People worldwide love basketball. It’s simple to play a game at the park or begin your career if you start early enough. To learn about how to play basketball better, read on.

It is easy to be focused on offense when you are learning how to play basketball, but you really should focus your practice on defense. Defense is how you win a basketball game. Offense is often what gets the glory, but most winning basketball teams play great defense.

TIP! It is important that you perfect dribbling the ball. Don’t use your palm, use your fingers.

Balance is important when shooting. You have seen how pros shoot a basket from thirty feet away and fall out of bounds, which is not the right technique. These shots are improvisational and usually desperate attempts. If you are able to improve your sense of balance, then you will find that your percentage of successful shots improves.

Practice your layups a lot. Layups sometimes wind up being 4 out of every 5 shots in basketball. When you practice, you need to be able to run toward the basket at full speed, then shoot while jumping in the air. Practicing your running and jumping as a single motion will improve your technique faster than practicing them separately.

Teach yourself to throw bounce passes correctly. Executed properly, a bounce pass will connect with the receiving player at the waist. One thing you should do is always remember the ball should be bounced three quarters on its way towards the person you’re passing too. Although, there will be other circumstances that are involved too.

TIP! Remember to practice a lot of different possibilities so that you will not limit your game. Zone play will be important, but man-to-man will pop up from time to time, too.

You can play basketball solo before and during the season. Basketball is sport played in teams, but there are times when no one is around to play with you. That’s OK! In solo games, you can accomplish quite a bit. You can practice many different techniques, such as your free throw routine. Many things can be practiced.

Quick and solid footwork is what it takes to make the shot when your posting up. There are two important points you must remember. You must create a physical presence below the basket, and you must secure a good spot in advance of your opponent. Having found a good spot, you must secure it. Good footwork is key to a good basketball game.

The key for controlling the ball well is to spread your fingers. This makes sure that it does not escape away from your grip. Don’t let your palms touch it. The only things that should touch the ball are your fingers, as you shoot or pass.

TIP! Make use of hand signals so that wild passes can be avoided. Oftentimes frustration occurs when trying you aren’t on the same page with a teammate who cuts to the basketball when you try to pass him the ball.

When you’re trying to work out, you should build up your core strength while getting your footwork perfected. Your body is going to be more balanced and be able to move faster when you have strong core muscles. Strengthen you back muscles along with abs, hips and buttocks. Much like boxers do, you have the ability to bolster your footwork and agility by using a jump rope.

Pay attention closely to the shoulders if you’re starting to slump when you shoot. When you’re in a shooting slump it usually means that your shoulders are not square to the hoop. To help improve your shot, focus on squaring up on each of your shots. Try to line your dominant shoulder up with the rim.

To become a great free thrower, practice and develop a routine you will use during each shot. Whatever you do before each shot, from dribbles to body motions, should be the same each time. If you make your routine consistent, your body will eventually know how to make the shot every time.

TIP! If you want to correctly handle the ball, you need to know where to place your fingers. This will help you to be sure that it won’t escape your grasp when trying to hold it.

Practice dribbling with your weak hand as much as possible. If you’re using both hands to dribble the ball well then you can get by an opponent easily. Make an effort to dribble with your weak hand by keeping your dominant hand away from the front. Soon, you will be able dribble with your weaker hand as well as you can with your dominant hand.

Be slick with your feet so you can get a rebound from a teammate. The defender in your path will be moving at you, so be sure you’re thinking of how to get past that defender. You won’t foul as you catch the rebound this way.

One good way to play good defense is to stay in the defensive stance at all times. Slide your feet to and fro or use your opposing foot to push off to maintain your position. Keep your feet from crossing to make it hard for your opponent to get by you.

TIP! You need to be quick to play good basketball. Try to outplay your opponents by being fast to win the game.

Now you should know what has to be done if you wish to do well at basketball. All you need to do is work hard and use what you have learned. Once you start playing you probably will start to do so regularly. Start having some fun!