TIP! Make sure to dribble properly. You need to use the tips of your fingers rather than your hand’s palm when you are dribbling.

Basketball is something for everyone, whether you’re a guy or gal. Folks of all descriptions have the ability to appreciate the joys of basketball. Get a group of friends together and show off your moves. Wait, what did you learn? Continue reading this article to learn new things that you can try.

TIP! Always dribble with your head up and looking forward. Anyone who watching the ball while they dribble surely needs to spend more time in the gym practicing.

Practice your bounce pass. This means your pass should be aimed towards the receiving player at the level of his waist. Letting the ball bounce close to the other person will help the accuracy of your pass. At the same time, take into account any other extraneous factors that may affect the pass.

Free throws are as much mental as they are physical. You must be mentally strong to be a consistent free throw shooter. Relax yourself and concentrate on your shot.

TIP! If you wish to do better with basketball, you have to focus on what you’re good at. Your talents might not make you a star, but when you make the most of your strengths, you might better contribute to your team.

Frequently train yourself on your pass catching moves. Practice catching errant throws along with perfect passes. When the pressure is on, not every pass will come straight to you. Be a better teammate by anticipating a bad pass to make sure it doesn’t get into the opponents hands.

TIP! Teach yourself to throw bounce passes correctly. Proper bounce passes ought to hit the recipient at the level of their waist.

You need to practice more than defeating a zone defense. 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. Be sure to practice for this eventuality so you will not become rattled and lose the game.

TIP! Remember to practice a lot of different possibilities so that you will not limit your game. The majority of game play might take place in the zone, but that doesn’t mean that the opposing team will not try to catch you off guard.

If you’re going to be a jump shooter, don’t lift too many weights. Perimeter players don’t need the muscle strength that is necessary for other team members. Some pro shooting guards make their arms large enough to decrease their own field goal percentage.

TIP! If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, be sure they’re working on their core muscles. Core muscles are comprised of the hips, lower back, and abdominal muscles.

You can learn to trick the opposing team. Back passes are a great way to confuse other players. Perform this pass by holding the ball using your dominant hand. Then, put the ball around your back. Flick your wrists in the direction that it must travel. Doing this will trick your opponent.

TIP! If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. It’s a challenging sport that’s very physical, and you have the ability to get injured.

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. This will give you court awareness and keep you from being surprised by quick passes or turnover potentials. Always scout the court for areas that will open up and allow you to make a clear shot.

TIP! Spreading the fingers is something you have to do to handle the ball right. This will keep the ball from getting away while you hold it.

If you’re looking to be the best defensive player that you can be, you’ll want to know your opponent. Watch games if you can and look at their tendencies. For example, you should know which of the players are left-handed and which are right-handed. Once you understand the opposition, you will now how to mount your defense. Strong defenders are knowledgeable defenders.

TIP! One thing to consider if your shooting percentage drops is that your shoulders may be inconsistent when you are shooting. If they’re in a poor position, no matter your skill level, you will be unable to make the shot.

Make your forearms and hands stronger so you can handle the ball better. Try doing some wrist curls as they are particularly effective in honing your dribble skills. Never assume you can just stand somewhere, catch and then shoot. The ball should always be in control and moving.

Strength Training

TIP! If you wish to shoot free throws better, you have to have a routine that’s consistent. When you stay consistent, you get better success.

To increase your basketball playing abilities, consider strength training exercises. Stamina and strength are two things you need to do well in this sport. Small kids who play stand to reap real benefits from strengthening their legs and arms. As they grow and become teenagers, weight-lifting can be beneficial. When you’re an adult you have to be sure to do strength training to do well on the court.

TIP! Drills should be done where you attempt to get your basketball up the court within five dribbles or even less than that. This may seem quite difficult at first, but once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you’ll have great speed and stride length.

Armed with the information presented here, you can enjoy your next basketball game with confidence and flair. With the advice from this article on your side, your game is sure to improve. This is supposed to be a fun game! No matter what, though, winning is always a great feeling.