Basketball is a beloved sport worldwide. You can play a quick pickup game at the park any time. Also, you can have a career in basketball if you get an early start. Use this article to learn more about basketball fundamentals.

Make sure you learn how to shoot free throws. As easy as these shots may seem, they are rather hard. Use good technique when shooting foul shots. To start off, hold the ball in front of you. Concentrate on the basket and visualize the basketball going in. Then repeat that when you take the shot.

TIP! If you typically handle the ball a lot, it pays to learn the crossover. Crossovers involve moving the ball from hand to hand.

One of the most important skills when playing basketball is balance. You have seen how pros shoot a basket from thirty feet away and fall out of bounds, which is not the right technique. Professional basketball players tend to improvise when need be. You need the right balance to shoot; it is the only way to eventually make consistent baskets.

Bounce Pass

Practice your bounce pass. It needs to get to the player at their waist. Aim for a firm bounce pass that hits the ground around 3/4 of the distance between you and the intended player. Although, there will be other circumstances that are involved too.

TIP! Balance is important when shooting. You have seen some crazy shots made by professionals, but these shots aren’t going to be based on fundamentals.

Making a free throw takes mental concentration as well as physical prowess. Of course, you can show your body how to make free throws. However, if you’re not in the right state of mind, you won’t succeed. Relax and concentrate on your basket to increase your free throws.

Watch how the pros play basketball. Try to go to games, watch televised games, or check out videos of the pros playing. By doing this, you will quickly find that players all have their unique subset of skills, allowing you the best chance to see what areas are the best fit for your personal game.

Keep your skills sharp in the off-season by playing different challenging games. While it’s a team sport, you may not be able to find others that will play. That is okay. You are able to do a lot with solo games. Work on your free throws or your pivot moves. You can always hone your skills when practicing alone.

TIP! Perfect your layup technique. Almost 80% of shots will be layups.

You should ask your teammates about your strengths and weaknesses. Do you do something really good? They may say you’re fast or that you share well. Learn what other’s see as your natural skills and make sure to keep and develop those skills more fully.

Figuring out the opponent is a great way to do well against a tight defense. Monitor scouting news and watch footage of other teams in action. Keep track of which players are right hand dominant and which are left hand dominant. When you know your opponent, you will be better able to play an effective defensive game. Smart defenders are good defenders.

If you are shooting as well, pay attention to the position of your shoulders. When your shoulders are not properly positioned, then it is almost impossible to perform at your best. Ensure that you line up your shoulders so that they are squared with the basketball net. Try to line your dominant shoulder up with the rim.

TIP! Playing basketball does not require excessive muscle development. Muscle flexibility is more important than muscle mass.

After reading this article, you should better understand how to play basketball effectively. It isn’t hard, but does take some effort. After taking the court and actually playing, you will most likely want to get out there on a regular basis. All you need to do is hit the court and have some fun!