What should I learn about basketball? How should I educate myself so that I can turn into a better player? Here you’ll get a lot of info on basketball and great tips to help you. Read on to increase those skills all that you can.

It’s simple to want to work on offense when you’re getting into basketball, but it’s smarter to think about defense practice too. Defense is what keep the other team from scoring. The offense gets lots of attention, but if the defense is lacking no basketball team will ever win a game.

TIP! You should practice your crossovers a lot. In a crossover, you transfer the basketball from hand to hand.

When dribbling, focus on what’s in front of you by keeping your head up. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet. Take your basketball everywhere. Dribble the ball while you’re walking around. Don’t look while dribbling, because you won’t be able to see what’s going on.

If you want to improve your game, play up your strengths. You might not become a big basketball star based on your strengths, but you will be an asset to your team. Understand your strengths and use it to your advantage to help your team win!

It is important to know the right way to throw a bounce pass. It is best when the ball hits the receiving player near the waist. Letting the ball bounce close to the other person will help the accuracy of your pass. But, a series of other considerations can require you to make adjustments.

TIP! To get better in your basketball game, focus on your strengths. You may not be the star player, but by contributing the best way you can you will win more games.

Work on catching passes frequently. You should practice catching errant passes, along with perfectly executed ones. Some passes may be too high, too low or off target, so you should practice receiving passes often. Help your teammates by learning what you need to haul in those imperfect passes.

Remember to practice a lot of different possibilities so that you will not limit your game. 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. If you have not practiced enough on this scenario, you could run afoul of the scoreboard very fast.

There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. Try a back pass. If you wish to try this pass, get the ball in your dominant hand. With that same hand, bring the ball around your back. Lastly, flick the wrist in the direction you want the ball to go. This will trick your opponents.

TIP! A bounce pass is an important technique to learn. Bounce passes need to be at waist level when received.

Practice playing by yourself. It is possible to enjoy this team sport even in the absence of your team. That’s fine. You can still accomplish a lot when playing solo. Practice pivoting or you can practice doing free throws. You can always practice something.

Quick and solid footwork is what it takes to make the shot when your posting up. You do, of course, need to be near the basket, but finding the right spot without getting blocked is essential. Plant your feet and own that spot. The key to mastering these skills is good footwork.

Perform exercises to strengthen the muscles in your forearms and hands in order to maximize your ability to handle the ball. Try doing some wrist curls as they are particularly effective in honing your dribble skills. You will not be able to stand in one place and shoot. You have to learn to move the ball if you want something to happen.

TIP! Do not practice by playing against the zone defense. Zone play will be important, but man-to-man will pop up from time to time, too.

To get the rebound from the free throw your teammate is making, you need to do some fancy footwork. Your defender will move towards you, so figure out how to slither past him and grab the ball. You are able to rebound the ball without fouling someone.

Switch the weight of your body while you are dribbling. This will have you ready for a game, when you will need to move any direction on a moment’s notice. You might be able to go through an open court or have to switch sides to avoid opponents. Learning to dribble effectively will help you in many different situations. Dribbling can help get you out of trouble.

Use workouts to better your game. You could, for instance, work on your sprint so you can perform plays faster, while running on a longer distance will help you build your stamina. Build up your core muscles and the strength in your forearms. The resulting sense of confidence and power will help when you shoot.

A corner shot often bounces to the opposite end of the court. If so, you should be able to guess its next location and move to get the rebound.

For the best balance, make sure you land with your feet spread apart. Keep your elbows out to protect the ball and keep it close to your chest. Watch where your elbows are because if you hit someone with them, that is a foul.

Be aware of your position when a shot is made so you can be in a good spot to grab a rebound. Use both feet when jumping; this improves both height and control. Once you have the basketball, land with wide feet that will help you keep your balance.

TIP! When it is not basketball season, keep in practice by shooting baskets and practicing your skills. Sometimes you cannot find a team of people to play basketball with.

Can you answer your questions now? Do you feel like you are prepared for a game of basketball? Can you imagine yourself really improving your game now? Practice a variety of skills every day to improve your overall game.