The sport of basketball is beloved by men and women of all ages. There is nothing like the thrill of rooting for your favorite team in the championship, scoring your own goal, or discussing basketball. Naturally, if you play, you want to excel at the game. The following article has excellent tips that will show you how to better your basketball playing skills.

Work on catching passes frequently. When you’re practicing, you should drill in being able to catch random throws in addition to passes that are perfect. When the game is being played, passes may not be as perfect as we’d like. Therefore, learn how to catch any type of pass so that you can help lead your team to victory.

TIP! Find out how to make free throw shots. This is something that seems simple, but in reality it can be hard.

There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. Try using a back pass! To do a back pass, begin by grasping the basketball using your dominant hand. Next, pull the ball behind your back. Next, snap your wrist in the direction you want the ball to be moved to. This should make it easy to trick the other team.

Footwork is what gets you ready for a shot. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop. Once you’re in position, you also need to secure your spot. Strong footwork is key.

If you want to correctly handle the ball, you need to know where to place your fingers. That will ensure that it doesn’t get away from you as you hold it. Keep your palm off the ball too. Remember to maintain contact with the ball through your fingers only.

TIP! Work on improving your strengths to become an even better player. Your team will benefit more if you stop trying to be the star of the game and work your best.

One of the best ways to play a strong defensive game is to know your opponent. One great way to get a better understanding of your opponent is to take the time to watch film and get information from other players or scouts. See if you can determine each players strong and weak sides. Defense is more effective when you know what your opponent is likely to do. A defender with an education will be good at what they do.

Clearly, there are quite a few ways to help yourself play a better game. In many cases, it takes only a few minutes to practice and adopt a new tactic. Practice is important to anything worth doing – just do it! Whether practicing with your own team, playing with some friends, or playing with players that are younger just for fun, it will help you share your love of the sport and help you get better at it.