Many people love basketball because it’s so fast-paced, and exciting to watch. However, if you want to thoroughly enjoy the game, you should know all you can. Here, you will read tips that will help you improve your basketball skills.
Many people forget that defense is as important as offense during practice. Basketball games are won more often by defense than offense. Offense is flashier, so it draws the attention of fans and journalists, but a team that can’t defend well won’t win any games.
Practice hitting your free throws. The free throw shot might seem simple, but it can actually be pretty difficult. Practice regularly and employe the technique that follows. Start out by holding the basketball right in front of you. Keep your eyes on the goal and visualize the ball going into the goal. Bend your knees to control the arc of the ball.
It is vital that you learn to crossover the basketball while dribbling. A crossover is when you move the ball from one hand to the other. You need to perform crossovers very quickly to get good results. One done the right way, the crossover dribble can help you change directions and get down the court more efficiently.
You must have good balance to shoot well. We have all seen the professional basketball player falling out of bounds and making a basket from 30 feet away, but this is not proper technique. They are not doing it right. Point your feet towards the basket, guide the ball with your weaker hand and push the ball away with your strong hand whenever you shoot the basketball.
Perfect your bounce pass. If done properly, the pass will land near waist level with the opposite player. Try bouncing it about three-quarters to them. Of course, there are also other factors involved.
Free throws are mental as well as physical. You’re able to train your whole body to do full free throw motions, but if you’re not mentally prepared, you will fail. Take a deep breathe, relax and block out all outside distractions before taking the shot.
Watch professionals play to learn from their techniques. You can follow the pros in online videos, on TV and you can also attend a basketball game if there is a pro team in your area. You will notice great skills from different players that you can practice.
Work on pass catches. When practicing make sure you drill yourself to catch errant throws as well as picture perfect passes. During a real game, many of the passes that come your way will be off-target and tougher to handle. You can do the rest of your team a favor by practicing how you can best complete imperfect passes.
You can learn to trick the opposing team. The back pass is perfect for this. To do a back pass, begin by grasping the basketball using your dominant hand. Pull it behind you. Then you will use your wrist and flip it in the direction you want the ball to be going. This is a good way to trick your opponents.
Never have your back to the ball so that you’re ready for anything in a basketball game. This helps you become aware of the court and lowers chances for surprises from turnovers and quick passes. Also, watch for areas to open up so you can make an easy basket.
Make sure your fingers are apart from one another when dribbling. That makes sure that you don’t lose the ball when you hold it. Additionally, the palm of your hand should not come into contact with the ball. Whether you are passing or shooting the ball, your fingers are the only part of your hand that should be touching the ball.
Understanding your opponent is a good way to shut him down on defense. Watch tapes of their games and see how others move on the court. Know which team members are right handed and which ones are left handed. Understanding your opponent allows you to effectively play defense. Smart defenders are good defenders.
Make sure you know what is going on with your feet. If you have the ball and you step outside the baseline, then you’re out of bounds. Taking excessive steps while not dribbling results in a call of walking as well as a turnover. A foul will result if you try to take a charge or set a pick and your feet are moving.
Free Throw Shooting
A solid routine is necessary for improvement in free throw shooting. A consistent routine enables the shooter to have a perfect motion every time. The best way to perfect your free throw shooting technique is through repetition by practicing the same routine over and over again. A break in your routine will foul the shot.
As you have learned from this article, basketball is a fun sport that people play all over the world. From this article, you’ve learned that some special knowledge is required to play like the professionals do. Use these tips to play the game better than you ever thought possible.