If being a basketball player is something you want to do, you have to work hard at it and practice a lot. Even if you’re only playing fun, don’t you want to play well? Reading the information here should help you make some improvements in your future basketball games.
Crossover Dribble
Crossovers are very important if you’re a ball handler. Crossover dribble is switching hands while you’re dribbling. It has to be done fast to be effective. When you do it right, the crossover dribble helps you alter directions and go down the court faster.
If you want to improve your game, play up your strengths. Your talents might not make you a star, but when you make the most of your strengths, you might better contribute to your team. Know the things you’re great at and keep practicing until there is no one better than you.
Free throws require as much mental focus as physical skill. You must train both your body and your mind. Relax and concentrate on your basket to increase your free throws.
Better your basketball skills by watching the pros play. Whether seeing an all-pro on YouTube, attending a game in person, or sitting on the couch with buddies to watch your local professional team, there are many chances to observe the best. You are sure to notice the key skills each player has mastered, and from there you can start practicing.
If you’re a jump shooter, don’t lift weights too often. Muscle is good, but you can have too much. There have been instances where great shooters bulk up so much that it adversely affects their shooting percentage.
How would you like to trick the opposing team? Try using a back pass! To properly perform this pass you will need to have the ball in your dominant hand. With that same hand, bring the ball around your back. And last, flick the wrist in the direction you want the ball to go. It is an effective means of confusing your opponents.
Use hand signals to avoid errant passes. It can be frustrating passing to a teammate when you’re both heading to the basket. The use of hand signals can help you avoid this difficulty. Without a signal, the ball controller shouldn’t make a pass.
If you experience a basketball injury, don’t keep playing. It is possible to receive an injury when playing basketball because it is a sport that is physically challenging. Trying to play while injured will just make your situation worse. Serious injuries may require medical attention.
When you’re trying to work out, you should build up your core strength while getting your footwork perfected. Your body will be more stable and easier to move when you have strength in your core muscles. The most important muscle groups include your back, stomach, and pelvic region. Just like boxers, you can improve your footwork and speed by jumping rope.
Ask someone to take a video of you playing and watch it. Did you spot something that could be improved? Be honest with yourself, but avoid being too critical. Sometimes, it helps a lot to see yourself as you really are and not as just you imagine yourself to be.
Passing between the legs is great when you are being closely guarded. Bounce the ball very hard through your legs while stepping to the front or the back. Mastering this technique can give you a significant advantage.
You need to work on your forearms and your hands to handle the ball more efficiently. Wrist curls are especially effective at making you better able to handle a basketball like you could dribble sleepwalking. Making a goal isn’t just standing there as the ball miraculously comes to you and then shooting it at the basket. You have to start moving the basketball around to get things to happen.
You need to take charge when the opportunity presents itself. This allows you to get the ball back for your team, setting up a foul. This may lower the other team’s morale, and it gives you a chance to take the offensive when play resumes.
It can help your basketball skills when you strength train. Being physically tough is as important as having the stamina to keep up with the game. Small kids who play stand to reap real benefits from strengthening their legs and arms. As the teenage years approach, weights can be used for even greater impact. During the adult years, strength training is vital to keeping on-court performance at a high level.
Only stop dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass. Standing there without dribbling takes away most of your options on offense. If you can’t shoot or pass, then you will have to pivot with 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.
Switch your body’s weight from side to side while practicing your dribbling. Remember that you must dribble in a variety of situations during a basketball game. You might have a truly open court, but you might also be dealing with an onslaught of opposition. Remember to dribble while leaning in various directions. This can help you find your way out of trouble.
Use the hand you’re not dribbling with to create a barrier between the ball and the opponent. Avoid physical contact like pushing, but keep the ball from them by separating them from it. Keep it up a little bit while you dribble.
To become a great player talk with your teammates and learn what they have planned. Basketball requires a team. Therefore offense and defense do not play one-on-one. Instead, all players help and support one another. Talk to them and let them know you need help and you will all play better.
It is time for you to take the tips here and put them into action. If you use the above advice, you are sure to see a positive shift in your game. Those three things are keys to success.