Today is the day to learn about basketball. You are a player; you love the game. However, there is so much you still don’t know, and a good player will recognize that. There’s an excellent chance that you’ll acquire a few skills here. Read on to find out how to become a better player.
While focusing on offense is fun, you must also make sure you focus on defense. Defense is what keep the other team from scoring. Without good defense, a basketball team will lose the match.
Free Throw
Figure out how to perfect your free throw. The free throw shot might seem simple, but it can actually be pretty difficult. Use good technique when shooting foul shots. Hold the ball level with your face. Have your eyes on your goal and picture your ball going into it. You should then shoot and try following the trajectory you visualized.
Make sure to practice catching passes. Make sure you get used to catching less than perfect passes smoothly. During the game, not all passes will go where they’re intended. Being able to get imperfect passes will limit turnovers.
You can learn to trick the opposing team. Try the back pass. Use the dominant hand to hold onto the basketball when trying this pass. Pull it behind you. After determining which direction you want the ball to go, use a quick flick of your wrist to send it that way. This is a very useful trick to confuse the opposing team.
Never turn away from the ball, so that you can always stay ready for anything. This keeps you aware of what is going on so you aren’t surprised. Pay attention to open areas for passes, too.
When trying to improve your strength to have better basketball footwork, work on building up your core. Your body will maintain balance and move more quickly when your core muscles are strong. You should get a good workout in your hips, buttocks, back and abs. Jump rope like the boxers do to increase your footwork speed.
One thing to consider if your shooting percentage drops is that your shoulders may be inconsistent when you are shooting. If your shoulders are in a bad position, no matter how good you are, you won’t make the shot. Your shoulders should always be square towards the basket. Your dominant shoulder should also be lined up perfectly with the rim.
Ask a friend to record your games so that you can see how yourself in action. You’ll likely see ways that you can improve. Do not waste time criticizing yourself. Just make an honest assessment. At times, it can help to see the truth of who you are, not as you imagine yourself.
To get better at shooting free throws, make sure to keep a consistent pre-shot routine. Focus on your shot and eliminate all outside distractions. As you adopt this routine, it becomes easier for your mind and body to prepare for the shot.
If you don’t want someone to steal the ball, dribble hard. The ball will get back to the hand faster, giving the other team less of an opportunity to grab it away. When closely guarding another player, cease dribbling and pass it to another play on your team that’s open.
A great drill to try is to see how many dribbles it takes for you to make it across the court. The ideal number of dribbles is five. This might not seem possible, but if you can do it your speed and length will strengthen. Being able to do this lets you lead your team on a fast break and gets you to the rim that much quicker.
You should ensure that you can clearly see. This will prepare you for unexpected passes and help you evade defenders. Your peripheral vision should be the best it can be. By seeing the court well, you can anticipate defensive moves as well as what all your teammates are doing. Good vision is vital to basketball success.
When you’re working with defense, staying low is a good idea. This helps your reaction time against your opponent. Always maintain a defensive position during game play. When rebounding or blocking, you break the stance, but then you must get back in the stance quickly.
Be sure you’re doing the right kinds of exercises off the court to help you on it. Work on sprints to make you faster and build your stamina. Strength training helps, too. Building your muscles and your confidence will help you game in many ways.
Work on taking shots from various on-court locations. Initially, you need to practice both your grip and your balance. Off-balance shooting can happen, but it’s not as accurate. Use your basketball’s valve for perfecting your grip. Spread out your fingers, and center the valve in your hand.
You have to know how to change the course of your opponent. Whether you are in an offensive or defensive stance, make other players do what you want. The will help you get to where you want to go and will deter them.
Your should have good position both before and after a rebound to assure you keep the ball. Jumping with both feet creates a more balanced, powerful motion. During the jump, use both hands to gain possession of the basketball. After getting the rebound, place the ball near your chest and keep your feet shoulder length apart as you land for increased stability.
It’s time to take everything you’ve learned and use that enthusiasm to make improvements. It’s fun to apply new tips to the court. Once you have gained new skills and improved old ones with these tips, you can amaze your spectators. Have fun playing basketball!