TIP! It is important that you perfect dribbling the ball. When you dribble, only use your fingertips instead of your palms.

Basketball has been popular for a very long period of time, as it allows folks a way to have fun and compete at the same time. If you are interested in the game, you must have the proper skills and the right mindset. Reading through the article here is going to teach you what you need to know, so continue on.

TIP! Get good at making free throws. That’s a shot that appears simple but is actually difficult in reality.

Practice hitting your free throws. These shots may seem easy, but they can be quite difficult. 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. Eye the basket and imagine the ball swishing down into it. When you shoot, keep the visualized trajectory in mind.

Paying Attention

TIP! A great way to bolster your basketball ability is to observe those who are considered to be the best in the sport. Attend as many professional games as you can, watch the pros on TV, or watch video of professionals.

When dribbling, make sure you hold your head high and look straight ahead. If you are looking at the ball for any reason while dribbling, you have not put in enough practice. Take the basketball around off-court wherever you are. Walking to your mailbox? Dribble the ball. Paying attention to the ball means you’re not paying attention to the rest of the game.

TIP! Practice your passes and catches frequently. When you practice, mix it up so that you can catch perfect passes and errant throws.

Making free throws are almost as much a mental part of the game as they are a physical part. Your body can be trained to make free throws, but your mind has to be focused on success if you want to make the basket. Relax yourself and concentrate on your shot.

TIP! Don’t pump a lot of iron if you wish to become a jump shooter. Strong muscles are certainly useful for basketball, but you can overdo it if you plan to play on the perimeter.

Make sure to practice catching passes. During practice you should come up with drills where you perfect catching bad passes along with the good ones. During the course of a game, you can expect there to be many errant passes. Make sure that your teammates also practice this type of pass with you.

TIP! If you slump when you shoot, look at what your shoulders are doing. When you’re in a shooting slump it usually means that your shoulders are not square to the hoop.

If you have a child who has expressed interest in becoming a basketball player in high school, make sure he trains his core muscles. They should train their lower back, hips, and abs. The core connects the lower and upper extremities, and if a person has a weak core, they will fail to excel in athletic pursuits. Building a solid core helps maintain the leg strength that lies at the core of a strong game.

TIP! To increase the efficiency of your layups, begin your takeoff on the foot opposite from the hand you’re shooting with. Practice shooting using your right hand, then jump off your left foot.

When posting up, solid footwork is essential to getting yourself into position to shoot. Although it’s important to have a physical presence underneath the basket, it’s more important that you get in a good place before your opponent can. When you are in position, you must secure your spot. The key to this relies on having good footwork.

TIP! If you want improve your free throws, you have to develop a routine. If you’re not consistent you’ll find yourself missing free throws.

Don’t play when you are injured! Basketball is physically challenging, and injuries are not uncommon. If you keep on playing after sustaining an injury, you may make the injury even more serious. If it is a serious injury, see a doctor.

TIP! If you want to better your dribble, start practicing with your weaker hand. It will be much easier to blow past your opponent if you can dribble with both hands.

What do your teammates admire about your skills? Find out what they perceive as your best skill. You could potentially be excellent in one area while you are busy focusing on another, unaware. Find out what others think your natural abilities are, and be certain to keep developing those skills.

Free Throw

TIP! To help ward off your opponent, practice using your other hand to help shield him away from you. You don’t need to be shoving the opponents, but you’re able to keep them away by using the arm that isn’t dribbling as a separator.

A solid routine is necessary for improvement in free throw shooting. If you aren’t consistent, you will find that your shooting is off. In order to make your free throw perfect, you’ll need to practice the shot many times and get into a routine. Failing to stick with your routine can adversely affect your shooting accuracy.

TIP! Do off court exercises that will improve your game on the court. For example, building up your stamina will help you play your hardest throughout the game.

Your game will be easier and more fun once you are equipped with the right information. Don’t stop with this article, keep looking for more information that will help to enhance your skill set. Keep this advice in mind and keep working hard.