Basketball is simple but it takes years to develop the savvy to dominate the game. Even the best players work on their weaknesses. Strategies change and new ideas crop up. Do you want to become better? Read on to learn how you can gain a basketball edge.
Free throws require as much mental focus as physical skill. You may know how to make a free throw but if your focus is off, then you will miss. Relax yourself and concentrate on your shot.
You should practice pass catching regularly. When you practice, drill yourself to pay attention to errant throws and passes that are picture perfect. When a game is underway, not every throw will be perfect. Therefore, learn how to catch any type of pass so that you can help lead your team to victory.
Do you want to fool the other team? You should try a back pass. To work it, place the ball in your most dominant hand. Pull it behind you. The last step is to flick your wrist in the direction you want the ball to move. It’s a great way to trick your opposing team.
Avoid errant passes by the use of hand signals. Passing is tough, especially if you and your teammate are not in sync with one another. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. Without a signal, there shouldn’t be a pass.
One good way to always be ready for whatever happens on the court is to never turn your back on the ball. This helps keep you aware of the action, and it takes away the surprise factor. Make sure you also have the court in your line of vision as well, so you know when and where you can drive in for the score.
When your shooting isn’t accurate, check out your shoulder position. When you’re in a shooting slump it usually means that your shoulders are not square to the hoop. Make sure your shoulders are always square towards the hoop. You want your strong-side shoulder in perfect alignment with the rim.
Make sure you know what is going on with your feet. Stepping even over a baseline when you’re in possession of the ball will have you called out of bounds. Taking too many steps without dribbling means a walking call and another turnover situation. Also, moving a foot when setting up a screen can result in a foul.
Opposite Direction
Practice looking in the opposite direction when you make a pass. This will easily confuse your opponents. Not only will they not see the pass coming, they may think a pass is going in the opposite direction. When done smoothly it can be a game changer.
Be sly on your soles to catch rebounds from free-throws your own team members are making. The defender that’s below you will move towards you, so try to slip by them to obtain the ball. Then you gain the ball without the foul.
Try some drills that require you to move the basketball from one end of the court to the other in no more than five dribbles. This initially seems undoable, but it helps build speed and stride. If you master this, you will be able to quickly take layups.
Mix things up offensively to keep the other team’s defense off-balance. As you approach the goal, plant your foot and then straighten up. This will confuse your opponent into adjusting their stance. You should push and get past them as they straighten themselves.
Using your weak hand to brush your teeth can help you build skills with that hand. If your ability to use that hand starts to improve, the benefits to your basketball playing talents will be substantial. This will help you with your basketball game also.
If you wish to shoot on the outside better you should work on shooting hundreds of times every day from a lot of places on the court. An even better way to improve your accuracy is to practice shooting after pulling up from a dribble. Only lift your head up to check out the target once you are in the air. Your accuracy will get better and you’ll have a better idea of what real game conditions will be like.
Keep dribbling until you want to shoot or pass. The moment you cease dribbling, you have given yourself very few options. Basically the only move you have at this point is to pivot while finding an opening to move the ball. Once this happens, you are prone to being double-teamed and more likely to turn the ball over.
Now that you’ve read these tips, you should now much more confident about playing on the court. These tips were made to better you as a player. Don’t quit learning about basketball, and always keep practicing. Keep these tips in mind as you begin to enhance and sharpen your basketball skills.