The exciting pace of basketball is a key reason it is so loved. But, to become a better player, you have to be aware of certain things. This is an article packed with tips to help make your game better.

Know how to dribble the ball in the correct way. Don’t use your palm to dribble. Instead, use your fingertips. You’ll have a lot more control over the ball this way. Keeping the ball to your side will help it from getting in the way. Keep your head up and do not look at the ground.

TIP! Many people forget that defense is as important as offense during practice. Basketball games are often won by great defensive play.

Learn the best way to make your free throws. This kind of shot seems easy, but it really is not. You should practice as often as possible with this technique. Begin by holding the ball directly in front of your face. Focus on the ball and visualize it going toward the goal. Then shoot! Shoot the ball in the trajectory you imagined.

When dribbling, focus on what’s in front of you by keeping your head up. Anyone who watching the ball while they dribble surely needs to spend more time in the gym practicing. Wherever you go, take your ball with you. On your way to the grocery store, practice your dribbling. If you have to watch the ball, you will be unable to see whatever is going on at court level.

It is important to keep your balance when you shoot. While some NBA players are able to launch a ball to the net mid-fall, this is not appropriate for most people. They are not doing it right. By focusing on balance in your shot, you will develop the consistency needed to be a great scorer.

TIP! Put the emphasis on your strengths can help you to be a better basketball player. Your team will benefit more if you stop trying to be the star of the game and work your best.

Interested in tricking your opponents? Trick them using a back pass. Perform this pass by holding the ball using your dominant hand. Then, bring the ball back behind you. Finally, flick your wrist towards the direction in which you wish that ball to travel. It’s a great way to trick your opposing team.

Core Muscles

One of the keys to becoming a great basketball player is developing core muscles. Core muscles are comprised of the hips, lower back, and abdominal muscles. A core that is not strong enough limits the linkage between arms and legs. Building strong core muscles will allow your to jump higher, run faster and maintain your balance.

TIP! Practice your layups a lot. 80% of all shots in a game are usually layups.

Unseen passes can be avoided when proper hand signals are used by teammates. It can be frustrating making a pass when a player moves away towards the basket. All of this confusion can be remedied through the use of hand signals when a player is opened. If no signal is displayed, a pass ought not be made.

Keep your eye on the ball. That will keep you aware, so you don’t get surprised by turnovers or quick passes. Also, you need to stay aware of areas which might open up and give you an easy basket.

If you slump when you shoot, look at what your shoulders are doing. If you have bad shoulder position it doesn’t matter how great you are the shot isn’t going to go in. Your shoulders need to be squared up towards where you’re shooting. The shoulder that’s dominant should be in line with the rim.

TIP! Learn how to throw a proper bounce pass. Executed properly, a bounce pass will connect with the receiving player at the waist.

You need to be quick to play good basketball. You need to be faster than the opposing team if you want the advantage. It takes steady drilling to play fast. Make sure you never play past the speed you are comfortable. Playing beyond your speed cause the game to get out of control with various turnovers and errant passes.

Stay on top of your footwork when attempting a rebound. You need to seek out a way to quickly slide around your opponent and be able to quickly react to the ball. This technique will help you rebound the ball without getting a foul called on you.

A good drill to try is the five dribble drill. You try to get the ball the entire length of the court in only five dribbles. It isn’t impossible, it just takes practice. This is a vital skill to give you points on fast break opportunities.

TIP! Do not only practice zone defense plays. While a great portion of a game will be concentrated in the zone, your rivals could opt to go to man-to-man covering to keep you guessing.

If you are in a defensive position, keep yourself low. This helps your reaction time against your opponent. Maintain this low stance with arms raised until a shot or high pass is made. If you break the stance to shot-block, then recover the proper form immediately after the pass or shot.

As you have learned, basketball is enjoyed by a lot of people in the world. From this article, you’ve learned that some special knowledge is required to play like the professionals do. The information in the above article is your starting point for becoming a great basketball player.