TIP! You must have good balance to shoot well. Having good balance will allow you to keep better control of the ball as well as play a better defense.

Do you dream of becoming a huge basketball star? Don’t just dream about being great! Learn some great techniques that will help you attain your dream. The following article has professional tips to help you become a star player.

TIP! Focus on your strong point to help you become a better ball player. Even though your best abilities might not make you stand out each game, it is sure to help you contribute to the overall success of the team.

It is tempting to concentrate just on offense when just staring out, but defensive practice is absolutely vital. Basketball games are often won by the defense. The offense gets lots of attention, but if the defense is lacking no basketball team will ever win a game.

TIP! Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. Up to eighty percent of the baskets attempted in a game are layups.

When dribbling, make sure that you look forward and keep your head up. By focusing your sight on the ball, you cannot be fully aware of your surroundings. Take the ball with you wherever you go. Dribble as you walk down the street. If you look at the ball, you’re unable to see what’s going on down the court before you.

TIP! Don’t just practice your game against the zone defense. A lot of the game is sure to be played in the zone, but your opponent could change to man-to-man coverage.

Knowing how to perform a crossover is a must when you handle the basketball frequently. A crossover means moving the ball between your hands. Crossovers must be done quickly to keep defenders at bay. When done correctly, the crossover dribble help you to change direction in order to move down the court efficiently.

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.

Every great player understands how to properly perform a bounce pass. If done properly, the pass will land near waist level with the opposite player. A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the receiving player is. Many other factors will affect it, too.

TIP! If you want to correctly handle the ball, you need to know where to place your fingers. That makes sure that you don’t lose the ball when you hold it.

Make sure that your regular practice includes catching of passes. You want to practice catching perfect passes and bad passes. In the middle of a heated game, not all attempted passes will go exactly where you want them to go. Therefore, learn how to catch any type of pass so that you can help lead your team to victory.

TIP! Watch your shoulders and their position if you notice yourself developing a slump in your shooting. When your shoulders are positioned improperly, you will never make the basket regardless of how good your abilities are.

Improve your passing abilities by challenging yourself to perform drills without actually dribbling. It is hard to play with no dribbling, but it will help your team make great passes. Don’t get too frustrated if you’re having a hard time when you start because after a while passes are going to be more accurate.

TIP! Always be aware of the locations of your feet and what they’re doing. Stepping ever so slightly out of bounds while you have the ball can cause an overturn.

When you work out, try focusing on building core strength and bettering your footwork. Your balance will improve if you strengthen your core. Work out your hips, back and abdomen. Jump rope like the boxers do to increase your footwork speed.

TIP! Use deception by looking elsewhere when you make passes. You can really confuse your opponents this way.

Watch your shoulders if you obtain a shooting slump. If your shoulders aren’t properly positioned, your shot is not going to go in. Your shoulders should always be squared towards the hoop. Try to line your dominant shoulder up with the rim.

TIP! It can be great help to do strength training when you’re training for basketball. It is impossible to succeed if you lack endurance and strength.

Speed is everything in basketball. Speed always gives you an edge over your opponent. To increase your quickness, you must practice playing fast while running drills. Do not play beyond you capabilities, however. Playing beyond your own capabilities sends the game spinning past your ability to control it, and turnovers are bound to occur.

TIP! You can use your guards and point guard to trap an opponent with a 2-3 zone defense. They should then trap the point guard.

Stay conscious of your foot motion and placement. Stepping even a toe on the baseline with the ball in your hands means you are out of bounds. If you travel without dribbling, you’re going to get yourself into a turnover situation. You may need to keep your feet planted to avoid getting called for charging.

TIP! You can improve a weak hand by using it in daily life. If you’re able to become more ambidextrous, you are going to be able to better control it on the court.

If you have someone who can tape your game, you can view the recording to see how well you performed on the court. You’ll likely see ways that you can improve. Don’t be too critical, but do be honest. Sometimes you think of yourself as something you are not.

TIP! Until the moment you are prepared to shoot or pass, you must dribble constantly. After dribbling is stopped, your choices are very limited.

Stay in your defensive stance while defending your basket against opponents. Slide your feet to the sides or push off using the opposite foot to always be in position. Don’t forget not to cross your feet, and you won’t be easy to get around.

TIP! If possible, keep action beneath the knees. This is going to make things harder for your opponents if they want to steal the ball.

To build up your skills with your weaker hand, use it for everything from opening jars to brushing your teeth. You will have more control as you use it to do daily activities that require dexterity. This also can significantly help your basketball game.

TIP! Diet is essential when it comes to playing ball. If you want to have plenty of energy to play, you should take in plenty of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and lean sources of protein.

After having read this article, you now have a few things that you can go practice. Practice consistently to build confidence. Keep these tips in mind and show off your newly acquired skills.