The game of basketball was created by Dr. It was invented by a man named Dr. James Naismith. It has developed into an extremely popular sport. From Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant, it has turned people into celebrities because of the game. Magic Johnson and Dr. J are just some of many players who have become celebrities through the game. Continue reading to learn all the best tips about basketball.

Practice your free throw shot. This looks easy, but it is actually very hard to do. Put this technique into practice as often as you can. First, hold the ball just above your nose, about 8 inches from your face. Keep looking at the goal while visualizing the basketball going through the hoop. Once you’ve visualized this, take your shot as you just saw it in your head.

TIP! When dribbling, your head must be up, and you need to look forward. Looking at your ball when you dribble indicates that you haven’t practiced enough.

Proper balance is essential when shooting. While the all-time greats have shown time and time again how they can shoot while off-kilter, this is not the ideal way to score. They are improvising. Consider proper balance when you shoot, and eventually you’ll consistently make baskets.

Practice the skill of pass catching. Practice catching errant throws along with perfect passes. In the middle of a heated game, not all attempted passes will go exactly where you want them to go. Cover for your teammates’ errant passes by developing the hands to cover their mistakes.

Zone Defense

TIP! Concentrate on your strong points if you want to improve your game. While you may have a particular skill that isn’t going to make you stand out as the star player, honing it can help you become an integral part of your team’s success.

Do not practice by playing against the 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. If you have not practiced against this, you may lose your grip of the game for the remainder of it.

Playing basketball does not require excessive muscle development. Though muscle strength is great to have with any sport, it is very possible to be too buff for serious game play. Some guards increase their upper body to the point of harming their field goals.

Quality footwork will help you get better shots. You always want to beat your opponent to the open spot. After establishing good position, you need to make sure you hold it. These will both require powerful footwork.

TIP! Keep your skills sharp in the off-season by playing different challenging games. Sometimes you cannot find a team of people to play basketball with.

A regulation basketball game consists of just ten players. If you have the urge to boost your skills, knowledge is important. Use these tips to improve your game and keep getting better.