Basketball is something that tons of people worldwide enjoy. You can play on your own or with a team. You can also play for fun or try and make a career of it. Obtain all the basketball information you need by reading these tips.
Dribble properly. Don’t use your palm to dribble, but use your fingertips instead. You retain much more ball control this way. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. Never look at the ground. Always look up.
One of the most important skills when playing basketball is balance. While the all-time greats have shown time and time again how they can shoot while off-kilter, this is not the ideal way to score. These shots are improvisational and usually desperate attempts. Point your feet towards the basket, guide the ball with your weaker hand and push the ball away with your strong hand whenever you shoot the basketball.
Focus on your strong point to help you become a better ball player. Your talent might not make you a star; however, learning your strengths will help you become a better team player. Figure out what you do well at and then you can practice that until you perfect it.
Free throws are as mental as physical. You must train both your body and your mind. Relax and focus on the net, and you’ll be able to make more.
Frequently train yourself on your pass catching moves. During practice you should come up with drills where you perfect catching bad passes along with the good ones. During a game, not all of your passes will hit the mark. You can do the rest of your team a favor by practicing how you can best complete imperfect passes.
Improve your passing abilities by challenging yourself to perform drills without actually dribbling. Playing basketball without dribbling is very challenging, but your entire team will quickly improve their passing skills. Don’t get frustrated if it’s hard at first because it will get better over time.
Don’t pump a lot of iron if you wish to become a jump shooter. It’s possible to have excessive muscles when you play the perimeter. Some professional shooting guards made their arms so big that it started decreasing their field goal percentage.
If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, ensure they’re training core muscles in the right way. This will involve their lower back, hips, and abs. The core links both the lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they will have limited athletic performance. A strong and solid core allows force that is generated via the legs to be used for helpful movements during the game like higher jumps and faster running.
Try using hand signals to prevent passes in error. One of basketball’s most frustrating elements is the concept of sending a quick pass onto a teammate who has just moved in a different direction. A simple hand gesture can let your teammate know you’re ready for the pass. If the player does not flash the signal, then the player can avoid an errant pass.
Seek advice from your teammates about how you play the game. Is there something that you excel at? Perhaps you have good dribbling skills or maybe your footwork is enviable. Find out what others think your natural abilities are, and be certain to keep developing those skills.
Pay close attention to your shoulders if you’ve suddenly developed a shooting slump. If your shoulders are in a bad position, no matter how good you are, you won’t make the shot. Be sure shoulders always remain squared towards your hoop. Try to line your dominant shoulder up with the rim.
If your opponent is pressing hard, you can give yourself some room to work by dribbling the ball between your legs. This will make it very hard for your defender to get it. If this move is something you master, you’ll have an advantage when you go out to play a game.
Practice passing while looking another way. This will easily confuse your opponents. The look will cause your guard to turn away. It can be a really powerful move in the game.
An excellent way to have proper defensive posture is to remain in the correct stance. Stay in the right position by pushing off of your opposite foot. Avoid getting your feet cross as this makes it much more difficult for the opponent to get by you.
To improve three-point shooting, do it from NBA distance at the very least. The standard line and college lines are much closer. If you get it from the NBA range, your open looks will have deeper range than defense will mind you until you begin hitting.
Keep dribbling until you want to shoot or pass. You are limited once you cease dribbling. You can’t do anything but pivot if you don’t shoot or pass. That will allow your opponents to double team you and potentially steal the ball.
Serious basketball players take their diets seriously too. If you’re playing regularly, you need energy-loaded carbs as well as some fat and protein. Enjoy lean proteins, whole grains and nuts. Try not to use too much salt or sugar.
You have to change the path of your opponent. Whether you’re playing offense or defense, controlling what the other player does is essential. This will allow you to determine the outcome of the game.
It should be clear to you now what you can do to get more into basketball. It’s no cake walk, but basketball isn’t rocket science, either. You can succeed with information and dedication. So get out there and use the tips that will help up your game. Whatever you do, remember to have fun!