TIP! If you have the ball a lot, learn to execute a crossover. Crossover dribble is switching hands while you’re dribbling.

Folks of all persuasions have long been enamored with the sport of basketball. There are many people that don’t know how to play. No matter your skill level, this article will provide you with some helpful tips.

TIP! To be a better basketball player you should concentrate on the things that make you great. Your talents might not make you a star, but when you make the most of your strengths, you might better contribute to your team.

Learn the best way to make your free throws. There are usually a lot of distractions when you are shooting free throws so you need to concentrate. Practice regularly and employe the technique that follows. To start off, hold the ball in front of you. Concentrate on the basket and visualize the basketball going in. Once you’ve visualized this, take your shot as you just saw it in your head.

TIP! Frequent pass catching practice is important. When you practice, mix it up so that you can catch perfect passes and errant throws.

Your balance is an important aspect to consider when you are shooting. Everyone has watched a pro player drift out of bounds while still making their shot, but this isn’t something to emulate. They are going with the flow when this occurs. Point your feet towards the basket, guide the ball with your weaker hand and push the ball away with your strong hand whenever you shoot the basketball.

TIP! One great way to pass good is to drill when you can without dribbling. It’s hard to play without dribbling, however, it can help you and your team create more accurate passes.

Keep practicing your layups. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game. Run full tilt to the basket, then smoothly jump and shoot. This will assist you in perfecting your ability to jump and then shoot.

Practice Catching

TIP! Ask your fellow team members which of your skills that they admire. Can they tell you what you’re really good at? It could be your speed, or it could be your back-up abilities.

It is important to practice catching the ball from others as much as passing. You should practice catching errant passes, along with perfectly executed ones. When the game is going on, every pass isn’t going to make it to its target. Cover for your teammates’ errant passes by developing the hands to cover their mistakes.

TIP! Understand your opponent. Review tapes and keep up with scouting reports.

If you are good at shooting the ball then the last thing you want to do is lift weights. Muscle strength is great for any position in basketball, you can have too much when it comes to perimeter play. Overdeveloped muscles could actually interfere with your score percentage.

Core Muscles

TIP! To become a great free thrower, practice and develop a routine you will use during each shot. That could include a set number of dribbles, knee-bends or some other type of movement.

If you have a child that is strength training for basketball, their core muscles should be properly developed. They should train their lower back, hips, and abs. A core that is not strong enough limits the linkage between arms and legs. Building strong core muscles will allow your to jump higher, run faster and maintain your balance.

TIP! To get the rebound from the free throw your teammate is making, you need to do some fancy footwork. Your defender will move towards you, so figure out how to slither past him and grab the ball.

Unseen passes can be avoided when proper hand signals are used by teammates. It can be frustrating to attempt to pass the ball to a team mate as that person is heading toward the basket. Hand signals help ensure that the player is ready to take the ball. Without a signal, the ball controller shouldn’t make a pass.

TIP! Perform drills where you attempt to get the ball up full-court in 5 dribbles or less. Although this might seem tricky in the beginning, this can really help your game if you can master this skill.

You can play a great defensive game if you know the opposition well. Watch tapes and stay up on scouting reports. Figure out which people are right or left handed. The more you understand what you are up against, the more likely you are to develop an effective strategy during games. A smart defender is someone who is good at his position.

TIP! Ensure that you have good court awareness. You will need it for more than checking the scoreboard or passing and shooting.

When your shooting isn’t accurate, check out your shoulder position. When the shoulders are wrongly positioned, your shot is unlikely to succeed. Be sure to keep the shoulders squared up to the hoop. Your dominant shoulder must be lined up with the rim.

TIP! Keep low when you play defense. This allows you to jump or react quicker.

Basketball brings pleasure to many different kinds of people. To truly enjoy the game, a player must possess both skill and knowledge. Keep the information from this piece close at hand, and your love of basketball will reach amazing new heights.