Basketball is all the rage in this world. It’s not that simple to be the most talented in the game. While you must have some natural talent to be a star, you can have fun no matter what your skill set is. Read on for tips about basketball.

Know how to dribble the ball in the correct way. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm. This allows you to control the ball better. Bounce only at the level of your waist at the side and not in front. Keep your eyes up.

TIP! Dribble the ball the right way. Use fingertips to dribble.

If you have the ball a lot, learn to execute a crossover. Switch from one side to the other while dribbling. Speed determines the success of the crossover move. After doing so correctly, a crossover gives you greater control over the court’s flow.

Every great player understands how to properly perform a bounce pass. Bounce passes should not go above or below the receiving players waist. A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the receiving player is. Of course, there are also other factors involved.

Don’t just practice playing against a zone defense. Zone play will be important, but man-to-man will pop up from time to time, too. Be sure to practice for this eventuality so you will not become rattled and lose the game.

TIP! Learn what a crossover is and how to do it. A crossover means moving the ball between your hands.

You can learn how to better pass the ball if you run drills without the dribble. It is hard to play with no dribbling, but it will help your team make great passes. Do not get frustrated if it it seems difficult at first, over time your team’s passes will become more accurate.

You need to be quick to be good at basketball. Developing speed and vision is vital to playing the game well. You need to really drill to get to the point where you can play fast. But do not try to play faster than you are able. This can cause you to get out of control and make careless mistakes.

As soon as the ball leaves your teammate’s hands after a free throw, start moving into position. Defenders will start to move at you, so you need to get around them to grab the ball. This will get you a rebound without having to commit a foul.

TIP! Practice basketball in season and out of season. Even if you can’t get a bunch of people together to play, you can still practice on your own.

In your drills, you should attempt to move the basketball the length of the court in fewer than half a dozen dribbles. This might not seem possible, but if you can do it your speed and length will strengthen. You will find that it becomes easier to score and make layups.

Now are you prepared to take on the game and show off your skills? Start with some practice, of course. Get yourself pumped up and mentally psyched, then step onto the court and do it! In no time, you’ll see your skills improve thanks to the tips you’ve just read.