Many people love basketball. Being the best player is not always easy, however. While genetics and athleticism can determine your rank, it is made to be fun for all. Read on to learn how you can make the most of your basketball experience.
Frequently train yourself on your pass catching moves. Make sure you get used to catching less than perfect passes smoothly. During a real game, many of the passes that come your way will be off-target and tougher to handle. You’ll be helping out your team a great deal if you can catch their not so perfect passes.
Remember to practice a lot of different possibilities so that you will not limit your game. Usually, a big part of the game is probably going to be in zone; however, the opposing team can suddenly switch to man-to-man to catch you off guard. If you have not practiced against this, you may lose your grip of the game for the remainder of it.
Would you like to completely fool the opposing team, making them look silly? How about the behind the back pass? Use the dominant hand whenever trying a behind the back pass. Keep control of the ball while it is behind your back. Quickly flick with your wrist in the direction you want to pass the ball. This is a very useful trick to confuse the opposing team.
Basketball players of all ages benefit from exercises that strengthen their core. Focus on hips, lower back and abs. These muscles form a bridge across the lower and upper parts of your body. When the core is weak, it is difficult to coordinate the movements of both halves. Strong core muscles help you with many movements associated with basketball.
If posting up is what you’re doing, you have to have good footwork to get open for a shot. You must beat the opposing playing to an open spot. Plant your feet and own that spot. Each of these skills is reliant on good footwork.
Ask teammates what they admire about your playing skills? What areas are your strong points? It could be your speed, or it could be your back-up abilities. Find out what others think your natural abilities are, and be certain to keep developing those skills.
If you are shooting as well, pay attention to the position of your shoulders. If you have bad shoulder position it doesn’t matter how great you are the shot isn’t going to go in. Your shoulders should be facing the hoop. Try to line your dominant shoulder up with the rim.
Practice passing while looking in the opposite direction. This trick can be used successfully to confuse defenders. If you do it right, this draws your opponents’ focus the wrong way. It really can be a powerful technique.
A consistent pre-shot routine when at the line will increase your chance at success. Inconsistency will ruin your shots. The simplest way to get better at shooting free throws is through constant repetitive motions when shooting the ball. A break in your routine will foul the shot.
Try to get the basketball from one side of the court to the other in about five dribbles. This seems an impossible feat when you start. By working on this drill regularly you develop speed and great, lengthy strides. In games, this drill will become useful when you have fast break opportunities.
If you want to stay in a good defensive position, simply avoid breaking out of your defensive stance. Use your opposite foot to push with or slide your feet around. Never cross your feet and your opponents will find you a difficult player.
Strength Training
In basketball, strength is important, so do strength training. Conditioning training will also increase your stamina. Younger kids can benefit from boosting their arm and leg strength with proper exercise. As they get older you can use weights to help enhance their performance. As an adult, strength training becomes vital in order to play your best basketball.
You can place your off-hand out in front of you to serve as protection against the defense. Never push your opponent away because that ends up in a foul, but lightly use your other hand to keep separation between the ball and your opponent. Just keep it up slightly while dribbling with the other hand.
Do you want to show off your skills? First, put these tips to good use. Bring high energy, motivation and excitement to your game. You will soon see changes for the better in your game.