Practice is the best way to build your skills. However, why practice if you are not doing it properly to start? Keep reading to discover some great basketball tips to help you improve your game.
You can easily focus on offense when learning to play basketball, however, you must really focus how playing defense. You can win a game, thanks to good defense. Offense gets all the praise and attention, but without a good defense, any basketball team is destined to lose.
Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Don’t use your palm to dribble, but use your fingertips instead. Using your fingertips will allow you to have better control when dribbling the ball. Dribble along the side of the body, not immediately in front of it, and keep the bounce to the waist level or below. Keep your eyes up, not on the ground.
Know how to dribble the ball in the correct way. You need to use the tips of your fingers rather than your hand’s palm when you are dribbling. This gives you the best ball control. Bounce the ball no higher than your waist and keep the ball at your side rather than in front. Keep your eyes up.
Free throws are as mental as physical. With everyone watching, it can be easy to allow the pressure to interfere with your game. Relax yourself and concentrate on your shot.
Keep practicing your layups. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game. When you practice, be sure to run at the goal with full speed, jumping and shooting in a smooth series of motions. Practicing the running and jumping method will help you shoot better this way in a game.
A good way to practice sound passing is to drill without dribbling. This helps to develop passing skills with your teammates, making it much more difficult if you’re standing in one spot and not dribbling. Do not get frustrated if it it seems difficult at first, over time your team’s passes will become more accurate.
When developing your jumping skills, limit your use of weight-training. Muscle flexibility is more important than muscle mass. As a shooting guard, having bulky arm muscles can actually reduce the number of successful shots.
In order to get a good shot, good footwork is essential when posting up. Although physical presence under the basket is important, getting to a good spot before your opponent does is even more important. Once you’re in position, you also need to secure your spot. Good footwork is key to a good basketball game.
Ask a friend to record your games so that you can see how yourself in action. Do you see anything you could do differently? Appraise your performance honestly but don’t be overly harsh with yourself. It can help you to see how you really are instead of what you imagine you are.
If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. This sport is physically demanding and you can become injured. You may injure yourself more if you continue to play with an injury. Anytime you have a serious injury, you should seek medical attention.
Do your free throw shooting the same way every time. This can be any combination of movements that makes you feel comfortable and prepare for the shot. However, they need to be the same combination of movements each time. Keep it simple and consistent, and the routine will become a part of your muscle memory.
Spread your fingers out to handle the ball properly. This will keep the ball from getting away while you hold it. Don’t let your palms touch it. You should only use your fingers to touch the ball when passing or shooting.
You need to practice dribbling with your weak hand in order to be a more effective player. It will be much easier to blow past your opponent if you can dribble with both hands. Try tying the dominant hand behind you and forcing yourself to just using your weak hand. Your weak hand won’t be that for long!
Video tape your games, and then review your technique later. You may see things differently as you observe the game and notice things you missed in the game. Honestly and openly assess your own performance. A realistic view of yourself can be quite helpful.
Sly feet will help you get the rebound of your team mates free throw. Try to anticipate the move of the defender between yourself and the basket so that you can maneuver around him and to the hoop. Doing so will allow you to get the rebound sans a foul.
Dribbling the ball fast and hard will help you to keep better control of it. The ball will get back to the hand faster, giving the other team less of an opportunity to grab it away. When you are being guarded closely, pass the ball.
Practice noticing what is in your peripheral vision. Not to just be able to see the scoreboard, but to actually make a shot and catch a pass. Peripheral vision must be razor-honed. It allows you to view the game as a whole rather than simply watching the ball. In this way, you can be aware of the players around you.
Defensive Stance
Basketball players can greatly benefit from strength training. Those who do very well at this sport have a combination of stamina and strength. Even younger kids will benefit from strength training. When they become teens, try using weights to keep enhancing their exercises. The adult years are where strength training is crucial to maintain solid performance on the court.
Don’t leave your defensive stance. Slide sideways and use your back foot to push off in order to maintain the defensive stance in stride. Don’t forget not to cross your feet, and you won’t be easy to get around.
If you wish to do better a shooting three pointers, you should do it from where NBA players shoot from. School and the international standard lines are nearer than that. Learning how to shoot from the NBA three point line can help you get better looks at the basket.
If you want to do well in basketball, you need to build your strength. Stamina and physical strength are required for basketball excellence. Even younger kids will benefit from strength training. As they age, begin adding weights to their exercise routine. When they become adults, strength training is critical to maintaining solid court performance.
Don’t cease dribbling until you get ready to shoot or pass. The moment you cease dribbling, you have given yourself very few options. If you cannot pass or shoot, you can only pivot with your back foot. You leave the ball vulnerable to possible steal attempts and yourself open to being double teamed.
To turn a normal 2-3 zone into a trapping machine, have your top two defenders (your guards) wait until the point guard has come about ten feet past the time line (midcourt). After he crosses the midcourt line, they should run and trap him. At the same time, have your forwards on the blocks sprint out to the players on the wings. The point guard will toss a pass that can easily be stolen by your forwards.
Use workouts to better your game. Sprinting will help you develop speed, while running long distances will help you develop great stamina. You can acquire muscle through weightlifting that helps with hustling and shooting. You will be able to shoot well with this confidence and aggression.
To better three-point shooting, try using NBA distance as the minimum. College, as well as high school three-point lines are set at a shorter distance. When you can shoot from the NBA range, you’ll be able to shoot from farther away than the defense expects.
Keep the lines of communication with other players open. Basketball requires a team. Playing is more than just you and one other person. Everyone assists each other. Let others know when you require assistance.
Make sure you stay in a constant rhythm until it is time to make your move. Your opponent is looking for the best opportunity to steal the ball, and switching it up can break their concentration. Even a slight change in the sound the ball makes when you dribble can throw another player off balance.
Keep dribbling in the same rhythm, until finally you would like to throw the person guarding you off guard. Consistent dribbling followed by fast dribbling can confuse your opponent and put you in place for a shot. It’s not just about going fast, it’s about changing the sound so the person gets a little confused.
A corner shot often bounces to the opposite end of the court. If so, you should be able to guess its next location and move to get the rebound.
Try different shots from different places on the basketball court. The first thing to do is work on balance and grip. Shooting off balance is possible, but you will not be nearly as accurate with your shots. To get a perfect grip, use the basketball valve as a point of reference. Cover the valve with your palm, and spread your fingers around the ball.
Create teamwork both off and on the basketball court. Basketball is one of those games that goes to another level when a team gels completely. If you feel like you know your teammates like the back of your hand, and you trust them too, then you’ll see your game lifted to new heights!
Always anticipate where a missed basket might go so you can grab the resulting rebound. This knowledge will help you get more rebounds.
It matters not how regularly you get to play basketball, because this advice will help each and every time you get the chance to hit the court. Use one tip and you’ll see your game get better. You can make every shot count, pass better, rebound like a pro and overall improve how you play every day.
The position you are in before and after your rebound will determine whether you get to keep the ball or not. Use both feet when jumping; this improves both height and control. After rebounding the ball, land with your feet wider than your shoulders for better balance and keep the ball close to your chest.
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