TIP! Watch your form while you dribble the ball. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm.

Basketball is a classic sport which is loved by all. However, only some people understands how to play the game really well. This article can help anyone, no matter their skill level, to improve their game and enjoy the sport much more.

Free Throw

TIP! Dribble while your head is up and your eyes are forward. You should never be looking at the basketball while dribbling.

Free throw practice is vitally important. This seems like an easy shot, but it is quite hard. When practicing your free throw, concentrate on where you want the ball to go when it leaves your hands. First, keep the ball in front of you and at eye level. Keep looking at the goal while visualizing the basketball going through the hoop. Next, take your shot seeing the ball move in the trajectory you envisaged for it.

TIP! Making free throws are almost as much a mental part of the game as they are a physical part. You may know how to make a free throw but if your focus is off, then you will miss.

Proper balance is essential when shooting. Your knees should be bent with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders. They have just improvised, is all. If you are able to improve your sense of balance, then you will find that your percentage of successful shots improves.

TIP! Work on catching passes frequently. When you practice, mix it up so that you can catch perfect passes and errant throws.

If you want to be a jump shooter, avoid pumping iron excessively. Strong muscles are certainly useful for basketball, but you can overdo it if you plan to play on the perimeter. Many guards in the pros have developed their arm muscles too big, which has really harmed their shooting percentage.

TIP! You may get injured while practicing or playing. Don’t try to play if you are hurt.

Ask fellow team members what they like about your skills on the court. Do you have an area where you excel? Continue to develop the skills that play into your natural abilities. When you find out what they think, you may learn a lot.

TIP! Find out what your teammates like most about how you play? Is there something that you excel at? They may say that you are a great team defender or are always playing with excellent speed. Find out how your game appears to others and develop your skills accordingly.

Don’t let the ball go behind your back. You must always be prepared to receive a pass and you need to know where players are on the court. Also, you need to stay aware of areas which might open up and give you an easy basket.

TIP! If the opposing team is guarding you to much, you can try a pass between your legs. To practice this skill, bounce the ball between your legs so that it passes through as you step back and forth.

The key to ball control is to spread your fingers out. This can help you avoid losing it when you hold it. Also, keep your palm off the ball. The only things that should touch the ball are your fingers, as you shoot or pass.

TIP! If you wish to dribble the ball better, you have to start using your hand that’s considered the weak one. Being ambidextrous on the court makes it more difficult for defenders to figure out what you will do next.

Understanding your opponent is a good way to shut him down on defense. You should be look at scouting reports, practicing techniques and watch tapes. You should know if a player is right or left handed. Studying your opponent is one of the best ways to be able to win the game. Knowledge is power, even in basketball.

TIP! You need to constantly disrupt your opponents in order to be a great defensive player. Force them to leave their comfort zone.

Speed is a key attribute in the game of basketball. If you want the advantage, you’ve got more quickly. Regular drilling will increase your speed. But don’t try to go even faster than you actually are. Playing beyond your speed can result in bad passes and excessive turnovers.

TIP! Workout to increase flexibility and strength in your hands and forearms. Wrist curls are great for working wrist muscles and improving your dribbling.

When you are passing the ball, get used to looking in the other direction. This may confuse your opponents, greatly. When you do this right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. It can be a really powerful move in the game.

TIP! Good footwork can really help you to get those rebounds. The defender may be coming toward you, so its important to slip away from him and get the ball.

In order to perfect your layup shooting technique practice, take off with your left foot if you shoot with your right hand and vice versa. Thus, if you tend to shoot with the right hand, make sure to jump off with the left. That will build your balance and help you stay in the right position.

TIP! Never pass up a charging opportunity. This play gets your team possession of the ball and a foul against your opponent.

To improve ball handling, consider focusing workouts on your forearms and hands. Wrist curls are especially effective at making you better able to handle a basketball like you could dribble sleepwalking. 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! Keep your knees bent while dribbling. The basketball is much harder to control if you stand tall and the opposing team can snatch it more easily.

Be certain that your vision is the best it can be. This means more than just being able to see well enough to play, but “seeing” the court deeply. You want your peripheral vision to be as good as it can. Being aware of the entire court will help you to better anticipate who will move where.

TIP! Only stop dribbling if you want to shoot or pass. When you stop dribbling, then you limit your options.

Always maintain a defensive stance when you are trying to properly defend the goal. Stay in the right position by pushing off of your opposite foot. Keep your body constantly facing toward your opponent in order to ensure the best possible defense.

TIP! Learn how make your opponent alter their path. Whether you’re playing defense or offense, it’s crucial to control the other player’s movements.

Maintain a rhythm to the dribble until you are ready to surprise the opponent. Your opponent is looking for the best opportunity to steal the ball, and switching it up can break their concentration. The change of sound and speed can confuse the opponent.

TIP! When you have the ball, know when to try to make a shot and then when to pass it off to someone who has a better shot. You’ll feel better if you’re able to help your teammates score the winning shot than you would if you cost your team the game.

Basketball is appealing to people of all types. Knowledge is the key to skill and enjoyment of the game. Refer to the information presented here to enhance your game in an ongoing manner.

Available for Amazon Prime