Basketball is a wonderful sport that fits every gender type. All different types of people can enjoy an exciting game of basketball. You can play competitively or play a pick-up game at your neighborhood basketball court. Do you have skills? This article will teach you some great new moves!

Be sure to dribble correctly every time. When you dribble, only use your fingertips instead of your palms. Dribbling this way improves your ball control dramatically. You should be dribbling the ball at your side instead of in front of your body. The ball should always be dribbled at waist level. Keep your eyes up, not on the ground.

TIP! You need to learn the correct way to dribble the ball. When you dribble, use the fingertips, not the palm.

Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. If you must look at the ball while dribbling, you haven’t practiced enough. If you are just getting started, bring your ball with you everywhere. Keep dribbling the ball even while you’re doing your errands. Remember, if you are directly staring at the ball, there’s no way for you to see what’s happening on the court.

Improving your balance means improving your shots. Falling when you make a shot is not the right way to shoot. Those who do this are improvising. You need to maintain good balance while shooting, which is sure to produce greater consistency.

There is a lot of pressure when shooting free throws. Making the right physical motions is easier than having the right mind set. Take a deep breath, relax and imagine you are at practice to help yourself make the shot.

TIP! Crossing over is a vital skill to have for handling the basketball. A crossover is when you move the ball from one hand to the other.

Work on pass catches. You want to practice catching perfect passes and bad passes. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. Be a better teammate by anticipating a bad pass to make sure it doesn’t get into the opponents hands.

Ask your fellow teammates if they have an opinion of your skills in the game. You may have a certain skill that you have perfected. You may be quick with your footwork or are always there for backing them up. Improve the skills where you tend to be a bit weaker while maintaining your stronger skills.

Understanding the opponent is a good way to win with defense. You should be look at scouting reports, practicing techniques and watch tapes. Remember which player shoots left and which shoots right. Once you have a solid idea of your opponent, you can dial in on the best way to defend. Understanding the intricacies of the game will make you a better player.

Shoulder Position

When your shooting isn’t accurate, check out your shoulder position. If you have bad shoulder position it doesn’t matter how great you are the shot isn’t going to go in. Be sure to keep the shoulders squared up to the hoop. Your dominant shoulder must be lined up with the rim.

If you are being heavily guarded, a pass between your legs might help. Practice this by bouncing the ball hard between your legs as you take a step forward or back. If this move is something you master, you’ll have an advantage when you go out to play a game.

TIP! Free throws are as much mental as they are physical. You must train both your body and your mind.

Prevent the opposing team from stealing the ball by dribbling hard. The ball returns more quickly to your hand when you do this, giving the opponents fewer opportunities to steal it from you. When someone is right on top of you, pass the ball instead of dribbling.

Now you can show your stuff off on the court. You might even know more than your friends do now. Have fun and keep practicing. No matter what, though, winning is always a great feeling.