Basketball isn’t very complex, but it is a lot of fun. Every player has skills they use to help the team win. If you are looking to improve your game skills, the keep reading.

Dribble properly. Finger tips, not palms, are the key to successful dribbling. You retain much more ball control this way. Bounce only at the level of your waist at the side and not in front. Keep your head up and do not look at the ground.

TIP! The way to properly dribble is to keep your head up while looking ahead of you. Lack of practice will manifest itself in looking down towards the ball when dribbling.

Your balance is an important aspect to consider when you are shooting. 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. Taking a shot when you are off balance will probably lead to a turnover. When you shoot, you should always be properly balanced, which will help you make more baskets more consistently.

Receiving Passes

Passing the ball is an important part of playing basketball so practice making and receiving passes. When practicing make sure you drill yourself to catch errant throws as well as picture perfect passes. Some passes may be too high, too low or off target, so you should practice receiving passes often. Help your team by learning to catch those bad passes, as well as those perfect passes.

TIP! Any good basketball player needs to know how to make a layup. This is the most popular shot in basketball.

Do not practice solely against zone defense. While a great portion of a game will be concentrated in the zone, your rivals could opt to go to man-to-man covering to keep you guessing. If you are unprepared, you may lose the match fast.

A good way to practice sound passing is to drill without dribbling. It is tough to play when not dribbling, but your accuracy is sure to inprove. Do not get frustrated if it it seems difficult at first, over time your team’s passes will become more accurate.

Have your team mates critique your playing skills. Is there something that you excel at? Perhaps you are great backup or fast on your feet. Find out what others think your natural abilities are, and be certain to keep developing those skills.

TIP! Practice your pass catching often. While you are practicing, you should be sure to drill yourself on catching errant throws, as well as catching those perfect passes.

Being able to anticipate your opponent is a key skill. Pay attention to how they play. Figure out which people are right or left handed. Defense is more effective when you know what your opponent is likely to do. A defender with an education will be good at what they do.

When exercise, concentrate on perfecting footwork and strengthening your core muscles. You will stay balanced if your core is strong. The most important muscle groups include your back, stomach, and pelvic region. Much like boxers do, you have the ability to bolster your footwork and agility by using a jump rope.

Make sure you know what is going on with your feet. Stepping even a toe on the baseline with the ball in your hands means you are out of bounds. In addition, if you move your feet and you don’t dribble, you will be called for walking. Also, moving a foot when setting up a screen can result in a foul.

TIP! If there’s no one around to play with, it is okay to play a basketball game by yourself. You may not always be able to find someone to play with you.

Practice dribbling with both hands, dribble on both sides of your body and learn to dribble in front of you while taking large strides. By being able to easily dribble with two hands rather than one, you have a huge advantage over your defenders. Don’t allow yourself to use your dominant hand when practicing. Your weak hand will soon develop better dribbling skills.

Basketball players can greatly benefit from strength training. You need both strength and endurance if you are going to excel. Even kids can benefit by getting stronger through exercise. As they age, begin adding weights to their exercise routine. When they become an adult, weight training becomes mandatory.

Use a 2-3 zone as a way to trap opponents. You can do this by having guards wait for the point guard to come at least 10 feet past midcourt. They can then trap the point guard. Your forwards should sprint to cover the other players on the outside. The point guard should throw up a pass that your forwards can easily steal.

TIP! If you’re injured in a basketball game, don’t attempt to play while in pain. Basketball is challenging physical sport and you can get injured.

One way to increase your three-point skill is to practice at the NBA range. The standard line , high school and college lines are all going to be closer. Nailing shots from the NBA line can really help improve your overall shooting skills.

Dribbling Skills

Practice dribbling by switching momentum. Dribbling during game play requires you to adopt a variety of dribbling skills. You will have many opponents swarming you. You must learn dribbling from all kinds of directions. Good dribbling skills will make getting out of a bad situation a lot easier.

TIP! Ask your teammates what they like about the way you play. Can you get better at something? Maybe you are quick like lightening or maybe you are a strong defender.

You can place your off-hand out in front of you to serve as protection against the defense. You don’t need to push any opponents since that’s a foul, but try using your non-dribbling arm like a separator for keeping the ball safe. This move helps to keep the ball protected and you in control of it.

All basketball players try to become an expert in a particular skill so they can become a better player. This article has provided you with the tips you need to succeed. Read this article as many times as you need to in order to absorb its advice.