What things should I learn about the game of basketball? What can be done to help me to become better at the game while knowing how to appreciate what’s going on? Reading these tips gives a quality information base when it comes to playing basketball.

Learn how to maneuver a crossover if you have the ball fairly often. In a crossover, you transfer the basketball from hand to hand. You must do it fast for best success. Learn how to perform a crossover dribble will help you get down court quickly.

TIP! It’s easy to focus on offense when learning to play, but your practice time would be better spent on defense. Defense is what keep the other team from scoring.

Practice your pass catching often. When you’re practicing, you should drill in being able to catch random throws in addition to passes that are perfect. When the pressure is on, not every pass will come straight to you. Therefore, it pays to practice catching passes that are a bit off-target.

If you’re going to be a jump shooter, don’t lift too many weights. Muscle is good, but you can have too much. Many guards in the pros have developed their arm muscles too big, which has really harmed their shooting percentage.

One of the keys to becoming a great basketball player is developing core muscles. Focus on hips, lower back and abs. The core links both the lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they will have limited athletic performance. Building a solid core helps maintain the leg strength that lies at the core of a strong game.

TIP! Find out how to make free throw shots. This seems like an easy shot, but it is quite hard.

You may get injured while practicing or playing. Don’t try to play if you are hurt. This is a physically challenging game, so you may end up hurt much worse. Trying to continue playing even if you’ve got discomfort can make the injury worse. In case of serious injury, it is time to see a doctor.

Do you understand what it takes now? Are you prepped to hit the court running? Utilize this advice each time you play basketball. Continue to practice and use the above advice and enjoy the outcome.