In order to succeed at basketball and attain your goals, you must be a good practice player. That said, what’s the point in practicing when you aren’t doing it right in the first place? The tips below can help you shoot baskets correctly in no time.
Dribble properly. Use the fingertips, not the palm, for the best dribbling. You’ll have a lot more control over the ball this way. Be sure to dribble beside your body instead of in front of yourself. Bounce the ball at a level even with your waist. Keep your eyes up, not on the ground.
Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. By focusing your sight on the ball, you cannot be fully aware of your surroundings. Carry your basketball everywhere. Dribble the ball while you’re walking around. Maintaining unbroken visual contact with the ball makes it difficult to be aware of your surroundings.
Make sure you spend your time focusing on your strengths. Your skills may not turn you into the star player, but knowing how to make the most of your skills will make you a more valuable player. Clear self knowledge and dedicated practice will make you the best at what you do.
Perfect your layup technique. In a typical game, up to four-fifths of all shots are layups. Don’t just walk through a layup drill. It is key to go at game tempo to practice the timing needed to maintain accuracy. Running and jumping well in practice means better jump shooting in actual games.
Be sure to watch professional games to learn some great tips and tricks to improve your game. Watch as many games on TV as you can. You’ll learn that every player is skilled at certain things and that can help you to know what you can do to get better.
Practice your pass catching often. Be sure to be able to catch off-target throws on top of good ones. In the middle of a heated game, not all attempted passes will go exactly where you want them to go. You and your team mates will be happier if you (and they) are more versatile.
There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. Give the back pass a try! To do a back pass, begin by grasping the basketball using your dominant hand. Now hold the ball behind you. Lastly, flick your wrist in the direction that you want the ball to land. This should be helpful in tricking them team.
If you’ve developed somewhat of a shooting slump, focus on your shoulders. When your shoulders are not properly positioned, then it is almost impossible to perform at your best. Keep your shoulders squared with the basket at all times. Line up your shooting shoulder with the rim as well.
Videotape your games to see what you do right and wrong. Are you able to see what you’ve missed or things that you could improve on? When looking at the tape, don’t be too critical, but be honest. Sometimes it’s beneficial to look at yourself the way you really look and not just like you think you look.
Look away when you practice passing. This is a simple thing that could easily confuse your opponents. The look will cause your guard to turn away. It can be a really powerful move in the game.
Use the foot opposite of the hand you shoot with for a better layup. When shooting right-handed, take off using the left foot. This helps to maintain balance throughout your body and allows you to use yourself as a barrier between the defender and yourself.
Dribble very hard to prevent the opposing team players from stealing the ball. A good hard dribble brings the ball back to you much faster, leaving less time for the opponent to steal it from you. If you are being guarded closely, bring your dribbling to an end and pass the ball to another open team member.
Use the NBA three point line when practicing your shots. All the other lines are closer. If you can score from NBA range, you’ll enjoy open looks at deeper range than your opposition.
Stop Dribbling
Only stop dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass. You have few options remaining to you after you stop dribbling. If you decide not to shoot or pass, all you can do is pivot on your rear foot. This causes you to be wide open to some double teaming by the other team and increase your chances of having the ball stolen.
Keep the ball below knee level if possible. This makes it more difficult for your opponents to steal the ball. Practice moving quickly while dribbling below knee level.
If someone shoots from the corner of the basketball court and misses, it will bounce over the net onto the opposite side. Figure out where it will land to grab the rebound.
Build a sense of teamwork both off and on the court. Great basketball games happen when teams work together. You need to know how your teammates play to play the best ball game. Additionally, you need to be able to trust them.
Try to alter the path of your opponent. Whether you are playing offense or defense, gaining control over the path of your opponent is a critical skill. If you can master this skill then you determine where the ball is going, not your opponent.
Grabbing and keeping a rebound depends on how well you’re positioned before and after the ball comes off the rim. Improve your balance a power by using both feet to jump and use both hands to grab the ball. After rebounding the ball, land with your feet wider than your shoulders for better balance and keep the ball close to your chest.
Whether you play basketball all the time or just once and awhile, the above tips will be of help. With one simple tip, your skills can improve. Improve your shooting, passing, and overall game control.