Basketball is loved by many. However, it’s not always easy to become a good player. You can be born with talent, but the game can be enjoyed by everyone. The article below will give you some valuable tips to make playing this sport more fun.
Practice hitting your free throws. This is one of those shots that seem easy but in real life are difficult. Practice regularly and employe the technique that follows. Hold the ball level with your head. Keep looking at the goal while visualizing the basketball going through the hoop. You should then shoot and try following the trajectory you visualized.
Practice your passes and catches frequently. Try to catch all of the passes that are thrown to you. This will help you catch those bad passes during a game. By learning to catch errant passes, you will do your team a great favor.
Strong Core
Basketball players need to build strong core muscles. Show them how to exercise their hips, lower back and abs. The core muscles link lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they won’t have strong athletic performances. A strong core provides a center of force that can be tapped through the legs while running and jumping during games.
If you are posting up, strategic footwork is important to becoming open and making a good shot. You must beat the opposing playing to an open spot. Plant your feet and own that spot. These will both require powerful footwork.
Find out what your teammates like most about how you play? Do you do something really good? They may say that you are a great team defender or are always playing with excellent speed. It’s great to get an idea of how your teammates think of your skills, this way you know what areas of the game to focus on.
Spreading the fingers is something you have to do to handle the ball right. This makes sure that it does not escape away from your grip. Do not allow the palm of your hand to make contact with the ball. When you’re shooting or passing, the only place the ball should touch your hand is on your fingers.
Be aware of what your feet are doing and where they are. Just touching the baseline is going to get you called out of bounds. Also, you can cause a turnover if you walk without dribbling the ball. If you move either foot while trying to pick, take a charge or set a screen, it will result in a called foul.
Video tape your games, and then review your technique later. This way, you have the opportunity to go through your play at a later time and see your mistakes. Be honest with yourself but don’t be too harsh. Sometimes you think of yourself as something you are not.
Having a pre-free-throw shot routine will help you become dependable at free throws. For example, many people touch their foreheads or tap their chest before making a free throw shot. If you make your routine consistent, your body will eventually know how to make the shot every time.
Practice passing while looking in other directions. This will make your actions very confusing to the other team. When done properly, this technique distracts the opposition and gives your pass recipient a chance to focus on the basket. When done smoothly it can be a game changer.
You need to put a damper in your opponent’s plan if you want to be successful with defending. Force them to leave their comfort zone. An aggressive approach is an effective one for this purpose. Don’t let your opponent decide their own plays. You should never let an opponent control what you do on the court. Rather, you move first so that you interfere with their rhythm.
Do you want to get out there and show some skills on the court? Consider first practicing the pointers in this article. Get energized, motivated, and excited and then get out on the court! Before long, you will be a much better player, thanks to these amazing tips.