When you’re working on playing basketball, you’re not going to know everything all at once. The sport changes with the times, and you have to keep up. Do you want to beat your opponents more frequently? Read on to learn how you can gain a basketball edge.
Learn the best way to make your free throws. This kind of shot seems easy, but it really is not. Put this technique into practice as often as you can. Place the ball right in line with your face. Have your eyes on your goal and picture your ball going into it. Then repeat that when you take the shot.
Look forward when dribbling. By focusing your sight on the ball, you cannot be fully aware of your surroundings. One of the best ways to improve your dribbling is to bring your ball along anytime you need to walk somewhere. Whenever you are walking and it is appropriate, dribble there. If you are staring at the ball, there is no way you can know what else is happening on the court.
Balance is important when shooting. Many the professional player can be seen slipping out of bounds or making baskets from far away, but these are not proper techniques. They have just improvised, is all. Having a good foundation under you while shooting will always yield better results over time as you keep on practicing and honing your skills.
Catch Errant
Make sure to practice catching passes. When practicing make sure you drill yourself to catch errant throws as well as picture perfect passes. When the pressure is on, not every pass will come straight to you. By learning to catch errant passes, you will do your team a great favor.
Play solo basketball in the months leading up to the season, as well as during the season itself. Sometimes you cannot find a team of people to play basketball with. This is just fine. There’s still a lot that you can do playing on your own. You can practice many different techniques, such as your free throw routine. Additionally, you can practice vertical jumping and dribbling.
Avoid errant passes by the use of hand signals. It can be frustrating to attempt to pass the ball to a team mate as that person is heading toward the basket. Using signals helps communicate passes with your team. Without a signal, there shouldn’t be a pass.
One great thing to do if you wish to be prepared while playing is to make sure your back isn’t turned to the ball. This will help you stay on top of quick changes in possession or plays attempted by your opponent. Always watch for areas opening up where you can go for a quick basket.
In order to be your best on defense, take the time to completely understand the player you are guarding. Watch taped games, and keep current with scouting reports. Know which players are left and right handed. This knowledge will help you play the best game possible. The more knowledgeable a defender is, the stronger he is.
If the other team has a good defense, passing the ball between your legs is a good option. Practice dribbling the ball between your legs. Mastering this technique can give you a significant advantage.
Hard dribbling helps avoid stolen balls. 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 guarded closely, bring your dribbling to an end and pass the ball to another open team member.
Hopefully, you are more confident with your basketball skill after reading the above tips. These tips will make you a better player. Keep learning and practicing every day. 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.