ball to land. Doing this will trick your opponent.
Practice playing by yourself. Basketball is usually a team sport, but just because you can’t find others, doesn’t mean you have to just stop thinking about it. That is okay. You can still do a lot on your own. Work on free throws or three pointers. You can always practice something.
Hand signals will help you avoid those errant passes. One things that’s frustrating in basketball is passing to a teammate while they try heading to the basket. Hand signals can be a great way to find out if a teammate will be able to receive your pass. If there is no signal, the player should not make the pass to them.
See if your teammates admire something in particular about your game play. Do you do something really good? Knowing your strengths and weaknesses will allow you to develop your skills to become an all around better player. Find out what your strong points are in the eyes of others. This way you can develop your most valuable skills.
Knowing your opponent is the best way to play a tough defensive game. Review videotapes and monitor scouting reports. You should know if a player is right or left handed. Once you have a solid idea of your opponent, you can dial in on the best way to defend. The more knowledgeable a defender is, the stronger he is.
Watch your shoulders and their position if you notice yourself developing a slump in your shooting. If your shoulders are in a bad position, no matter how good you are, you won’t make the shot. To help improve your shot, focus on squaring up on each of your shots. The shoulder that is dominant should be perfectly aligned with the hoop rim.
Where are your feet? Stepping your toe in a baseline with a ball in your grip will mean that you’re out of bounds. In addition, if you move your feet and you don’t dribble, you will be called for walking. A foul will result if you try to take a charge or set a pick and your feet are moving.
Practice passing while looking in other directions. This is a simple thing that could easily confuse your opponents. You give your teammate a better chance to make the shot because the opposing player is moving the wrong direction when you pass the ball. If this is pulled off, then it usually has good results.
Dribbling hard keeps the ball from being stolen from you. This is because the ball returns to you hand faster, so the opposing team has less of a chance to get it. When you are being guarded closely, pass the ball.
Strength Training
Basketball players need to engage in strength training. In addition, stamina is important to the game, too. Even young children can benefit from strength training. As they age, begin adding weights to their exercise routine. Once they transition into adulthood, strength training must continue to be a core part of their exercise routine.
To boost your ability with the weaker hand, try to use it for all daily tasks. If you can become more dexterous with it in all aspects of your life, you will be bettering your control of it. As a result, your basketball game will significantly improve.
Make sure the ball doesn’t bounce above your knees when you dribble. The other team’s players will have a difficult time stealing the basketball from you. You need to bend your knees to have this happen, but you will be able to move along the court fast because you’ll be throwing off your defenders.
Use the hand that doesn’t have the ball as a block. Be careful not to push your opponent or you may get a foul. Simply elevate it slightly as you dribble.
Practice all kinds of shots from every court location. The first thing you should do is practice your grip and balance. Shooting when you are not in balance is less accurate, but it is possible. Utilize the basketball’s air valve as a way to improve your grip. Spread your fingers, and place your dominant hand over the area where the valve is located.
Serious basketball players take their diets seriously too. If you want to have plenty of energy to play, you should take in plenty of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and lean sources of protein. Adding nuts, chicken, peanut butter and whole grain breads to your diet can help. Sugar gives quick bursts of energy, but you should eat it sparingly.
The bottom line is that while you may like basketball a whole lot, it may be that you lacked some key information about it before today. Now you are ready to stick a foot in and take on a game yourself. So get moving, get on the court, and put this advice to use.