Well, now you are about to learn about playing basketball. You’re a player, and you love the sport. However, you aren’t aware of everything, and all players know that. This article will show you how you can improve your skills. Keep reading to see what is here to make your basketball game improve.

Focusing on the offense may come easily but you need to be able to focus on the defense as well., Defense is how you win a basketball game. Offense gets all the praise and attention, but without a good defense, any basketball team is destined to lose.

TIP! Make sure you are dribbling the right way. When dribbling the basketball, use your fingertips rather than the palm of your hand.

Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. The majority of the game is in that area, but be careful about a team who changes things up. Practicing these techniques can give you a competitive edge over your competition.

If you want to be a master of the jump shot, do not make weight lifting a priority. Perimeter players don’t need the muscle strength that is necessary for other team members. As a shooting guard, having bulky arm muscles can actually reduce the number of successful shots.

Would you like to fool the opposing team? Try the back pass. Use your dominant hand to palm the basketball. Move the ball so that it is behind you. Then, quickly snap your wrist toward the location where you want the ball to end up. You can use this action to deceive your opponents.

TIP! Crossovers are very important if you’re a ball handler. Being able to dribble the ball with both hands and crossover between the two will make you a better player.

In order to get a good shot, good footwork is essential when posting up. While actually being beneath the basket is key, establishing a good position prior to the opposition is even more so. Once you have gotten into position, secure your spot. Both skills rely on some solid footwork.

When injuries occur on the court, it is unwise to keep on playing. Basketball is challenging physical sport and you can get injured. Trying to continue playing even if you’ve got discomfort can make the injury worse. Be sure to talk to a doctor if you feel that the injury isn’t going away.

Always be aware of your feet. If you have the ball and you step outside the baseline, then you’re out of bounds. If you take too many steps and don’t dribble, then you are walking. Do not move your feet when attempting to set up a screen, a foul can be called.

TIP! Frequently practice passing and catching the passes of others. You want to practice catching perfect passes and bad passes.

Ask a friend to record your games so that you can see how yourself in action. Are you able to see missed opportunities or ways in which you could have improved? Stay honest when you’re assessing yourself, but don’t over criticize yourself either. You can learn a lot by watching your plays instead of just trying to remember what you did.

In order to be good at rebounding the ball off a missed free throw, you must be quick with your feet. The defender below you will be moving toward you, so find a way to slip around him and get to the ball. This allows you to secure the rebound without finding yourself penalized.

Dribbling the ball fast and hard will help you to keep better control of it. Dribbling fast allows you to keep better control of the ball and there is a slimmer chance of it being stolen from you. If an opposing player is guarding you to the point where you can’t dribble well, it’s time to pass to an open teammate.

TIP! Footwork is the best way to find an opening shot. Although it’s important to have a physical presence underneath the basket, it’s more important that you get in a good place before your opponent can.

Work on getting the ball down the length of a full court with five or fewer dribbles during drills. Although this might seem tricky in the beginning, this can really help your game if you can master this skill. This is a vital skill to give you points on fast break opportunities.

Alternating your pace is critical to keeping the defense guessing. When you’re moving towards the net, act like you’re going to straighten up. The guard is going to think you’re starting to slow and will straighten up too. You should push and get past them as they straighten themselves.

Be sure you’re doing the right kinds of exercises off the court to help you on it. For example, you can improve individual plays with sprinting. You can improve overall game performance and endurance with long distance running. Resistance training or lifting weights will increase muscle strength and shooting abilities. The passion which results will help you become a better shooter.

TIP! Concentrate on your shoulders if you have gotten into a shooting slump. When your shoulders are not properly positioned, then it is almost impossible to perform at your best.

You have to learn to get your opponent to alter their path. Whether you are in an offensive or defensive stance, make other players do what you want. This allows you to go where you need to go and does not let them determine your path.

Double Dribbling

Avoid double dribbling. To keep from double dribbling, simply refrain from starting to dribble a second time after you have already stopped dribbling once in that same possession. When you stop dribbling, the only two choices you have are to shoot or pass. You can’t pick up the dribble again. This will cause your team to lose the ball.

TIP! Get someone to analyze how you play on tape. Are you able to see what you’ve missed or things that you could improve on? Be honest when assessing, but avoid being overly critical.

Using these tips can bring renewed energy and excitement to your game. It is terrific to learn new techniques and see how they help your game. Keep in mind everything that you’ve read here so you’re able to show it off to others. Basketball is a great sport to play.