TIP! Correct dribbling is key. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm.

Do you feel like basketball could be a great game if you knew more about it? You aren’t alone! Lots of folks watch basketball games and marvel at what the professionals can do. In this article, you will learn some professional basketball tricks.

TIP! When using the ball a lot, you must relearn a crossover. This technique passes the ball back and forth from the right hand to the left hand.

It’s natural to focus on offensive abilities when practicing the sport of basketball, but your practice time needs to focus on defense. Defense is what wins basketball games. While offense seems to get the praise, defense must be stellar in order to win.

TIP! Free throws are mental as well as physical. You must train both your body and your mind.

Learn how to hit a free throw shot. This is something that seems simple, but in reality it can be hard. Make sure that you’re applying the following technique when practicing. Start out by holding the basketball right in front of you. Keep your eyes on the goal and visualize the ball going into the goal. Once you’ve visualized this, take your shot as you just saw it in your head.

TIP! Don’t just practice playing against a zone defense. 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.

In order to help you improve your basketball acumen you should watch how the pros play. It is important that you see how other people play the game. This is a great way to learn new techniques to try out on the court.

TIP! Want to make the other team not know what’s going on? Try the back pass. Perform this pass by holding the ball using your dominant hand.

You need to practice more than defeating a zone defense. While a great portion of a game will be concentrated in the zone, your rivals could opt to go to man-to-man covering to keep you guessing. If you haven’t practiced against it, you could end up losing your grip on the game quite quickly.

TIP! Perform skills, practice your ball handling and shoot free throws when you are practicing alone. Basketball is sport played in teams, but there are times when no one is around to play with you.

A good way to practice sound passing is to drill without dribbling. Playing basketball without dribbling is very challenging, but your entire team will quickly improve their passing skills. Don’t get frustrated if it’s hard at first because it will get better over time.

TIP! If your child is training to be a high school basketball player, make sure that they train their core muscles properly. This will involve their lower back, hips, and abs.

Don’t pump a lot of iron if you wish to become a jump shooter. Even though having strong muscles is great for the inside game, being on the outside it can harm you when shooting the ball. Some guards increase their upper body to the point of harming their field goals.

Core Muscles

TIP! Watch tapes of yourself playing basketball to get a more objective perspective. Are you able to look at your skills in a different light? Look at how you did and judge yourself.

Your child should work on their core muscles if they want to become a basketball player in high school. Core muscles are comprised of the hips, lower back, and abdominal muscles. 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. A strong core helps you jump higher and run faster.

TIP! To be a strong defender, you must have the ability to disrupt and interfere with the opponents’ plans. Make them uncomfortable.

Have someone record the games you play so that you can watch it to check out your form. You can see where you can improve and what plays you missed. Be honest when assessing, but avoid being overly critical. A realistic view of yourself can be quite helpful.

TIP! Be slick with your feet so you can get a rebound from a teammate. The defender that’s below you will move towards you, so try to slip by them to obtain the ball.

In the final analysis, perhaps you enjoyed basketball before, but now you really understand it. Hopefully, you’ll be ready to jump in and start playing now! Get out there on the court so you can utilize these learned strategies.