When basketball season rolls around, you’ll see many obsessed players and fans. In order to make sure that your fans stay happy, you’ll need to give them something to be happy about. Every member of a basketball team has strengths and weaknesses, so take stock of your skill and determine what you need to practice. These tips will help you become a better basketball player.

Dribble while your head is up and your eyes are forward. If you start staring at the ball while you dribble, you know you need to practice more. Make the basketball an extension of your body, taking it wherever you are. You can practice dribbling when you have to walk to the store. If you have to watch the ball, you will be unable to see whatever is going on at court level.

TIP! It’s natural to focus on offensive abilities when practicing the sport of basketball, but your practice time needs to focus on defense. Defense is what stands between you and a win.

If you hold the ball a lot, you have to learn crossovers. Being able to dribble the ball with both hands and crossover between the two will make you a better player. Your crossovers should be fast, which is why it is important to practice them. Once you have learned how to do a crossover, you can travel down the court quickly.

Put the emphasis on your strengths can help you to be a better basketball player. The best talent you have isn’t going to have you starring in every highlight reel, but having a good skill set can benefit your team. Learn what your strengths are, then practice to perfection!

Be sure to get lots of practice on layups. Layups account for up to 80 percent of the shots taken during a game. When practicing it is important to run at full speed toward the goal, then jump and shoot smoothly. Practicing this technique helps you learn to make layups during a game.

TIP! Learn to correctly dribble the ball. Use the fingertips, not the palm, for the best dribbling.

Watch how the pros play basketball. Watch some games on TV, view videos of professional games, and go to some games. When you find a player who has the skills that you want, then watch them and emulate.

Do not practice by playing against the zone defense. While a good chunk of the game will most likely be played in zone, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you. If you have not practiced against this, you may lose your grip of the game for the remainder of it.

If there’s no one around to play with, it is okay to play a basketball game by yourself. Even if you can’t get a bunch of people together to play, you can still practice on your own. That is okay. Solo games can help you immensely. You can practice free throws or pivot moves. You don’t need other players to work on your skills.

TIP! Always dribble with your head up and looking forward. Looking at your ball when you dribble indicates that you haven’t practiced enough.

Always be aware of where you have your feet and what you are going to do with them next. If you fall on a baseline, you will be out of bounds. Also, you can cause a turnover if you walk without dribbling the ball. In addition, a foul can be called against you if you move either foot while setting a screen, a pick or taking a charge.

Use deception by looking elsewhere when you make passes. This should befuddle your opponent. When you do this right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. If you can master this move, it can really work in your favor.

A consistent pre-shot routine when at the line will increase your chance at success. Inconsistency will ruin your shots. Repetition is an excellent way to improve your ability to make each free throw. Stick with a routine until you can perfect it. If you don’t do the routine right, then the shot won’t make it.

TIP! Shake things up rather than focusing solely on a zone defense. Learn how to play a man-to-man defense and a zone defense to get the best understanding of how the game works.

This article has shown you that you can improve your basketball game through many methods. A better player leads to a better team which means a bigger, happier fan-club and cheering section. Many things from players to fans to concepts play their part in this sport. That’s how this article can help. So be sure to keep what you’ve read in mind so you’re able to be the player on the team that everyone enjoys to have around.