Have you imagined yourself as Larry Bird or Magic Johnson. Rather than just wanting to be great, why don’t you learn techniques to help you get better? Read these tips to take your natural basketball skills to the next level.
Balance is vital to good shooting. Falling when you make a shot is not the right way to shoot. These players are using creative improvisation. You should have proper balance when making your shots, and over time this will lead to consistently making baskets.
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. Stay calm and collected to increase your free throw percentage.
Errant Passes
Passing the ball is an important part of playing basketball so practice making and receiving passes. Be sure to be able to catch off-target throws on top of good ones. During the course of a game, you can expect there to be many errant passes. Learning how to catch these errant passes will put you at an advantage.
If you want to be a master of the jump shot, do not make weight lifting a priority. Strong muscles are certainly useful for basketball, but you can overdo it if you plan to play on the perimeter. You might see a decrease in your goal percentages if your biceps become too large.
In order to get a good shot, good footwork is essential when posting up. Although physical presence under the basket is important, getting to a good spot before your opponent does is even more important. Once you get into your position, you need to secure it. These will both require powerful footwork.
The key for controlling the ball well is to spread your fingers. That makes it less likely that you lose control of the ball. Additionally, the palm of your hand should not come into contact with the ball. Your fingers should be all that is holding the ball when you pass it or shoot it.
A good player on defense will annoy the heck out of the opponent and cause the other team to get flustered. Don’t let them get comfortable. Be aggressive as you execute your moves. Don’t let your opponent decide their own plays. If you let them, you’ll be at their mercy. You should make the initial move and throw them off.
To get the rebound from the free throw your teammate is making, you need to do some fancy footwork. The defender below you will be moving toward you, so find a way to slip around him and get to the ball. This will get you a rebound without having to commit a foul.
Take a charge if you can. When you take a charge, you have the opportunity to get a defensive stop, your team gets the ball and an additional foul is set up against the other team. This may completely break the competition down.
Mix things up offensively to keep the other team’s defense off-balance. When running toward the hoop, plant your leading foot and start to straighten up. Your defender is going to assume that you’re slowing your speed and will start straightening up, too. As hes does, plow forward and run by him.
When on defense, try to keep yourself low whenever you can. This will let you get to the jump quicker and let you react to your opponent easier. Remain in a correct defensive pose always. If you find you have to abandon your stance to do some blocking, get back into formation as fast as you can.
Practice dribbling as you sway your body from side to side. In the middle of a game, lots of dribbling situations will arise. It would be great if you are always able to go full speed ahead, but more times than not you will need to move and flow with the defense in front of you. Being able to dribble while shifting momentum is the key to controlling and keeping the ball. It will help you when you need it most.
Practice a variety of shots from different locations on the court. Work on your grip and balance first. It is possible to make an off-balance shot, but it has less accuracy. The basketball’s air valve can be used to aid in perfecting your grip. Spread your fingers, and place your dominant hand over the area where the valve is located.
It is necessary for you to change the path of your opponent. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing defense of offense. Controlling where someone else is going can be very important. Doing so makes it easier for you to navigate the court without interference from the other player.
If you are assigned to defend someone bigger than you are, try staying in the passing lane between your man and the current ball handler. This will make them not available for a pass which can help you to be sure that they can’t just get the ball and shoot over you.
Try always focusing on the location the ball goes after it exits your teams’ hands or the opponents’ hands. Rebounds represent a crucial component of any basketball game. If won’t matter that you’re a great defender who causes the opponent to miss a shot if you can’t get back the ball.
You should make a list of everything you need to work on during your drills. There are lots of players who enter the gym without a plan. They talk a good game but have no follow through to improve their overall fitness. If your workout routine is written out, you’re better able to focus on bettering your physicality and conditioning without getting distracted.
After having read this article, you now have a few things that you can go practice. You need to practice a lot and believe in yourself. Keep in mind the above pointers and in no time you will be able to show off your improving skills.