TIP! Know how to dribble the ball in the correct way. Proper dribbling technique involves use of the fingertips, not the palm of the hand.

Even the best players don’t fully know all the changes and intricacies of the game. It’s important to know the basics and keep up with changes. Are you interested in having a step-up on your opponents? Continue reading in order to gain that competitive edge.

TIP! Practice your free throw shot. It looks simple to do, but it isn’t that easy.

Dribble the ball the right way. When dribbling the basketball, use your fingertips rather than the palm of your hand. You’ll have a lot more control over the ball this way. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. Keep your eyes up.

TIP! You need good balance when you shoot. While some NBA players are able to launch a ball to the net mid-fall, this is not appropriate for most people.

When dribbling, focus on what’s in front of you by keeping your head up. If you have to look at the ball while dribbling, that means you need to practice more. Take the ball with you wherever you go. Practice in your home and wherever you walk. If you are looking at the ball, you cannot see what is happening down the court in front of you.

TIP! Free throws are as mental as physical. You may know how to make a free throw but if your focus is off, then you will miss.

Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. Most of the game is played in zone, but your opponent may try to switch things up to do man-to-man coverage. Failure to prepare for this type of tactic makes you more vulnerable and hurts your team.

TIP! Watch how the pros play basketball. Go to a bunch of professional games in person, watch them on television, or just get online to search for basketball videos.

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. Don’t be frustrated by how hard it is at first; you will get used to it.

TIP! Frequent pass catching practice is important. Practice catching errant throws along with perfect passes.

Quick and solid footwork is what it takes to make the shot when your posting up. Securing a good location is critical when playing basketball. Once you get into your position, you need to secure it. The key to this relies on having good footwork.

TIP! Don’t dribble during your drills. It is difficult playing without dribbling; however, it helps the team make better passes.

If you become injured when playing basketball, stop immediately. You can easily tear a muscle or even break a finger while playing. If you try to keep playing, you can hurt yourself worse. If the injury feels too bad then seek medical attention right away.

TIP! Hand signals can help stop you from turning the ball over. One of basketball’s most frustrating elements is the concept of sending a quick pass onto a teammate who has just moved in a different direction.

The key to ball control is to spread your fingers out. This can help you avoid losing it when you hold it. Don’t let your palms touch it. When shooting or passing the ball, only your fingers should contact the ball.

TIP! If you wish to do free throw shots reliably, always do the exact same thing before making each shot. Whatever you do before each shot, from dribbles to body motions, should be the same each time.

A consistent pre-shot routine when at the line will increase your chance at success. If you stay inconsistent, you miss a shot. You can shoot better free throws by making sure you use the same exact routine every time, and of course practice. If you are off your game, you will not make the shot.

TIP! A good player on defense will annoy the heck out of the opponent and cause the other team to get flustered. You should work to make your opponent feel uncomfortable.

Practice with your weak hand when it comes to dribbling. Getting by an opponent should be a lot easier if you can dribble using both hands. You can focus on the strength of your weak hand by tying your dominant hand behind your back. Soon, you will be able dribble with your weaker hand as well as you can with your dominant hand.

TIP! Your forearms and hands should be strengthened if you wish to handle the ball better. Curling your wrists also help you improve your own dribbling.

Make your forearms and hands stronger so you can handle the ball better. Do some wrist curls as much as possible and your dribbling should get better. Don’t assume that you are able to just stand anywhere, catch the ball and shoot it. You need to be able to move the basketball to make things happen.

TIP! A good basketball drill to perform is to see if you can get the ball down the entire court in 5 or less dribbles. This initially seems undoable, but it helps build speed and stride.

If you don’t want someone to steal the ball, dribble hard. This will make the ball come back to you faster, and the opponent will have a hard time to get it from you. If you are being closely guarded, you should cease dribbling and pass the ball to an open member of your team.

TIP! One good way to play good defense is to stay in the defensive stance at all times. Slide your feet to and fro or use your opposing foot to push off to maintain your position.

A good drill to try is the five dribble drill. You try to get the ball the entire length of the court in only five dribbles. This will help you to gain speed, stride length and control of the ball. This translates to simple layups, fast breaks or just a general increase in your team’s numbers.

TIP! Take any opportunity to strengthen your weaker hand and build your skill by using it to brush your teeth or open jars. Being more dexterous means you will have better control.

Make sure that you can see clearly. This isn’t just so you can read the scoreboard and be able to make shots and catch passes. Your peripheral vision needs to be as strong as possible. When you can see the big picture, you can react to anything.

TIP! Keep dribbling until you’re ready to either pass or shoot. When you stop dribbling, then you limit your options.

Take a charge if you can. Taking a charge allows you a chance to earn a defensive stop, take the ball for your team, and sets up one more foul against the opponent. Not only that, your opponents may become confused or frustrated and stop playing their game plan.

TIP! Practice a variety of shots from different locations on the court. The first thing to do is to practice on your balance and your grip.

Trip up the offense by constantly changing your pace. When you running towards the basket, try planting the front foot and start straightening up. This will cause the guard to believe you are slowing, and it will also cause them to straighten up. As they do, push forward hard and run by them.

TIP! Be sure that you’re not double dribbling. When you stop dribbling and then begin again is double dribbling.

When on defense, try to keep yourself low whenever you can. Doing this allows you to have quick reactions, especially to your opponent. Remain in a good defensive stance always. If you break form in an attempt to shot block, return to the proper form as soon as you can.

TIP! If you’re guarding a taller person, try to keep your body between that opponent and the person with the ball. This will prevent them from getting an easy pass and stop them from shooting the ball right over your head.

Hopefully, you are more confident with your basketball skill after reading the above tips. These techniques will help improve your game. Keep practicing and learning. Get better at the game and keep all of the things you’ve read here in mind so you can begin working towards being better.