Basketball is world wide passion. You can go play it in your driveway if you wish to, or it’s something you can do for a living if you begin early. Read on to learn the ins and outs of basketball.

Keep your head up when you dribble. If you are looking at the ball for any reason while dribbling, you have not put in enough practice. Take the basketball around off-court wherever you are. Keep dribbling the ball even while you’re doing your errands. By looking forward instead of at the basketball, you are able to see the happenings on the court.

TIP! Learn to correctly dribble the ball. Instead of using your palm to dribble focus on using your fingertips.

Balance is essential to shooting. Even though a professional can hit all sorts of crazy off-balance shots, it is not the ideal method of shooting that you want to learn. They are improvising. By focusing on balance in your shot, you will develop the consistency needed to be a great scorer.

Focus on your strong point to help you become a better ball player. Even though your best abilities might not make you stand out each game, it is sure to help you contribute to the overall success of the team. Know the things you’re great at and keep practicing until there is no one better than you.

Practice your layups a lot. Almost 80% of shots will be layups. Run as fast as possible, while jumping and performing a smooth shot. This will assist you in perfecting your ability to jump and then shoot.

TIP! Practice shooting free throws. This may seem like an easy task, but in reality, things prove otherwise.

Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. Bouncing the pass to the receiver should be at their waist. A useful tip is to have the ball bounce roughly 3/4 of the distance to the recipient. There are many factors which come into play, though.

Free Throw

Making a free throw takes mental concentration as well as physical prowess. You must train both your body and your mind. Stay relaxed and just focus on the goal and you will increase your free throw rate.

TIP! It is important that you practice layups. Eighty percent of the shots taken in a game are layups.

Don’t bulk up if you want to be good as a jump shooter. While muscle mass is good for any basketball position, perimeter play requires less than other positions. As a shooting guard, having bulky arm muscles can actually reduce the number of successful shots.

When avoiding errant passes, use hand signals. It can be frustrating passing to a teammate when you’re both heading to the basket. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. If the signal is not used, then the pass should not be made to that player.

Ask your fellow team members which of your skills that they admire. What do you need to focus in on and practice more? Perhaps you are quick footed, or you are always ready to lend a hand on the court. Discover what other people feel are your strongest skills and then set about perfecting them.

TIP! Do not only practice zone defense plays. While much of the game is played in zone, the opponent can flip to man-to-man coverage, changing everything and surprising you.

Develop a routine to use every time you shoot a free throw. Whatever you do, from bending your knees to dribbling three times, do every time. Just remember it has to be fast and consistent. The reason is, this routine will put your body on alert that the next thing coming is a free throw. This will help insure your success.

In order to be good at rebounding the ball off a missed free throw, you must be quick with your feet. Try to anticipate the move of the defender between yourself and the basket so that you can maneuver around him and to the hoop. This will get you a rebound without having to commit a foul.

Can you see well? This is so that you’re able to catch passes, get shots in, and look at the scoreboard. 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.

TIP! Passing quickly without dribbling is a great way to practice. It is difficult playing without dribbling; however, it helps the team make better passes.

Whenever possible, take advantage of an attack. Letting the other guy run into you stops the game without having to use a time out, and adds another four to the opponent’s total. This is a great way to take control of the court and intimidate the other team.

These tips should give a better idea of how to improve your game. It is not a complicated game and a great form of exercise. So get out there and use the tips that will help up your game. Hit the court and enjoy yourself!