For decades, people have enjoyed basketball. It allows people to compete but have fun at the same time. Becoming a good basketball player requires lots of dedication and plenty of practice. Don’t stop, because this article is going to give you the information you need.

Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Avoid using your palm while dribbling. Instead, use your fingertips. Using your fingers allows you to better control the basketball. Dribble to your body’s side instead of doing it out front, and bounce the ball at your waist’s level. Look up and never down at the ground.

TIP! Look forward when dribbling. Lack of practice will manifest itself in looking down towards the ball when dribbling.

Learn to crossover if you get the ball often. In a crossover, you transfer the basketball from hand to hand. It has to be done fast to be effective. Once you have learned how to do a crossover, you can travel down the court quickly.

Lifting weights too much can actually take away from your jump shot. Though muscle strength is great to have with any sport, it is very possible to be too buff for serious game play. Shooting guards that end up with bulked up arms sometimes find that it affects field goal percentages.

Keep your skills sharp in the off-season by playing different challenging games. While basketball is a team sport, sometimes you just can’t find others to play with. No problem! It is possible to get a lot done even when playing alone. Work on free throws or three pointers. You can always find things to practice.

Core Muscles

If your son or daughter wants to play high school basketball, they need to work on core muscle training. That means their hips, lower back and abs. Core muscles are the connectors between arms and legs. If the core muscles are weak, basketball performance will suffer. A strong and solid core allows force that is generated via the legs to be used for helpful movements during the game like higher jumps and faster running.

Speed is everything in basketball. Developing speed and vision is vital to playing the game well. In order to play fast, you must practice drills. However, you should not attempt to play any faster than your abilities permit. If you push too hard, your performance may be haphazard, and the game may get out of control.

TIP! Successful free throws require you to be mentally and physically strong. You can practice for hours on how to make the shot, but if you over think things or get distracted you will miss every time.

Making a pass from between your legs is sometimes a good option when the opposing team is right on top of you. Refine this skill by bouncing a ball with force between the legs while stepping backwards or forwards. Mastering this move can help give you an advantage on the court.

Consistent free throws require a consistent technique. If you’re not consistent you’ll find yourself missing free throws. Practice and repetition are the only way to become a consistent free thrower. If you have a glitch in the routine, you are likely to miss your shot.

Upset and disrupt your opponent’s play. All successful basketball players do this. Don’t let them get comfortable. Display aggressiveness in your chosen moves. Don’t allow them to control the match. If you do, your opponent will run all over you. You make the moves, which helps shift the momentum.

TIP! If you are good at shooting the ball then the last thing you want to do is lift weights. Although it’s true that strong muscles are beneficial, additional bulk can impede your ability to play effectively along the perimeter.

A good way to develop ball handling skills is to make your forearms and hands stronger. For example, you can improve dribbling skills by adding wrist curls to your routine. Making a goal isn’t just standing there as the ball miraculously comes to you and then shooting it at the basket. It is essential to move the ball around in order to succeed.

It is important that you can clearly see everything that is occurring during a game. This will enable you to make good shots as well as catching passes that come your way. Your peripheral vision needs to be as strong as possible. Watching the whole court allows you to foresee future attacks from the opponent.

Basketball will be easier for you and more fun when you have the best advice. Take time to read this and visit basketball references online to learn more. Absorb every lesson you learn here and on the court. Don’t forget anything.