TIP! Learn to correctly dribble the ball. When you dribble, use the fingertips, not the palm.

For decades, people have enjoyed basketball. It allows people to compete but have fun at the same time. If you’re looking to turn into a skilled basketball player, practice and be serious. You will receive the advice you’re looking for in this article, so keep reading.

TIP! Look forward when dribbling. By focusing your sight on the ball, you cannot be fully aware of your surroundings.

Bounce passes are important in the game of basketball. If done properly, the pass will land near waist level with the opposite player. One good rule of thumb is to bounce the ball around three quarters of the way to the other player. There are other things to keep in mind, though.

TIP! Every great player understands how to properly perform a bounce pass. A good bounce pass should hit the player on the receiving end at waist level.

Watching the pros can help you pick up on certain skills for improving your game. It is important that you see how other people play the game. Watch great players to learn the specific skills that make them exceptional.

TIP! There is a lot of pressure when shooting free throws. You can practice for hours on how to make the shot, but if you over think things or get distracted you will miss every time.

Interested in tricking your opponents? Try a pass back! To accomplish this pass, grasp the ball using your dominant hand. The next step is to draw the ball behind you. Finally your wrist should be flicked towards where you want the ball to go. This should make it easy to trick the other team.

TIP! Would you like to pull one over on your opponents? Try a pass back! Hold the basketball with your writing hand. Move the ball so that it is behind you.

To be a good post-up player in the pain, you need to have really good footwork. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop. Once you have a location, it is important that your feet are firmly planted there. Practicing your footwork is important to master these skills.

TIP! If you have a high school level basketball player for a kid, be sure their core muscles are properly trained. The core muscles are the hips, lower back muscles and the abdominal muscles.

One great thing to do if you wish to be prepared while playing is to make sure your back isn’t turned to the ball. You must always be prepared to receive a pass and you need to know where players are on the court. Also, watch for areas to open up so you can make an easy basket.

TIP! Good footwork is important when you’re posting up in the paint. Although a strong presence in the key is important, beating your opponent to good spots on the floor is more important.

When working out, focus on building your core strength and perfecting your footwork. Your body will be more stable and easier to move when you have strength in your core muscles. You should get a good workout in your hips, buttocks, back and abs. Just like with boxing, you can do a little speed and footwork training with a jump rope.

TIP! When an injury occurs while you are playing ball, don’t keep playing with pain. Basketball is physically challenging, and injuries are not uncommon.

If you’re shooting isn’t what you’d like it to be, make sure that your shoulders are in the correct position. You won’t be able to make a shot if your shoulders aren’t in the right position. One area of focus should be to keep your shoulders aligned straight toward the hoop. The dominant shoulder needs to be lined up with the rim.

Free Throw

TIP! Develop and use a consistent routine for shooting free throws. If you’re not consistent you’ll find yourself missing free throws.

To help perfect your free throw abilities you should perform a consistent routine. For example, many people touch their foreheads or tap their chest before making a free throw shot. As long as it’s quick, using a consistent routine can help your body retain the memory to make those shots after your “ritual.”

TIP! Take charge when the opportunity presents itself. When you take a charge, you have the opportunity to get a defensive stop, your team gets the ball and an additional foul is set up against the other team.

Practice looking in a different direction when you pass. This should befuddle your opponent. If you do it right, the look makes members of the opposing team look in the wrong direction, which gives the person to whom you passed the ball plenty of time to make the shot. It can be quite powerful.

TIP! Change your pace up to throw the offense off. When running in the direction of the net, straighten up while planting the front foot.

Be sly on your soles to catch rebounds from free-throws your own team members are making. You need to seek out a way to quickly slide around your opponent and be able to quickly react to the ball. By doing this, you can increase your chance to get the rebound despite starting in a disadvantageous position.

TIP! Strength training can be a major help in basketball. In order to be the best you can at basketball, you need to be strong and hardy.

Take a charge if you can. Taking charges gives you a chance for earning a defensive stop, gives your team the ball, and gives one more foul called in your favor. This is a great way to take control of the court and intimidate the other team.

TIP! You can strengthen you weaker hand by using it as much as possible, for instance open jars or even brush your teeth. If your ability to use that hand starts to improve, the benefits to your basketball playing talents will be substantial.

Remain low when playing defense. This stance will keep you ready for whatever comes your way. Be in the correct defensive stance all the time. When you have to break out of stance to block a shot, get back into form as quickly as possible.

TIP! In order to better your shooting skills, you must practice shooting hundreds of times each day from various position on the court. An even better way to improve your accuracy is to practice shooting after pulling up from a dribble.

To improve three-point shooting, do it from NBA distance at the very least. The standard line and college lines are much closer. Hitting from the NBA range makes you get deeper-ranged looks than the defense will be guarding you at.

TIP! When rebounding, hit the floor with your legs wide apart. Keep your hands along any side and hold it up to your chest tightly.

Use the hand you aren’t dribbling with to keep the opponent away from the ball. You can’t push on your opponent, but you should use your non-dribbling arm to protect the ball. By doing this, the ball will be better protected and you will have better control of the ball.

TIP! Your position immediately before and after a rebound can help determine whether or not you will keep possession. Use both feet to jump with power and balance, and use both hands to grab the ball.

Be sure you’re doing the right kinds of exercises off the court to help you on it. Sprinting exercises can help you to become faster, while running for long distances can assist you in making it through the whole game. Lift weights to build your power. This is also good for making you much more relaxed while you’re shooting the ball.

TIP! Try to force your opponent to rely on their non-dominant hand. If they’re right handed, step into them using your left foot; this will force them to switch sides.

Dribble in a rhythmic way until you desire to catch the opposing player off guard. You can surprise the opponent by changing up your dribbling. Both the speed and the sound will contribute to confusing the player that is guarding you.

TIP! Try to always know the location of the ball once it leaves someone’s hands. Rebounds are one of the most important parts of the game.

By learning important tips and taking them to the practice court, eventually you will see how much better you get at this game. Look at videos and blogs, and make sure you read more articles, so you can always keep learning. Grasp as much knowledge as you can to help simplify the game for you.