Tips To Help You Understand The Finer Points Of Basketball

by | Jan 27, 2022 | Basketball

TIP! 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.

Do you feel like basketball could be a great game if you knew more about it? You are not alone. Few people know what it takes to shoot, pass, and block like professional players. Read on and get the great tips that all the pros use.

TIP! Know how to dribble the ball in the correct way. When dribbling the basketball, use your fingertips rather than the palm of your hand.

Dribble the ball correctly. Use the fingertips, not the palm, for the best dribbling. You’ll have a lot more control over the ball this way. Dribble off to the side waist high. Don’t look down, always look up.

Free Throw

TIP! Watch the pro’s play if you want to improve your game. Get tickets to some pro games, if possible, or catch some games on television.

Free throw practice is vitally important. This looks easy, but it is actually very hard to do. When practicing your free throw, concentrate on where you want the ball to go when it leaves your hands. Start with the ball ahead of your face. Keep your eyes on the goal and visualize the ball going into the goal. Next, shoot with just the trajectory you saw.

TIP! Do not practice solely against zone defense. Learn how to play a man-to-man defense and a zone defense to get the best understanding of how the game works.

Learn how a bounce pass is thrown. If done correctly, a well-executed bounce pass will reach the player in a way that allows them to move immediately with the ball. Remember you should bounce the ball approximately three-quarters of the distance between yourself and the receiving player. There are other factors you have to think about too, however.

TIP! If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. It’s easy to be hurt when playing basketball.

Would you like to completely fool the opposing team, making them look silly? Try the back pass. Hold the basketball with your writing hand. Keep control of the ball while it is behind your back. Finally, flick your wrist towards the direction in which you wish that ball to travel. This will confuse the other team into wondering where the ball went.

TIP! Ask fellow team members what they like about your skills on the court. Can you get better at something? Continue to develop the skills that play into your natural abilities.

If you’re injured when playing basketball, don’t push through the pain. The sport of basketball is very physical, which makes one susceptible to injury. Trying to play through the pain could just cause more damage. If it is a serious injury, see a doctor.

TIP! A good basketball player is really quick on his feet. Speed always gives you an edge over your opponent.

Ask teammates what they admire about your playing skills? Do you have an area where you excel? You could potentially be excellent in one area while you are busy focusing on another, unaware. Determine what others like about your game and fine tune those skills.

TIP! Always have an awareness of the location and movement of your feet. If you slide onto the baseline, you will lose the ball for being out of bounds.

Watch your shoulders if you obtain a shooting slump. Whenever your shoulders aren’t in a good position, you simply will not shoot well, regardless of your skill level. Keep your shoulders square to the hoop. Your shooting arm’s shoulder also needs to be exactly lined up with the rim.

TIP! To make your layups count the most, take off from the foot opposite your shooting hand. This means that if you shoot with your right hand, take off from your left foot.

To nab a rebound from a free throw attempt of a teammate, footwork is key. Guards will be attempting to stop you, so get around them. This gets you the rebound without you committing a foul.

TIP! Perform exercises to strengthen the muscles in your forearms and hands in order to maximize your ability to handle the ball. One important exercise is wrist curls, which help you with your dribbling.

Practice drills where you strive to make it across the full court within 5 dribbles. It isn’t impossible, it just takes practice. That translates to smooth layups during fast breaks.

Peripheral Vision

TIP! Be sure your vision is unobstructed. This is so that you’re able to catch passes, get shots in, and look at the scoreboard.

Practice noticing what is in your peripheral vision. This will enable you to make good shots as well as catching passes that come your way. Your peripheral vision needs to be as strong as possible. If you view the entire game without focusing on the ball, you’ll see defensive pressure advance, along with open teammates.

TIP! Strength training can be a major help in basketball. In addition, stamina is important to the game, too.

Never break your defensive stance as this will assure you are in your proper position for defense. Slide your feet to and fro or use your opposing foot to push off to maintain your position. Always keep your feet from crossing, and you will make it hard for any opponent to get past.

TIP! Defensive players need to stay low. This allows you to jump faster and increases your reaction time should the person you’re covering do something.

If you want to boost your weaker hand skills, use it whenever you can, be it opening jars or just brushing your teeth. If you’re able to do more with your other hand daily, you can start controlling it better. This will help you with your basketball game also.

TIP! When you dribble while playing basketball, focus on bending your knees. Standing while dribbling will make it much easier for the opponent to steal the ball from you.

Use workouts to better your game. Running sprints can make you faster on individual plays, while long-distance running helps you make it through a game with good stamina. Lifting weights can help you get more muscle. You will also gain aggression and confidence that will help you when shooting.

TIP! Don’t cease dribbling until you get ready to shoot or pass. You have few options remaining to you after you stop dribbling.

In summary, there were probably a lot of things you did not know about the great sport of basketball. Hopefully now that you’ve finished reading this article, you feel like you understand the game much better. Now, use these tips and get on the court!