Even the NBA’s best players don’t know everything there is to know about basketball. The sport is evolving, which means that even after you’ve become an expert, there’s more to learn. Want to do better than the competition is doing? If you really want that edge, take a good look at the article below.

Make sure to practice catching passes. When practicing, try catching great passes as well as really bad passes. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. Learning how to catch these errant passes will put you at an advantage.

TIP! It is important to focus on both offense and defense when learning to play basketball. You can win a game, thanks to good defense.

Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. 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 haven’t practiced against it, you could end up losing your grip on the game quite quickly.

Don’t dribble during your drills. It is tough to play when not dribbling, but your accuracy is sure to inprove. Work through the initial frustration and see how the challenge will improve your game in the long run.

Need to dupe the opposition? Trick them using a back pass. To accomplish this pass, grasp the ball using your dominant hand. Then, put the ball around your back. The last step is to flick your wrist in the direction you want the ball to move. This will trick your opponents.

Core Muscles

If you have a child who has expressed interest in becoming a basketball player in high school, make sure he trains his core muscles. The core is the following areas: abdominal muscles, lower back muscles and hip muscles. The core muscles link lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they won’t have strong athletic performances. A strong and solid core allows force that is generated via the legs to be used for helpful movements during the game like higher jumps and faster running.

What do your teammates admire about your skills? Can they tell you what you’re really good at? Perhaps they see you as someone who is fast on the court, or that you’re a really good teammate. Improve the skills where you tend to be a bit weaker while maintaining your stronger skills.

TIP! Want to trick the other team? Trick them using a back pass. To do this pass, hold on to the ball with your dominant hand.

Keep your eye on the ball. This keeps you aware of what is going on so you aren’t surprised. Always watch for areas opening up where you can go for a quick basket.

If you’ve developed somewhat of a shooting slump, focus on your shoulders. When the shoulders are wrongly positioned, your shot is unlikely to succeed. Your shoulders should be facing the hoop. The dominant shoulder needs to be aligned correctly with the rim.

Always have an awareness of the location and movement of your feet. Out of bounds will happen with even one toe over the baseline of the lined play area on the court. Taking a lot of steps when you’re not dribbling means you’re traveling and that’s a turnover call. Avoid lifting your feet when you are screening or in position for a charge or the foul will be called on you instead of your opponent.

TIP! Build hand signals so passes are more successful. One of basketball’s most frustrating elements is the concept of sending a quick pass onto a teammate who has just moved in a different direction.

When playing a game of basketball, have a friend tape the game. This way, you can take a look at your game. Can you see chances that you missed or ways that you could have done better? Do not waste time criticizing yourself. Just make an honest assessment. Sometimes you have to face reality about your skills and just not dream about how you want to be.

Free Throw

Get into a consistent routine to improve your free throw shots. If you aren’t able to be consistent then you’ll be off when you shoot. Practicing your free throw again and again is the only way to perfect it. If you do not practice this shot consistently, you may miss it during an actual game.

TIP! Study you opponent well to give yourself an edge. One great way to get a better understanding of your opponent is to take the time to watch film and get information from other players or scouts.

A good player on defense will annoy the heck out of the opponent and cause the other team to get flustered. Focus on getting them out of the comfort zone. Always move aggressively as they try to maneuver around you. Do not let them call the shots. If they do, they’ll dominate you. You make the moves, which helps shift the momentum.

Dribble harder if you want to avoid the ball being stolen. This is because the ball returns to you hand faster, so the opposing team has less of a chance to get it. Stop dribbling when people guard you too closely.

Using your weak hand to brush your teeth can help you build skills with that hand. Being more dexterous means you will have better control. Soon enough you will see great improvements on the court.

TIP! Develop a routine to use every time you shoot a free throw. It could be that you dribble several times, bend at the knees, brush your hair out of your eyes or do something else.

The first step when dribbling is to bend at your knees instead of standing straight-legged. The ball is harder to control dribbling when you stand up straight. It also leaves you open to a steal from the opposing team. Bending your knees slightly will enable you to control the ball more efficiently.

Now you know how to be king of the court. Each tip can improve your game. Practice is the only way to master the game and it is a never ending learning process. You can get started with taking your game farther by remembering all you have read.