Learning more about basketball is something ever player or fan of the sport should do. What’s the score? Do not waste time in despair. As exciting as basketball is, it’s also an easy sport to learn. Read on for some basketball tips that will have you calling all the shots and making the slam-dunks for your team.

Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Finger tips, not palms, are the key to successful dribbling. Using your fingertips provides you with more control. Dribble to the side of your body rather than directly in front of you, bouncing at waist level. Look up, not down.

Paying Attention

The way to properly dribble is to keep your head up while looking ahead of you. If you need to look at the ball while dribbling, you’ll need to practice more. Take the basketball around off-court wherever you are. Dribble as you walk down the street. Paying attention to the ball means you’re not paying attention to the rest of the game.

Perfect your bounce pass. It needs to get to the player at their waist. It’s generally a good idea to pass the ball about three-fourths of the distance between you and the receiving teammate. There are, however, other factors that influence the pass.

TIP! Figure out how to perfect your free throw. It looks simple to do, but it isn’t that easy.

Watching the pros play is a great way to see how great basketball players use their skills in the game. Attend as many professional games as you can, watch the pros on TV, or watch video of professionals. You’ll notice that each player has a skill that they are great at. Choose a move that you like and start practicing it.

If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, be sure they’re working on their core muscles. Show them how to exercise their hips, lower back and abs. The core links together all of the extremities and if it isn’t strong, they will be dealing with a limited athletic ability. A strong core helps you jump higher and run faster.

Make use of hand signals so that wild passes can be avoided. Often in basketball, a player makes a pass at the exact same time the receiving player heads to another part of the court. These common miscommunications can be avoided by utilizing hand signals, which tells the passing player the other player is ready for a pass. If you don’t see a signal, you shouldn’t pass the ball.

TIP! Focus on your strong point to help you become a better ball player. Your talents might not make you a star, but when you make the most of your strengths, you might better contribute to your team.

Make sure, no matter what else happens, you can see where the ball is. You will enjoy greater court awareness and avoid feeling surprised by rapid changes in game play. Also, you need to stay aware of areas which might open up and give you an easy basket.

Be aware of what your feet are doing and where they are. Stepping even a toe on the baseline with the ball in your hands means you are out of bounds. Taking a lot of steps when you’re not dribbling means you’re traveling and that’s a turnover call. In addition, a foul can be called against you if you move either foot while setting a screen, a pick or taking a charge.

Reading that article was easy and fun. Since reading this information, you know how exciting basketball can be. Use the information above to help you become a better ball player.