Even the best basketball player does not know everything about the sport. Times change, and so does the game of basketball. You must always be ready to learn and stay updated. Do you want to be a good player? Read on to find the edge you crave.

Watch your form while you dribble the ball. Use the fingertips, not the palm, for the best dribbling. This helps you to control the ball better. Keeping the ball to your side will help it from getting in the way. Instead of focusing on the ground, gaze upward.

TIP! While focusing on offense is fun, you must also make sure you focus on defense. Defense ultimately determines the winner of a game of basketball.

Watch professionals play to learn from their techniques. Go to a bunch of professional games in person, watch them on television, or just get online to search for basketball videos. 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.

Don’t just practice playing against a zone defense. Most of the game is played in zone, but your opponent may try to switch things up to do man-to-man coverage. If you are unprepared, you may lose the match fast.

Bad passes can be avoided with the right hand signals. It is very frustrating when a teammate isn’t open for the perfect pass. Players should use hand signals often when available for a pass. If the signal is not used, then the pass should not be made to that player.

Playing Basketball

If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. It’s easy to be hurt when playing basketball. Trying to play through the pain could just cause more damage. If the pain is bad, visit a doctor.

Hopefully you now feel more confident about taking the court after reading these helpful tips. Take what you have learned here and apply it to your game. Never stop learning or practicing. Apply what you have learned here and your game will be improved in no time.