Are you interested in basketball, but wish you knew more about the sport? You are not the only one. People want to be as good as the pros, but don’t know how. This article will help you play just like them.
Focus on your strong point to help you become a better ball player. You might not become a big basketball star based on your strengths, but you will be an asset to your team. Knowing what you excel at and then practicing that can help you become perfect at it!
Practice your layups a lot. Almost 80% of shots will be layups. Run full tilt to the basket, then smoothly jump and shoot. This method will teach you to improve your jumps and shots throughout the game.
Practice your bounce pass. Bounce passes should not go above or below the receiving players waist. Try bouncing it about three-quarters to them. There are other factors you have to think about too, however.
You can play basketball solo before and during the season. It is possible to enjoy this team sport even in the absence of your team. No problem. You are able to do a lot with solo games. You can work on pivots and free throws. There are many things you can work on.
To make sure there are no errant passes, use hand signals. One thing that can frustrate you when playing basketball is to try and pass while a player is trying to run to the basket. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. If there is no signal, the player should not make the pass to them.
If you’re on the offense, you footwork needs to be excellent to stay open for passes and shots. There are two important points you must remember. You must create a physical presence below the basket, and you must secure a good spot in advance of your opponent. After positioning yourself on the court, make sure that you are secure. Good footwork is key to a good basketball game.
You can improve your control of the ball by spreading your fingers. This can help you avoid losing it when you hold it. Also, keep your palm off the ball. Fingers should be the only point of contact as you pass or shoot the ball at its target.
You should always be aware of the position of your feet and their actions. An errant toe to the baseline while holding the ball will result in an “out of bounds” call. The ball will be turned over on a walking call if too many steps are taken with no dribble action. Do not move your feet when attempting to set up a screen, a foul can be called.
Have someone taper your games and then watch it to see how you look on the court. Can you see where you can improve your form? Are there things you might have done differently? Assess yourself honestly, but don’t be a harsh critic. Sometimes you think of yourself as something you are not.
If the opposition is hot on your tail, pass between your legs. Step forward and back while dribbling the ball between your legs hard. If you get this down, you will have a major advantage on the court.
The key to great defense is being a nuisance to the player you are guarding. Force them out of their comfort zone. The more aggressive you are the better. You don’t want the defense choosing your plays so to speak. Your opponent will take any opportunity to give you the run around. To avoid this, stay aggressive and try to interrupt their thought patterns and rhythm.
Dribble hard if you don’t want the ball taken from you. This causes the ball to return to your hand more quickly, so the offense has less time to try to get it away from you. If your opponent is playing you up close, stop what you’re doing and quickly look to find and open teammate to pass the ball to.
Playing basketball well means developing good court “eyesight.” Your eyesight will affect more than just making shots. Working to improve you peripheral vision will help you become a more successful player. If you look across the whole game and not just focus on the ball, you can see oncoming defensive pressure in advance, as well as open teammates.
A great way to make sure you’re in a good position defensively is to keep yourself in the defensive stance. Use your opposite foot to push with or slide your feet around. Stay low and make it hard for opponents to get around you.
In conclusion, you may enjoy basketball and just didn’t know much about it before you read this. Now you are ready to stick a foot in and take on a game yourself. So get out there and get a pick up game going and put those skills to use.