Millions of folks love basketball. The more you know about the sport, the more enjoyment you’ll get out of watching or playing it. This article is meant to help readers do precisely that.
Practice your free throw shot. This seems like an easy shot, but it is quite hard. Practice constantly using this tip. Begin by holding the ball directly in front of your face. Have your eyes on your goal and picture your ball going into it. Once you’ve visualized this, take your shot as you just saw it in your head.
You need good balance when you shoot. Everyone has seen professional basketball players make a shot from 20 feet away as they are falling. They are professionals, and they are able to improvise successfully. You need to maintain good balance while shooting, which is sure to produce greater consistency.
Practice your passes and catches frequently. When you practice, drill yourself to pay attention to errant throws and passes that are picture perfect. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. Learn how to catch any sort of throw.
Never practice only against the zone. Though much of the game is sure to be played within a zone pattern, the opposition may try to go man-to-man in order to confuse you. This can cause your team to lose momentum to the other side if this isn’t something you’ve practiced.
One good way to learn good passing is drill often without dribbling. Playing the game without the use of dribbling is a challenge, but it can help you and your team learn to make more precise passes. Don’t get discouraged if it is hard initially’ because the gains you will make are sure to be worthwhile.
Don’t bulk up if you want to be good as a jump shooter. Being weighed down by too much bulky muscle can have a negative impact on your jump shot. Some shooting guards worked on their arms so much that they started lowering their percentage of field goals.
Core Muscles
If your kid is going to try out for the basketball team, they should be properly training their core muscles. Show them how to exercise their hips, lower back and abs. Your performance is going to be sub-par if you don’t have strengthened core muscles. A strong core helps you jump higher and run faster.
Make layups count by taking off with the foot that is opposite to your shooting hand. Jump off your left foot when you shoot using your right hand. This keeps your body balanced and moving toward the basket and keeps your body between yourself and your defender.
If you want to dribble the basketball better, you need to practice dribbling with your weaker hand. Being ambidextrous on the court makes it more difficult for defenders to figure out what you will do next. If you find it difficult to continue using your weak hand, make your strong hand unusable. This will help you use that hand more easily and improve your dribbling with that hand.
Dribbling the ball fast and hard will help you to keep better control of it. The ball bounces faster, giving the guard less time to steal. If you have an opponent who is guarding you relentlessly, it is time to pass the ball.
When you have a chance, take a charge. Taking a charge allows you a chance to earn a defensive stop, take the ball for your team, and sets up one more foul against the opponent. This may lower the other team’s morale, and it gives you a chance to take the offensive when play resumes.
In order to confuse the offense, try changing your pace. As you are heading towards the net, straighten up and plant down your foot. Your guard will do the same, thinking you plan to stop. Use this opportunity to sprint past your opponent.
Always attempt to remain low when you are playing defense. That helps you stay quick when it comes to the jump and will help you react more quickly to the person just ahead of you. Keep yourself in proper defensive stance at all times. If you need to leave your feet in order to prevent your opponent from shooting the ball, quickly get back into that good defensive position.
Keep dribbling until you’re ready to either pass or shoot. When you cease dribbling, you’re really limiting your options. Your only option, besides shooting or passing, is to use your back foot to pivot. You leave the ball vulnerable to possible steal attempts and yourself open to being double teamed.
It is impossible to beat the excitement of a basketball match. To people who don’t watch or play the game much, though, it can seem difficult to grasp. This article should have given you all you need to know.