Basketball is enjoyed by both genders. People of all races, and ages love basketball. Develop your skills and share with your friends and teammates how much you have improved. What moves do you want to learn? Continue reading the paragraphs below to find out exactly what to do.

Learn how to hit a free throw shot. As easy as these shots may seem, they are rather hard. Make sure that you’re applying the following technique when practicing. Begin by holding the ball directly in front of your face. There may be a number of distractions so you need to focus on your goal. Then, use the trajectory you just visualized and shoot the ball.

TIP! Make sure you are dribbling the right way. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm.

Always work on your layups. This is the most popular shot in basketball. When practicing it is important to run at full speed toward the goal, then jump and shoot smoothly. Drill the jumping technique regularly so you can do layups very smoothly and always stay in control of where the ball is going.

Interested in tricking your opponents? The back pass is perfect for this. Use your dominant hand to palm the basketball. Now hold the ball behind you. Finally your wrist should be flicked towards where you want the ball to go. This will confuse the other team into wondering where the ball went.

If you experience a basketball injury, don’t keep playing. You can easily tear a muscle or even break a finger while playing. Trying to tough it out and keep playing, even if you are experiencing discomfort, can exacerbate an injury even more. Seek medical advice immediately if you have more than a minor muscle strain.

TIP! Try learning how to hit free throw shots. This may seem like an easy task, but in reality, things prove otherwise.

Understanding your opponent is a good way to shut him down on defense. Review tapes and keep up with scouting reports. Know the dominant hand of every player. Once you start to get to know the other team, you can do a lot better when you’re on defense. Knowledge can make you a strong defender.

Playing Fast

Quickness is a blessing in basketball. Speed always gives you an edge over your opponent. Playing fast takes practice, though, and steady drilling. Don’t try playing fast until you can. You will end up in a turnover if you play too fast.

TIP! Free throws are as mental as physical. With everyone watching, it can be easy to allow the pressure to interfere with your game.

To avoid turning the ball over to the other team, make sure that you’re dribbling hard. When you dribble hard, the ball bounces back to your hand faster. That means there is less time for the other side to grab it. If the defense gets to be too much, look to pass the ball to someone who is open.

You should now be able to be confident when you start playing so you can hit the court with that confidence. You are now in possession of some of the best kept secrets of basketball. Always remember that fun is the most importance concept in basketball. Whatever the case, it is fun to win though!