Do you wish you were like a famous ball player, such as Lebron James or Michael Jordan. Don’t just dream about improving your game; instead, take the pointers and learn how you can get out there and practice right now. This article will give you some helpful tips to improve your game.

Learn how to hit a free throw shot. It seems easy to do but surely isn’t. Practice often using the following technique. Start by holding your basketball right in the front of your own face. Eye the basket and imagine the ball swishing down into it. Shoot on the same path you saw in your mind’s eye.

TIP! A lot of novice players mostly focus on their offensive skills, but developing good defensive skills will help you become a better player. Basketball games are won with a good defense.

To improve your game, concentrate on your strong points. Your best talent may not make you the star of every game, but learning to play your best angle will help you contribute more to the team. Ask others to help you identify your strengths and practice until you fully master these skills.

Bounce Pass

Teach yourself how a bounce pass can be properly thrown. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player at waist level. One good rule of thumb is to bounce the ball around three quarters of the way to the other player. There are many factors which come into play, though.

TIP! Learn proper dribbling. When dribbling the basketball, use your fingertips rather than the palm of your hand.

Observing what the professionals do can be a great way to improve your game. It is important that you see how other people play the game. You’ll see that every great player has specific skills that cause them to be great and you have the opportunity to practice what you’re watching them do.

Frequent pass catching practice is important. Practice catching errant throws along with perfect passes. In the heat of the game, not every pass is going to hit the bulls-eye. Make sure that your teammates also practice this type of pass with you.

How would you like to trick the opposing team? Give the back pass a try! To accomplish this pass, grasp the ball using your dominant hand. Then, move the basketball around your rear. Then you will use your wrist and flip it in the direction you want the ball to be going. It’s a great way to trick your opposing team.

TIP! Making free throws are almost as much a mental part of the game as they are a physical part. Making the right physical motions is easier than having the right mind set.

If you post up, you need to use good footwork to get open and make sure you get a good shot. Although it’s important to have a physical presence underneath the basket, it’s more important that you get in a good place before your opponent can. Once you’re in position, you also need to secure your spot. The key to mastering these skills is good footwork.

Never play through an injury on the court. Basketball is physically challenging, and injuries are not uncommon. Trying to be tough so you can keep going, even when you’re just a little uncomfortable, can make an injury worse. Visit a doctor if you think it’s serious.

To hold the ball right, spread your fingers out. This keeps it under control. Also, keep your palm off the ball. The only things that should touch the ball are your fingers, as you shoot or pass.

TIP! Never practice only against the zone. Learn how to play a man-to-man defense and a zone defense to get the best understanding of how the game works.

Make sure you know what is going on with your feet. You want to make sure you don’t step over the bounds by even a teeny bit. 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.

A consistent routine will help you to achieve great free throws. If you aren’t consistent, you won’t make the basket. Free throw shooting is best improved by lengthy sessions of repetitive practice. Failing to stick with your routine can adversely affect your shooting accuracy.

To rebound off your fellow player’s free throws, use sly feet. The more quickly you get under the basket, the better you chance of grabbing the rebound. This will allow you to score a rebound without getting penalized for a foul.

TIP! Would you like to pull one over on your opponents? Try doing a back pass! Use your dominant hand to palm the basketball. Then you will want to pull the ball into position behind your back.

Trip up the offense by constantly changing your pace. As you approach the goal, plant your foot and then straighten up. You will have the guard think that you’re slowing down. In turn, they will straighten themselves. As they do, push forward hard and run by them.

Developing your muscle strength and flexibility will make you a better basketball player. Conditioning training will also increase your stamina. Younger kids can benefit from boosting their arm and leg strength with proper exercise. When they become teens, try using weights to keep enhancing their exercises. As an adult, strength training becomes vital in order to play your best basketball.

Maintain a lower position as you play defense. This helps your reaction time against your opponent. Remain in a good defensive stance always. When rebounding or blocking, you break the stance, but then you must get back in the stance quickly.

TIP! Play basketball games with yourself during the season and before it. There are times you may not find anyone to play with you.

When dribbling you want to keep your knees bent. Standing straight up lessens your ability to control the ball and increases the chances that it will be stolen. Bending your knees slightly will enable you to control the ball more efficiently.

To keep your opponent on their toes, keep your dribbling steady and regular, then surprise them. By mixing up your regular dribbling rhythm with a faster pace, you will throw your opponent off guard, perhaps leaving you with an open shot or pass. Speed and rhythm are two of the strongest advantages you can have to thwart the opposing team.

Anticipate where the ball will go. For instance, corner shots usually bounce off the rim, ending up on the opposite side. If that happens, you can guess the place where it will go and manage to get the rebound.

TIP! Have someone record the games you play so that you can watch it to check out your form. Do you see anything you could do differently? Assess yourself honestly, but don’t be a harsh critic.

These tips should give plenty of things to work on to improve your game. You’re going to have to be consistent with your practice, and you must have confidence in your abilities. Show others that you have skills and keep the things that you went over here in mind at all times.