TIP! A good tip is to practice your layups on a daily basis. Layups comprise approximately 80 percent of all shots.

Many people love the fun game of basketball. Nonetheless, it is no simple matter to become a basketball star. Even if you aren’t the most athletic person in the world, you can still enjoy playing the game. Continue to read and learn more about basketball.

TIP! There is a lot of pressure when shooting free throws. You may know how to make a free throw but if your focus is off, then you will miss.

Keep your head up when you dribble. Looking at your ball when you dribble indicates that you haven’t practiced enough. Take the ball with you wherever you go. Dribble the ball as you go about your day doing errands like walking the dog. Paying attention to the ball means you’re not paying attention to the rest of the game.

TIP! Be sure to watch professional games to learn some great tips and tricks to improve your game. Watch as many games on TV as you can.

If you typically handle the ball a lot, it pays to learn the crossover. Crossovers involve sending the basketball from one of your hands over to the other one. This must be done quickly to be successful. By having the ability to move either way quickly, you will become a better all-around player.

TIP! Passing quickly without dribbling is a great way to practice. Playing basketball without dribbling is very challenging, but your entire team will quickly improve their passing skills.

Balance is important when shooting. Everyone has watched a pro player drift out of bounds while still making their shot, but this isn’t something to emulate. This is simply an improvised move. You should have proper balance when making your shots, and over time this will lead to consistently making baskets.

Perfect Passes

TIP! If you have student that wants to play basketball for their high school team, they will need to spend some time training their core muscles. Focus on hips, lower back and abs.

Make sure that your regular practice includes catching of passes. You need to be able to retrieve perfect passes and not so perfect passes. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. Being able to get imperfect passes will limit turnovers.

TIP! If you’re shooting isn’t what you’d like it to be, make sure that your shoulders are in the correct position. When the shoulders are wrongly positioned, your shot is unlikely to succeed.

Remember to practice a lot of different possibilities so that you will not limit your game. A lot of the game is sure to be played in the zone, but your opponent could change to man-to-man coverage. If you haven’t trained yourself to counter this, you could lose any control you have over the game.

TIP! Always be aware of the locations of your feet and what they’re doing. An errant toe to the baseline while holding the ball will result in an “out of bounds” call.

As you exercise to improve your game, it is important to work on your footwork and strength. With strong core muscles, you will have better balance. Focus on the back, buttocks, and hip muscle groups. Jumping rope is great for improving your footwork and also helping you to gain speed.

TIP! The best free throws come as a result of routine. This can be any combination of movements that makes you feel comfortable and prepare for the shot.

Quickness is a blessing in basketball. Make an effort to do all things on the court more speedily than the opposing team. To speed up the pace of your play, you need to keep practicing. Do not try playing faster than you can. Playing beyond your speed cause the game to get out of control with various turnovers and errant passes.

TIP! Making a pass from between your legs is sometimes a good option when the opposing team is right on top of you. To practice this skill, bounce the ball between your legs so that it passes through as you step back and forth.

If the opposition is hot on your tail, pass between your legs. You can practice this technique by stepping forward or backward and bouncing the ball with force between your legs. Mastering this skill will provide you with a major advantage on the court.

TIP! To generate consistency with layups, leap from the opposite foot from the hand you use to shoot. Jump off your left foot when you shoot using your right hand.

To get more out of layups, take off using the foot that;s the opposite of your shooting hand. What this practically means is that if your right hand is your shooting hand, you need to take off with your left foot. This can help you to remain balanced, continue moving toward the hoop, and will keep your body between the defender and yourself.

TIP! The trick to grabbing a rebound on a teammate’s missed free-throw is to plan your footwork in advance. The defender below you will be moving toward you, so find a way to slip around him and get to the ball.

You must disrupt and upset the play of your opponent if you want to be successful as a defensive player. Force them to leave their comfort zone. Your defensive moves must be aggressive and executed properly. Do not allow them to choose the plays that they make. If you let them, you’ll be at their mercy. Rather, you move first so that you interfere with their rhythm.

TIP! Do drills where you try and get the basketball up a full-court in five dribbles or less. It isn’t impossible, it just takes practice.

Practice drills where you strive to make it across the full court within 5 dribbles. This may seem like an impossible challenge, but it will increase your stride length and your speed. This is a vital skill to give you points on fast break opportunities.

TIP! Make sure that you can see clearly. Vision is an integral part of making shots and catching passes.

Have two of your guards wait for the point guard to go past midcourt for the best results. Then your defending guards should encircle the point guard to trap him in place. Then, have the forwards on blocks run to the wing players. A pass should be thrown by the point guard for forwards to steal.

TIP! When dribbling you want to keep your knees bent. If you don’t bend your knees, you are more susceptible to having the ball stolen by the other team.

Are you ready to show everyone what you’ve got? Perhaps you need a bit of practice first. Stay motivated and keep your energy up while you play. Soon you’ll start to see how much you’ve improved because you put the advice you were given here into practice.