TIP! If you have the ball a lot, learn to execute a crossover. Crossovers involve moving the ball from hand to hand.

Who invented the game of basketball? Dr. James Naismith in 1891. After that it has become something that a lot of people have fallen in love with. So many great personalities have played this game. Basketball has made many people famous, such as Michael Jordan. This article will give you some tips to help you play like the pros.

TIP! Know your strengths and they’ll help you become a better player. Your skills might not make you an all-start every time out, but playing up your strengths makes you a great contributor.

Dribble the ball correctly. Don’t use your palm to dribble, but use your fingertips instead. Using your fingertips will allow you to have better control when dribbling the ball. Dribble off to the side waist high. Don’t look at the ground, always keep your eyes focused forward.

TIP! Don’t just practice your game against the zone defense. A lot of the game is sure to be played in the zone, but your opponent could change to man-to-man coverage.

Want to make the other team not know what’s going on? Try doing a back pass! To work it, place the ball in your most dominant hand. Then you will want to pull the ball into position behind your back. Then you will use your wrist and flip it in the direction you want the ball to be going. This will confuse the other team into wondering where the ball went.

TIP! When developing your jumping skills, limit your use of weight-training. It’s important to be strong, but not too strong.

Try using hand signals to ensure that your passes are received. It can be frustrating making a pass when a player moves away towards the basket. You can stay away from doing this if you use a hand signal to see if someone is ready for a pass. If the person doesn’t make a signal the person shouldn’t get passed to.

Positioning Yourself

TIP! If you’ve developed somewhat of a shooting slump, focus on your shoulders. No matter your skill level, you won’t make shots if your shoulders aren’t in the proper position.

If you post up, you need to use good footwork to get open and make sure you get a good shot. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop. After positioning yourself on the court, make sure that you are secure. Solid footwork can make both of these things happen.

TIP! Watch tapes of yourself playing basketball to get a more objective perspective. Do you see how you could’ve handled a situation differently? Evaluate what you see honestly, but don’t be too hard on yourself.

Quickness is something you have to have when playing basketball. You’ll have an advantage if you’re faster than an opponent. You have to be steady as you play quickly. However, you should not attempt to play any faster than your abilities permit. You will not be able to control your moves if you play faster than you are able to.

TIP! In order to become better at dribbling the ball you should learn how to practice using your weak hand. Using both hands to dribble makes you a more effective player, especially when you’re trying to get past your opponent.

Between the leg passes are usually helpful when another team’s players are riding you hard. Practice dribbling the ball between your legs. If you can master this move, it will give you quite the advantage when you are on the court.

TIP! Varying your pace and direction keeps the offense off guard. When you’re moving towards the net, act like you’re going to straighten up.

Try practicing how to pass while looking in another direction. This trick can be used successfully to confuse defenders. When you do this right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. It’s quite a play when done properly.

Free Throws

TIP! Switch the weight of your body while you are dribbling. You’re going to be dribbling in many different conditions during a game.

If you want improve your free throws, you have to develop a routine. A consistent routine enables the shooter to have a perfect motion every time. You have to practice time and time again. Just keep repeating free throws, if you want to perfect that technique. If you don’t do the routine right, then the shot won’t make it.

TIP! Keep all motion below the knees if possible. The other team’s players will have a difficult time stealing the basketball from you.

In order to play a game of regulation basketball, you need a court that almost measures a football field, a hoop ten feet in height and ten players. Strong knowledge is necessary for better playing. The tips here will help, but continue reading to find out as much as you can.