Basketball was the result of one person’s dream, Dr. He invented the game in 1891. After that it has become something that a lot of people have fallen in love with. Celebrities such as Doctor J and Magic Johnson have made the game fun for everyone. Many basketball players enjoy a celebrity status, thanks to their skills. Look at this article for tips that helped them become successful.

When you dribble, look forward, keeping your head up. You need more practice if you feel that you cannot dribble without focusing on the ball. The ball can go with you when you go anywhere. Keep dribbling the ball even while you’re doing your errands. If you have to watch the ball, you will be unable to see whatever is going on at court level.

TIP! Work on improving your strengths to become an even better player. Your skills might not make you an all-start every time out, but playing up your strengths makes you a great contributor.

Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. Four out of every five shots taken in a given game will be layups. When practicing this technique, run toward the goal and shoot. Practicing this technique helps you learn to make layups during a game.

Bounce Pass

Practice your bounce pass. If done correctly, a well-executed bounce pass will reach the player in a way that allows them to move immediately with the ball. Aim for a firm bounce pass that hits the ground around 3/4 of the distance between you and the intended player. It does depend on a variety of other factors, however.

TIP! It is important that you practice layups. In a typical game, up to four-fifths of all shots are layups.

Make sure to practice catching passes. While you are practicing, you should be sure to drill yourself on catching errant throws, as well as catching those perfect passes. When playing in the game, it’s rare that every pass will hit a bulls-eye. So you should do the team a favor by knowing how to take in any kind of a pass that comes from someone.

Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. A lot of the game is sure to be played in the zone, but your opponent could change to man-to-man coverage. Practicing these techniques can give you a competitive edge over your competition.

Building core muscle is key to playing great basketball. That means their hips, lower back and abs. Stronger core muscles will help them be more resistant and allow them to develop many different athletic abilities. Having a strong base allows the player a solid position from which to jump and accelerate during the game to help speed up their movements.

TIP! Perfect your bounce pass. This means your pass should be aimed towards the receiving player at the level of his waist.

You want to always be aware of foot placement and what you’re doing. This can help you avoid going out of bounds or making a bad pass. Taking a lot of steps when you’re not dribbling means you’re traveling and that’s a turnover call. In addition, a foul can be called against you if you move either foot while setting a screen, a pick or taking a charge.

Good footwork will help you get rebounds off your teammates’ foul shots. Be aware that the defender who is below you will start moving in your direction. Slip past him, and you can get the ball. You won’t foul as you catch the rebound this way.

Always stay low when playing defensively. This will let you get to the jump quicker and let you react to your opponent easier. Always maintain a defensive position during game play. If you need to leave your feet in order to prevent your opponent from shooting the ball, quickly get back into that good defensive position.

TIP! You need to practice more than defeating 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.

When you dribble, keep your knees comfortably bent. Standing straight up lessens your ability to control the ball and increases the chances that it will be stolen. Just a slight bend in your knees can have a huge impact on ball control.

To better three-point shooting, try using NBA distance as the minimum. The standard line and college lines are much closer. You are less likely to be guarded, the farther you are from the basket.

In order to better your shooting skills, you must practice shooting hundreds of times each day from various position on the court. If you wish to get even better at this, try dribbling and then stopping to make a quick shot. Look at the target when you’re airborne and not a moment before. In this way, you can simulate the conditions of the game and become more accurate.

TIP! If you are good at shooting the ball then the last thing you want to do is lift weights. While muscle strength is good to have in any basketball position, it is possible to have too much for perimeter play.

It is important that you remain in control of the ball despite which way your body is going. You’re going to be dribbling in many different conditions during a game. The court might be wide open, but you could just as easily be swarmed by many opponents. You have to figure out how you can dribble while you’re working with your body leaning. This will help you maneuver around trouble.

Understanding your teammates is a vital part of basketball. Basketball is played by a team. Therefore offense and defense do not play one-on-one. Everyone helps everyone else. Discuss your strengths and weaknesses with teammates so you know where you need improvement.

Dribble with a rhythm, that is until you need to outsmart your opponents. By dribbling consistently and then breaking it up into a different rhythm that’s fast, you can trick an opponent so you have more time to shoot. When they are focused on stealing the ball, your change in rhythm can really throw them off.

TIP! Quickness is something that’s desired in basketball. Always stay ahead of the opposition.

A regulation basketball game consists of just ten players. You will become a better player if you learn more about basketball. Using this article as a starting point, keep practicing and learning and you’ll soon be a master of the game.