You may be wondering what you must know to play basketball well. What should you work on in order to become a much better player or appreciate this game even more? Keep reading if you are interested in learning more about basketball, whether you are a player or a fan of this great sport.
Many people only direct their attention to the offensive part of the game without realizing that defense is the key to winning. Basketball games are won with a good defense. Offense may score points but defense keeps the other team from scoring points that your team will have to match.
A good way to practice sound passing is to drill without dribbling. It is quite challenging to play the game without dribbling, but it does make sure you and your teammates make accurate passes. Don’t get too frustrated if you’re having a hard time when you start because after a while passes are going to be more accurate.
Never have your back to the ball so that you’re ready for anything in a basketball game. You have to be aware of what is going on with the ball at all times. Be vigilant to detect openings or weaknesses that make it easier to take the shot.
For more consistency in making those free throws, stick with the same sequence of motions before you take each shot. This may mean you want to dribble three times, touch your forehead, bend at the knees, or do anything else. As long as this is a quick set of movements and it’s consistent, you won’t have any trouble having your body memorize what you’re doing.
Develop and use a consistent routine for shooting free throws. Inconsistent shooting will lead to inconsistent results. Repetition is an excellent way to improve your ability to make each free throw. Stick with a routine until you can perfect it. A break in your routine will foul the shot.
You want to strive in practice to bring the ball all the way up the court in no more than five dribbles. This initially seems undoable, but it helps build speed and stride. Mastering this skill can help you to really improve your game.
Whenever possible, take advantage of an attack. This allows you to get the ball back for your team, setting up a foul. This play can give your team a psychological boost, as well as demoralizing the other team.
If you want to do well in basketball, you need to build your strength. In addition, stamina is important to the game, too. Young children that play can even benefit from strengthening arms and legs through proper exercise. Adding weights in stronger increments is effective as the child becomes a teenager. When you’re an adult you have to be sure to do strength training to do well on the court.
When you dribble, bend your knees. It makes it much easier to control the ball while dribbling as opposed to standing straight up, which makes controlling the ball much harder. Bending your knees slightly will enable you to control the ball more efficiently.
To better three-point shooting, try using NBA distance as the minimum. High school lines, international standard lines, and college lines are much closer. If you are able to make NBA-range three-point-shots, you will be able to find more open looks during your own games.
Use the hand you aren’t dribbling with to keep the opponent away from the ball. You don’t need to be shoving the opponents, but you’re able to keep them away by using the arm that isn’t dribbling as a separator. Try to keep your arm around the same height as the apex of your dribble.
Can you answer your questions now? Are you now ready to play some B-ball? Do you think this article has helped you figure out how to be a more effective basketball player? Implement these tips to help you reap great rewards.