TIP! Make sure you dribble properly by keeping your head held up, facing forward. If you need to look at the ball while dribbling, you’ll need to practice more.

Millions of people love the game of basketball. In order to truly enjoy the game, it is important to understand it as completely as possible. This article is meant to help readers do precisely that.

TIP! Your balance is an important aspect to consider when you are shooting. Your knees should be bent with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders.

Practice shooting free throws. These shots may seem easy, but they can be quite difficult. Practice often using the following technique. Place the ball right in line with your face. Use visualization to imagine the goal occurring. Then try shooting the ball along the trajectory that was in your mind.

TIP! Free throws are as much mental as they are physical, like other parts of the game. It’s easy to physically train for a free throw, yet mental preparation is also needed.

Learn to crossover if you get the ball often. A crossover happens when you switch hands the ball is in. This action most be quick to work out. Once you’ve learned how to use it, the crossover dribble makes it easy to navigate the court in a more effective way.

Bounce Pass

TIP! It is important to practice catching the ball from others as much as passing. When practicing, try catching great passes as well as really bad passes.

Learn how a bounce pass is thrown. A good bounce pass should hit the player on the receiving end at waist level. One good rule is for you to bounce the basketball most of the way toward the other player. Practicing your bounce pass is important so that you can use it skillfully during games.

TIP! Build hand signals so passes are more successful. Basketball passes can be really frustrating when shot wrong.

Free throws are as much mental as they are physical, like other parts of the game. Making the right physical motions is easier than having the right mind set. Relax and concentrate on your basket to increase your free throws.

TIP! If you experience a basketball injury, don’t keep playing. It is possible to receive an injury when playing basketball because it is a sport that is physically challenging.

Practice catching passes often. You need to be able to retrieve perfect passes and not so perfect passes. During a game, not all of your passes will hit the mark. Therefore, learn how to catch any type of pass so that you can help lead your team to victory.

TIP! One of the most vital attributes one needs to play basketball is quickness. You’ll have an advantage if you’re faster than an opponent.

There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. Give the back pass a try! Use the dominant hand whenever trying a behind the back pass. With that same hand, bring the ball around your back. The last step is to flick your wrist in the direction you want the ball to land. This is a good way to trick your opponents.

TIP! It’s important to know where you have your feet and also what they’re doing. Out of bounds will happen with even one toe over the baseline of the lined play area on the court.

Keep your skills sharp in the off-season by playing different challenging games. While basketball is a team sport, sometimes you just can’t find others to play with. That is okay. You can still accomplish a lot when playing solo. Maybe work on those free throws or practice your pivoting. There is always something to practice.

TIP! If an opponent is staying with you, try passing the ball between your legs. Go forwards and backwards with the ball to practice bouncing it.

Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a shot when you are posting up. While physical positioning is important, it is even more essential to move quicker than an opponent. When you are in position, you must secure your spot. Practicing your footwork is important to master these skills.

TIP! Practice dribbling with both hands, dribble on both sides of your body and learn to dribble in front of you while taking large strides. It will be much easier to blow past your opponent if you can dribble with both hands.

Ask your teammates what they like about how you play. Are you great at any one thing? You may be quick with your footwork or are always there for backing them up. See what others view as your own natural skills, then be sure you retain and develop them more.

TIP! Perform drills in which you move the ball up the court in just five dribbles. It isn’t impossible, it just takes practice.

To get more out of layups, take off using the foot that;s the opposite of your shooting hand. So, if you shoot using your left hand, launch with your right foot. Your body will be better balanced and moving in the direction of the basket. Your body will also be kept between the defender and yourself.

Free Throws

TIP! Defensive players need to stay low. This will aid you as you jump and make it easier to react to the front man.

To help you shoot better free throws you need to come up with a consistent routine. Inconsistency does not make a better shot. You have to practice time and time again. Just keep repeating free throws, if you want to perfect that technique. If you don’t stick to your routine, you could miss the shot.

TIP! For your weaker hand, to build skills, use it off-court for as much as you can, from brushing teeth to opening jars. If you can train yourself to be ambidextrous, you will gain complete control of that hand.

Be sly on your soles to catch rebounds from free-throws your own team members are making. The person defending the position down-court from you will be coming at you, so you need to find any way you can to slide around him that gets you to the ball. Doing this lets you get a rebound freely and not commit a foul in the process.

TIP! Bend the knees when you dribble a basketball. You will have a hard time controlling the ball if you always stand straight and opponents will be able to steal the ball.

A great way to stay in a correct defensive stance is to always stay in position no matter what. To do this, avoid lurching or stepping across the floor; instead use smaller, shuffling steps to move with your opponent. Never cross your feet and your opponents will find you a difficult player.

TIP! Keep dribbling in a particular rhythm until you think it’s time to trick the opponent. By mixing up your regular dribbling rhythm with a faster pace, you will throw your opponent off guard, perhaps leaving you with an open shot or pass.

You’ll want to use the hand that you aren’t dribbling with as a barrier to protect the ball. Be careful not to push your opponent or you may get a foul. When dribbling, use it as a shield.

TIP! You should never double dribble. That happens when you stop one time, and start again in a few seconds.

Exercise off the court. Work on sprints to make you faster and build your stamina. If you need to perform better shots, work on your resistance by doing some weight lifting. The confidence this gives you will help you with your shooting.

TIP! You will be more balanced when landing after catching a rebound if you will land with legs spaced wider than shoulder-width apart. Hold the ball tightly against your chest with one hand on each side.

Remember that your diet has a great affect on your basketball performance. In order to be skilled at basketball you need to load up on carbs to give yourself plenty of energy. Peanut butter and nuts are great choices. Try not to use too much salt or sugar.

Double Dribbling

TIP! The best way to get through a zone defense is to penetrate with a controlled dribble. If you are able to get past your defender, the opposing team will have no option but to switch up their zones.

Avoid double dribbling. When you stop dribbling and then begin again is double dribbling. If you have already ceased dribbling, your only options are to pass or shoot the basketball. Whatever you do, do not start dribbling once you stop. If you double dribble the ball will be given to the other team.

TIP! Be aware of your weaknesses. Make sure you’re honest with yourself.

After catching a ball that has rebounded, land on your feet, spreading legs wider than your shoulders in order to get greater balance. Place your hands on both sides of the basketball while holding it close against your chest. Be mindful of your elbows, since hitting an opponent with them is a foul.

TIP! By focusing, you’ll learn drills quicker. You should look at practices the same way that you look at games.

Basketball has an inherent energy that makes it one of the most exciting sports to watch. Without sufficiently knowing the intricacies of basketball, you could feel lost with it. It is our sincere hope that this article contains information that will be helpful to basketball lovers of every skill and ability level.