One of the most popular games on earth is basketball. Whether you enjoy watching games, playing for a team or simply playing in the yard, basketball will always be around. Of course, anyone who plays wants to be a star player and win the game. The following tips will help you become an even better player.
It is tempting to concentrate just on offense when just staring out, but defensive practice is absolutely vital. Defense is what wins basketball games. Offense is often what gets the glory, but most winning basketball teams play great defense.
It is important that you practice layups. Almost 80% of shots will be layups. Run as fast as possible, while jumping and performing a smooth shot. If you can do this right, you can master this shot.
Making free throws are almost as much a mental part of the game as they are a physical part. You are able to train your hands and legs to free throw well, but if you think you will fail, you will. Relax your mind and keep your concentration centered on the basket to make more of these freebies.
You want to be prepared for any type of defense the other team plays. Most of the basketball game will probably be played in this zone, but the other team might decide to surprise you and do some man-to-man coverage. Be sure to practice for this eventuality so you will not become rattled and lose the game.
Improve your passing abilities by challenging yourself to perform drills without actually dribbling. It is hard to play basketball without dribbling, and demands accurate passing and teamwork, so it will be a challenge. This may be hard and frustrating at first, but as you get the hang of it your entire team will begin to excel at passing.
If you have a kid wanting to play basketball in high school, be certain that they are properly training their core muscles. Hips, abdomen and back must be worked on. The core links together all of the extremities and if it isn’t strong, they will be dealing with a limited athletic ability. By developing a strong core, your legs will follow suit.
Ask your teammates what they like about the way you play. Can you get better at something? It may be that you are quick on your feet or that you are always there to back them up. Develop your strengths even further and look for ways to improve your weaknesses.
Always have an awareness of the location and movement of your feet. You will be called out of bounds if even one toe is touching the baseline as you hold the ball. Holding the ball for too many steps and not dribbling will result in a walking call which will cause you to you will lose possession of the ball. Moving either of your feet when setting a pick, screen, or even take a charge will result in a foul.
Use the foot opposite of the hand you shoot with for a better layup. Thus, if you tend to shoot with the right hand, make sure to jump off with the left. This will keep you balanced and going towards the basket.
As soon as the ball leaves your teammate’s hands after a free throw, start moving into position. The defender that’s below you will move towards you, so try to slip by them to obtain the ball. This gets you the rebound without you committing a foul.
Try some drills that require you to move the basketball from one end of the court to the other in no more than five dribbles. You may find this very challenging, but once accomplished it will give you a real edge. This will help you accomplish great layups on those fast breaks.
Alternating your pace is critical to keeping the defense guessing. When you running towards the basket, try planting the front foot and start straightening up. Your defender will likely think you are taking a shot or passing, and straighten up as well. When they do, push ahead hard and outrun them.
Make sure you don’t pick up your dribble unless you are prepared for a shot or pass. You do not have many options after you stop dribbling. If you don’t shoot or pass, you can only pivot using your back foot. This leaves you vulnerable to being double teamed by members of the opposing team, and it is far more likely that the ball will be stolen.
Practice all kinds of shots from every court location. You should first practice on balancing and your grip. It is possible to make an off-balance shot, but it has less accuracy. Get a better grip on the ball by using the valve. Using your dominant hand, grip the ball with wide-spread fingers. Be sure that the center portion of your hand is covering the air valve located at the basketball’s center.
You can use all of some of these tips to become a better basketball player. Most of what you learned simply requires a lot of repetitive practice to hone your skills. The more you practice, the more you’ll improve your skills. Take what you have learned here to make the most out of your next basketball game.