Basketball is played all over the world, and it’s a fun game. The players all work together to lead their team to victory. Learn to improve your skills by reading the following tips.
Make sure you dribble properly by keeping your head held up, facing forward. If you have to keep your eye on the ball when you’re dribbling, practice can remedy that. Bring the ball no matter where you go. You can practice dribbling when you have to walk to the store. Always look ahead when you are dribbling the ball.
A good tip is to practice your layups on a daily basis. Layup shots make up nearly 80% of a game’s shots. Run as fast as possible, while jumping and performing a smooth shot. This type of technique will translate well into actual game situations.
Get educated on the way to properly pass the ball on a bounce. The bounce pass needs to reach the player at waist level. It’s generally a good idea to pass the ball about three-fourths of the distance between you and the receiving teammate. Although, there will be other circumstances that are involved too.
Do not practice solely against zone defense. Most of the basketball game will probably be played in this zone, but the other team might decide to surprise you and do some man-to-man coverage. Practicing these techniques can give you a competitive edge over your competition.
Avoid errant passes by the use of hand signals. One thing that can frustrate you when playing basketball is to try and pass while a player is trying to run to the basket. Hand signals can help you communicate with your teammate on the court. If the signal is not used, then the pass should not be made to that player.
When trying to improve your strength to have better basketball footwork, work on building up your core. Your balance will improve if you strengthen your core. The most important muscle groups include your back, stomach, and pelvic region. Similar to boxers, jump rope to help increase speed and better your footwork.
Always be sure of where you’re placing your feet so you’re aware of what they’re doing. You will be called out of bounds if even one toe is touching the baseline as you hold the ball. More than three steps will cause you to get called for travelling. You can’t move a foot when you take a charge, pick or screen either, or it’s a foul.
Have a friend or family member tape your games so you can view how you appear on the court. Did you spot something that could be improved? Do not waste time criticizing yourself. Just make an honest assessment. Sometimes it’s beneficial to look at yourself the way you really look and not just like you think you look.
Try practicing how to pass while looking in another direction. This is a great way to fake out your opponents. If you do this fake the right way, then the receiver of the pass should have an advantage and a great look at the goal. It can be a really powerful play.
To increase the efficiency of your layups, begin your takeoff on the foot opposite from the hand you’re shooting with. So, your left foot should be the one you take off from if you use your right hand to shoot. That way, the body stays balanced while it moves toward the hoop.
Free Throws
A consistent routine will help you to achieve great free throws. Inconsistency will ruin your shots. The easiest way to make sure you’re doing great at free throws is to do repetitions of the same routines time and again. If you are off your game, you will not make the shot.
Prevent the opposing team from stealing the ball by dribbling hard. The ball will get back to the hand faster, giving the other team less of an opportunity to grab it away. If your opponent is playing you up close, stop what you’re doing and quickly look to find and open teammate to pass the ball to.
You should always bend your knees while dribbling. If your knees are not bent, the basketball will be more difficult to control. Just a slight bend in your knees can have a huge impact on ball control.
Keep a rhythm while dribbling to throw your opponents off. Dribble consistently, then break it up by dribbling fast. This will keep your opponent off balance so you can get in a good shot. The change of sound and speed can confuse the opponent.
Practice making shots from a lot of different places on the court. Practice your grip and balance first. Shooting when off-balance isn’t impossible, but it isn’t effective either. You can use your basketball’s valve to improve grip. Center your dominant hand over the valve, and spread your fingers out from there.
If you are serious about basketball then you should be serious about your diet. If you’re playing regularly, you need energy-loaded carbs as well as some fat and protein. The best additions are whole wheats, grains, poultry and nuts. Try to avoid overuse of salt or sugar in your diet.
When you return to the floor from a rebound, make sure your legs hit the floor at wider than shoulder-width apart so that you maintain your balance. Have your hands on both sides of the ball. Also, be sure to hold it against your chest tightly. Always keep your elbows in check because an errant elbow can cost you a foul if an opposing player is hit with it.
Everyone that’s trying to play basketball is going to need to learn some skills so they can play better. Now that you read the article you should be familiar with what it takes to take your game to the next level. Read over the above info again if you need to, but keep using the tips you read so you’re able to do better.