The key to mastering the game of basketball is practice. Of course, you need to understand the basic techniques before you can actually practice them. The following article offers helpful advice to get you to improve your practice habits.

Balance is vital to good shooting. While some NBA players are able to launch a ball to the net mid-fall, this is not appropriate for most people. They are professionals, and they are able to improvise successfully. You need to maintain good balance while shooting, which is sure to produce greater consistency.

TIP! Dribble while keeping your head upward and looking ahead. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet.

Make layups a part of your daily practice regimen. A huge percentage of successful shots are layups. Dribble the ball in front of you while taking large strides followed by a smooth shot. Knowing how to run and jump quickly and smoothly will assist you in knowing how to leap and shoot more effectively while playing.

Teach yourself to throw bounce passes correctly. This means your pass should be aimed towards the receiving player at the level of his waist. Letting the ball bounce close to the other person will help the accuracy of your pass. There can be other factors in play to keep in mind, as well.

Make sure that your regular practice includes catching of passes. When you practice, be sure to do drills that improve catching wild throws and making great passes. During the game, not all passes will go where they’re intended. You can do the rest of your team a favor by practicing how you can best complete imperfect passes.

TIP! To get better in your basketball game, focus on your strengths. Your strengths might not make you a star player, but you’ll be contributing a lot to your team.

Don’t just practice playing against a zone defense. Though much of the game is sure to be played within a zone pattern, the opposition may try to go man-to-man in order to confuse you. Failure to prepare for this type of tactic makes you more vulnerable and hurts your team.

Practice playing by yourself. Basketball is usually a team sport, but just because you can’t find others, doesn’t mean you have to just stop thinking about it. For concentration purposes, it can be good to practice on your own. You can still do a lot on your own. Practice free throws and work on pivot moves. There are many things you can work on.

Build hand signals so passes are more successful. Oftentimes frustration occurs when trying you aren’t on the same page with a teammate who cuts to the basketball when you try to pass him the ball. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. Without a signal, the ball controller shouldn’t make a pass.

TIP! A good tip about passing is try doing it without dribbling the ball. It is difficult playing without dribbling; however, it helps the team make better passes.

If you are posting up, strategic footwork is important to becoming open and making a good shot. You must beat the opposing playing to an open spot. Once you find a spot, you need to know how to defend it. These will both require powerful footwork.

You may get injured while practicing or playing. Don’t try to play if you are hurt. It’s a challenging sport that’s very physical, and you have the ability to get injured. You can quickly turn a strain into a debilitating medical issue if you do not take a break from the action. Serious injuries may require medical attention.

It’s great to be quick in basketball. To get an advantage over an opposing player, you must have the quickest reactions. To increase your quickness, you must practice playing fast while running drills. But don’t try to go even faster than you actually are. If you play basketball past your own speed ability, then you can lose control of you game with bad passes and needless turnovers.

TIP! You can learn to trick the opposing team. Try doing a back pass! To do this pass, hold on to the ball with your dominant hand.

Be sure your vision is unobstructed. This isn’t just for reading the scoreboard. Your peripheral vision should be up to par. When you can see the big picture, you can react to anything.

When playing defense, always try to stay low. This will aid you as you jump and make it easier to react to the front man. Maintain your proper defensive stance no matter what. The only time you should be out of your stance is when you are jumping to block an opponent shooting.

Practice Dribbling

TIP! If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, be sure they’re working on their core muscles. Core muscles include the hips, abs, and lower back.

Practice dribbling as you sway your body from side to side. This will have you ready for a game, when you will need to move any direction on a moment’s notice. It is likely that you will be fending off two or more players from the opposing team. Practice dribbling while leaning in many different directions. It can help you get out of a jam.

Use workouts to better your game. For example, you can improve individual plays with sprinting. You can improve overall game performance and endurance with long distance running. Lifting weights can help you get more muscle. This is also good for making you much more relaxed while you’re shooting the ball.

Keep the lines of communication with other players open. It is a sport that requires team work. Playing is more than just you and one other person. You all help each other out. Constantly let your teammates know when you are open or in need of some assistance.

TIP! Concentrate on your shoulders if you have gotten into a shooting slump. If your shoulders aren’t properly positioned, your shot is not going to go in.

Forge a strong bond between teammates, whether you are playing the game or off the court. Basketball teams can achieve greatness when the whole team blends cohesively. If you’re able to figure out who your teammates are and you can trust them as well, then you’ll be able to take your game up a notch.

You need to learn how to change your opponent’s personal path. With practice, you can learn how to control the path of others players with your footwork. Doing so makes it easier for you to navigate the court without interference from the other player.

Whether you play basketball all the time or just once and awhile, the above tips will be of help. With one simple tip, your skills can improve. Make all your shots count and soon you will be passing and rebounding like a pro too.