The right advice and professional information is all it takes to get started in the right direction. Are you lost? Don’t let it worry you. Basketball is not the easiest game to learn but you can do it. Read this post to learn a lot about basketball, so you’ll love playing and watching even more.

Having a good foundation is key when shooting the ball. Many the professional player can be seen slipping out of bounds or making baskets from far away, but these are not proper techniques. They are professionals, and they are able to improvise successfully. Balance needs to be maintained to consistently make successful shots.

Free Throws

Free throws are mental as well as physical. Of course, you can show your body how to make free throws. However, if you’re not in the right state of mind, you won’t succeed. Relax and focus on your shot, and you can make it.

Watch how the pros play basketball. You can do this by watching games in person and on television. You’ll learn that every player is skilled at certain things and that can help you to know what you can do to get better.

TIP! In order to be a great shooter, good balance is key. Falling when you make a shot is not the right way to shoot.

Build hand signals so passes are more successful. Often in basketball, a player makes a pass at the exact same time the receiving player heads to another part of the court. Avoid this using hand signals to see if they can get the pass. Without a signal, players shouldn’t attempt to pass.

If you’re posting up, good footwork is the key to getting open and getting a good shot. You need to have physical presence beneath the net, but you also have to choose the right spot to be in. After positioning yourself on the court, make sure that you are secure. Strong footwork is key.

When injuries occur on the court, it is unwise to keep on playing. This is an aggressive sport, and injuries happen often. By “playing through the pain” you take a huge risk that the injury will become much worse. If the pain is bad, visit a doctor.

TIP! Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. Four out of every five shots taken in a given game will be layups.

You should ask your teammates about your strengths and weaknesses. What are your your best skill areas? Perhaps you have good dribbling skills or maybe your footwork is enviable. Find out what others perceive as your natural gifts and build upon those more completely.

Make it your goal to never turn away from the ball on the court. This keeps you aware of what is going on so you aren’t surprised. Scan the court looking for openings to make a basket.

Watch your shoulders if you obtain a shooting slump. If your shoulders are in a bad position, no matter how good you are, you won’t make the shot. Shoulders should be towards the hoop. The dominant shoulder needs to be lined up with the rim.

TIP! Free throws are as mental as physical. You’re able to train your whole body to do full free throw motions, but if you’re not mentally prepared, you will fail.

Learn how to dribble and pass between your legs in case you are being guarded very tightly. Step forward and back while dribbling the ball between your legs hard. Once you get the move down, you can use it to gain a tactical advantage.

Improve your ball-handling by strengthening your hands and your forearms. Wrist curls can be great for honing ball handling skills. You will not be able to stand in one place and shoot. Good dribbling skills will help you always stay in movement.

Never pass up a charging opportunity. This strategy can result in your opponent taking a foul and your team getting a defensive stop and taking possession of the ball. This is play that’s powerful.

TIP! Practice catching passes often. Be sure to be able to catch off-target throws on top of good ones.

An excellent way to have proper defensive posture is to remain in the correct stance. Slide your feet from side to side or push off with your opposing foot so that you are always in position. Avoid getting your feet cross as this makes it much more difficult for the opponent to get by you.

Increase your weak hand’s capabilities by using it for everything you normally would not. If you gain more mastery of it in all walks of life, you improve overall control. Keeping your opponents on their toes is an important part of basketball.

When you dribble, bend your knees. The farther the ball has to bounce, the less control you will have of it. Merely bending your knees a bit can provide you with much better ball control.

TIP! Would you like to completely fool the opposing team, making them look silly? Try doing what is known as a back pass. To do this pass, hold on to the ball with your dominant hand.

To become a better three-point shooter, make sure you attempt shots from where the NBA three-point line would be. The standard line , high school and college lines are all going to be closer. If you get it from the NBA range, your open looks will have deeper range than defense will mind you until you begin hitting.

If you’re trying to guard a person that’s bigger than you are, try keeping between that person and the one in possession of the ball. That should make it difficult for the ball to be passed to them.

See, it really isn’t that complicated. You should be able to enjoy basketball more now that you understand it better. Use the knowledge you have gained from this article to enjoy the sport even more.