TIP! Dribble properly. When dribbling the basketball, use your fingertips rather than the palm of your hand.

As far as basketball goes, the best players don’t even know everything about the sport. Not only must you know the basics of basketball, you must also keep up with the many and frequent changes as they evolve. Do you want to have a hand up? Continue reading to gain the edge that you need to succeed.

TIP! When dribbling, focus on what’s in front of you by keeping your head up. If you have to look at the ball while dribbling, that means you need to practice more.

Practice your layup shot often. This will make up about eighty percent of shots during any basketball game. When you practice, run full speed ahead at the basket, jump, and shoot. Jump to the net and concentrate on shooting the ball in a specific location on the backboard.

TIP! Connecting on your free throws is as much mental as it is physical. You may know how to make a free throw but if your focus is off, then you will miss.

Make sure, no matter what else happens, you can see where the ball is. That will keep you aware, so you don’t get surprised by turnovers or quick passes. When your eyes are constantly assessing the game, you will be better able to make easy shots.

TIP! Interested in tricking your opponents? Try a back pass. To do this pass, hold on to the ball with your dominant hand.

You must know your opponent in order to be tough on defense. Watch tapes of their games and see how others move on the court. Also know which is their dominant and weak hands. Once you understand the opposition, you will now how to mount your defense. A person that knows about defending makes a strong defender.

TIP! Build hand signals so passes are more successful. One thing that can frustrate you when playing basketball is to try and pass while a player is trying to run to the basket.

If you have someone who can tape your game, you can view the recording to see how well you performed on the court. While reviewing the tape, look for opportunities you may have missed during the game. Be honest with yourself but don’t be too harsh. You can learn a lot by watching your plays instead of just trying to remember what you did.

TIP! Keeping your fingers spread will facilitate better ball handling. You will have better luck holding onto the ball as well.

Having a pre-free-throw shot routine will help you become dependable at free throws. This could mean two dribbles before taking your free throw, bending your knees, or some other thing you do to get into a rhythm before shooting. As you adopt this routine, it becomes easier for your mind and body to prepare for the shot.

TIP! It’s great to be quick in basketball. If you want the advantage, you’ve got more quickly.

Between the leg passes are usually helpful when another team’s players are riding you hard. Refine this skill by bouncing a ball with force between the legs while stepping backwards or forwards. Mastering this move can help give you an advantage on the court.

TIP! In order to be good at rebounding the ball off a missed free throw, you must be quick with your feet. Defenders will start to move at you, so you need to get around them to grab the ball.

Use deception by looking elsewhere when you make passes. This trick can be used successfully to confuse defenders. By looking in the opposite direction, your teammate has a few extra seconds to make the shot. It can be a really powerful move in the game.

TIP! Take charges whenever you have the opportunity. This helps get the ball for the team and allows another foul on the opponent.

A good defensive strategy will keep your opponent on their toes. Force them away from their comfort zone. Execute your moves with aggression. Do not let them call the shots. This will give your opponent the chance to run over you. Instead, disrupt their rhythm by making the first move.

TIP! If you want to stay in a good defensive position, simply avoid breaking out of your defensive stance. Shifting your weight back and forth between your feet will help you to stay in position.

You need to work on your forearms and your hands to handle the ball more efficiently. For example, you can improve dribbling skills by adding wrist curls to your routine. Don’t believe you will be able to simply plant yourself someplace, receive the ball and sink a shot. Your ability to handle the ball will affect your success on the court.

TIP! Use wrist curls to increase the strength in your weaker arm. Using both hands when playing is an important skill if you can develop it when you’re not playing.

Perform drills where you attempt to get the ball up full-court in 5 dribbles or less. This can seem impossible, but if you do it, you’ll get incredible speed and length. This will help you accomplish great layups on those fast breaks.

Strength Training

TIP! Never stop your dribble unless you are going to shoot or pass the ball. You have few options remaining to you after you stop dribbling.

You can really up your performance on the court by doing strength training. In order to play well, you will need to work on both your strength and stamina. Basketball requires a lot of sprinting and jumping. Use weights when they get older. As an adult, a player must continue strength training for optimum performance.

TIP! Practice dribbling by switching momentum. This will help you learn to dribble during all different kinds of situations.

Don’t stop dribbling until you are ready to pass or shoot. The moment you cease dribbling, you have given yourself very few options. If you decide not to shoot or pass, all you can do is pivot on your rear 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.

TIP! Control the ball at a level that is below your knees. This will lower the chances of your opponent being able to steal the ball.

Remember that your diet has a great affect on your basketball performance. You need to eat carbs, fats and protein on game days. Enjoy lean proteins, whole grains and nuts. You should use salt and sugar sparingly.

TIP! Make sure your off-court exercise is appropriate to help your on-court game. Sprint running can help improve on-court speed, while distance running is sure to boost your stamina.

After reading the above tips, you should feel confident in your skills on the court. You need all the information you can get to get and stay on top. Do not stop learning, and do not stop practicing. Use the advice from this article to help improve your game.