Even the basketball greats don’t know all there is to know about this wonderful game. The game changes constantly, players get better and you have to keep your skills sharp. Are you interested in having a step-up on your opponents? Continue reading to find out more.
Try learning how to hit free throw shots. That’s a shot that appears simple but is actually difficult in reality. Practice frequently using these techniques. Hold the ball level with your face. Visualize the ball sailing into the hoop. Next, shoot with just the trajectory you saw.
Learn how a bounce pass is thrown. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player at waist level. Remember you should bounce the ball approximately three-quarters of the distance between yourself and the receiving player. This all depends on many factors.
Free throws are mental as well as physical. You are able to train your hands and legs to free throw well, but if you think you will fail, you will. Relax yourself and focus on the hoop.
Keep your weight lifting to a minimum as a jump shooter. You do need muscle conditioning and strength, but you can have too much when it comes to shooting field goals. You might see a decrease in your goal percentages if your biceps become too large.
You must know your opponent in order to be tough on defense. Watch taped games, and keep current with scouting reports. Remember which player shoots left and which shoots right. When you know some of the other player’s moves, you’ll have a leg up during a game as you’ll be able to predict what he is going to do. A person that knows about defending makes a strong defender.
When trying to improve your strength to have better basketball footwork, work on building up your core. Your body will maintain balance and move more quickly when your core muscles are strong. Work the abdomen, buttocks, hip, and back muscles. As with boxing, you can increase footwork speed and dexterity by jumping rope.
Watch your own recorded games, and look for weak areas. You may see things differently as you observe the game and notice things you missed in the game. Evaluate what you see honestly, but don’t be too hard on yourself. The reality of your play is often very different from your perception.
Practice looking in the opposite direction when you make a pass. You are able to confuse opponents with this technique. 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. Practicing this pass can really help to give your team the winning edge.
Practice moving the ball from one courtside to the other in just 5 dribbles of the ball. While this is a challenging goal, working toward it will make you a much better player. That translates to smooth layups during fast breaks.
You should ensure that you can clearly see. Not to just be able to see the scoreboard, but to actually make a shot and catch a pass. Having excellent peripheral vision is vital to do well in this game. If you look across the whole game and not just focus on the ball, you can see oncoming defensive pressure in advance, as well as open teammates.
You need to take charge when the opportunity presents itself. This allows you to get the ball back for your team, setting up a foul. This may completely break the competition down.
Keep changing up your pace to help keep your opponents on their toes. As you run towards the net, plant your front foot and begin to straighten up. The guard will think you are slowing down and will also straighten themselves. You should push and get past them as they straighten themselves.
Only stop dribbling if you want to shoot or pass. You are limited once you cease dribbling. If you can’t shoot or pass, then you will have to pivot with your back foot. This causes you to be wide open to some double teaming by the other team and increase your chances of having the ball stolen.
Keep your dribbling consistent until the time you want to confuse your opponent. Dribble consistently, then break it up by dribbling fast. This will keep your opponent off balance so you can get in a good shot. It’s not just about going fast, it’s about changing the sound so the person gets a little confused.
As you hit the ground after catching a rebound, improve your balance by spreading your legs wider than your shoulder span as you land. Put one hand on each side of the basketball, and hold it against your chest. Don’t let your elbows poke another player or you will gain a foul.
When guarding a person that is stronger or taller, be sure you stay in between that person and the player with the ball. Keeping your body in position will prevent them from getting a pass or being in position to shoot.
The sound advice above should give you the confidence you have been trying to achieve. These tips were written to better your game. Continue to practice and learn. Get better and make sure you don’t forget what you just learned.