If being a great basketball player is something you have wanted, you surely realize the commitment it requires. Even if you’re playing for recreation, you still want to improve your game. You can gain valuable knowledge when you read this article.
A lot of novice players mostly focus on their offensive skills, but developing good defensive skills will help you become a better player. Defense can make or break a basketball game. Even though everyone loves to watch offense, defense is what wins you most games.
Learn proper dribbling. Don’t use your palm, use your fingers. Doing so will allow you a greater degree of ball control. When dribbling the basketball you should bounce it to your side instead of right in front. Never look at the ground. Always look up.
Perfect Passes
Practice catching passes as often as you can. You need to be able to retrieve perfect passes and not so perfect passes. This will help you catch those bad passes during a game. So do your teammates a favor by learning how to consistently haul in their less than perfect passes.
If your son or daughter wants to play high school basketball, they need to work on core muscle training. The core is the following areas: abdominal muscles, lower back muscles and hip muscles. The core is the muscle group that links the arms and legs together. If their core strength is poor, then so will their athletic performance be. A strong core helps the legs move better, like jumping higher and running faster.
If you’re on the offense, you footwork needs to be excellent to stay open for passes and shots. Being physical under the rim is crucial, but having good positioning on the court is even better. After positioning yourself on the court, make sure that you are secure. Both of those skills rely on solid footwork.
Turning away from the ball can be a costly mistake in basketball. You have to be aware of what is going on with the ball at all times. Always watch for areas opening up where you can go for a quick basket.
In order to handle the ball correctly, spread your fingers out. That will ensure that it doesn’t get away from you as you hold it. Your palm should touch the ball as little as possible. When you’re shooting or passing, the only place the ball should touch your hand is on your fingers.
As you perform your fitness routine, make it a point to target your core and your footwork. If the core muscles are in good shape, you will feel lighter on your feet. Your hip, buttocks, back and abdomen muscles need to be worked on. Similar to boxers, jump rope to help increase speed and better your footwork.
A good way to see yourself playing is to have someone record your games. You may see things differently as you observe the game and notice things you missed in the game. Assess yourself honestly, but don’t be a harsh critic. The reality of your play is often very different from your perception.
Free Throw
Develop a routine to use every time you shoot a free throw. This can be any combination of movements that makes you feel comfortable and prepare for the shot. However, they need to be the same combination of movements each time. When you have a steady and consistent routine, your muscles will remember what to do to shoot those free throw shots.
To maximize your layups, take off with the foot that opposes your shooting hand. Thus, if you use your right hand for shooting, you need to push off using your left foot. This will keep you balanced and going towards the basket.
If you wish to succeed in a defensive role, you must be able to break your opponents’ concentration. Make them feel uncomfortable and to where they’re second guessing their next move. Stay aggressive. Which plays are made shouldn’t be up to them. This will give your opponent the chance to run over you. Try to interrupt their game plan by taking charge and controlling the tempo.
Be certain that your vision is the best it can be. You don’t need great vision just to keep score. Your peripheral vision should be the best it can be. Tunnel vision makes it difficult to play effectively, so try to view the entire court and all players.
Never break your defensive stance when playing ball. Slide your feet to and fro or use your opposing foot to push off to maintain your position. Avoid getting your feet cross as this makes it much more difficult for the opponent to get by you.
To increase your three-point shooting skill, shoot from where the NBA players range. College, as well as high school three-point lines are set at a shorter distance. By practicing at the NBA line, you will be used to getting a look a little further than what most defenses will cover.
If you wish to shoot on the outside better you should work on shooting hundreds of times every day from a lot of places on the court. You can get even better if you practice dribbling and pulling up quickly for a shot. Do not focus on the target until you are already in the air. This can help to improve your accuracy by simulating actual game conditions.
Use these tips mentioned above and you’ll improve your game in no time. As you continue to practice these tips, you will continue to see improvements in your game. That plan will help you see results.