Now is the time to begin finding out more about basketball. You love playing the sport. Yet you do not know all there is to know about being a good basketball player. This article will give you some great advice about basketball. Read on to find out how to make the game even more special.

Find out how to make free throw shots. These shots look easy on television, but are actually hard when you are doing the shooting. Practice frequently using these techniques. Start by holding your basketball right in the front of your own face. Look at the basket and imagine the ball going in it. Bend your knees to control the arc of the ball.

TIP! Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. In order for a bounce pass to be sufficient, the person should receive the ball around their waist.

Work on improving your strengths to become an even better player. Your team will benefit more if you stop trying to be the star of the game and work your best. Know your strengths and keep practicing to get even better.

A great way to bolster your basketball ability is to observe those who are considered to be the best in the sport. Watch pro games on TV, or attend games in person. You’ll notice that each player has a skill that they are great at. Choose a move that you like and start practicing it.

You want to be prepared for any type of defense the other team plays. Zone play will be important, but man-to-man will pop up from time to time, too. This can cause your team to lose momentum to the other side if this isn’t something you’ve practiced.

TIP! Watching the pros can help you pick up on certain skills for improving your game. It is important that you see how other people play the game.

If you’re a jump shooter, don’t lift weights too often. Even though having strong muscles is great for the inside game, being on the outside it can harm you when shooting the ball. Overdeveloped muscles could actually interfere with your score percentage.

Free Throws

Perform skills, practice your ball handling and shoot free throws when you are practicing alone. While it’s a team sport, you may not be able to find others that will play. This is just fine. There’s still a lot that you can do playing on your own. Work on free throws or practice pivot moves. You can always hone your skills when practicing alone.

TIP! Playing basketball does not require excessive muscle development. Muscle strength is beneficial for playing any basketball position, but there is such a thing as too much.

If you post up, you need to use good footwork to get open and make sure you get a good shot. Securing a good location is critical when playing basketball. After grabbing the position, you need to hold the area. Strong footwork skills help to build both types of skills.

To properly handle the ball, you have to spread your fingers out. This makes sure that it does not escape away from your grip. Avoid putting your palm on the ball, too. When passing and shooting the ball toward its target, the sole contact point should be fingers.

Always be aware of your feet. If you slide onto the baseline, you will lose the ball for being out of bounds. Taking too many steps without dribbling means a walking call and another turnover situation. You may get a foul call if you move your foot while you are attempting to take a charge, pick a charge or set a screen.

TIP! If you have student that wants to play basketball for their high school team, they will need to spend some time training their core muscles. The core muscles include the lower back, hips and abdonimals.

Build a routine to improve your free throw game. Inconsistent shooting will lead to inconsistent results. The easiest way to make sure you’re doing great at free throws is to do repetitions of the same routines time and again. If you alter your routine then chances are the shot will not be good.

Try to get the basketball from one side of the court to the other in about five dribbles. This will help you to gain speed, stride length and control of the ball. Being able to do this lets you lead your team on a fast break and gets you to the rim that much quicker.

Now, after reading this article, you should be better prepared when playing your next game. It’s a lot of fun to learn something new and then see how you can do it yourself. Remember all the information that has been presented so that you can show off your skills. Enjoy yourself while playing, basketball is truly the best sport!