Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. You can see kids and adults playing at playgrounds, the gym or in their very own driveway. Those who play would prefer to become better players and win games. The following article has excellent tips that will show you how to better your basketball playing skills.
Learn the mechanics of a free throw. This may seem like an easy task, but in reality, things prove otherwise. Use good technique when shooting foul shots. First, keep the ball in front of you and at eye level. Have your eyes on your goal and picture your ball going into it. Then shoot the ball with the trajectory that you visualized.
Bounce Pass
Perfect your bounce pass. A bounce pass that’s good is going to end up hitting the other player near their waist. Aim for a firm bounce pass that hits the ground around 3/4 of the distance between you and the intended player. There are other variables to consider though.
Would you like to learn how to fool your opponent? The back pass is perfect for this. To do this pass, hold on to the ball with your dominant hand. Then you will want to pull the ball into position behind your back. The last step is to flick your wrist in the direction you want the ball to land. This is a good way to trick your opponents.
Core Muscles
If you have student that wants to play basketball for their high school team, they will need to spend some time training their core muscles. That means their hips, lower back and abs. The lower and upper extremities are linked by the core, and athletes with a weak core will exhibit limited performance. Strong core muscles help you with many movements associated with basketball.
Quick and solid footwork is what it takes to make the shot when your posting up. While physical positioning is important, it is even more essential to move quicker than an opponent. Once you have gotten into position, secure your spot. These will both require powerful footwork.
Seek advice from your teammates about how you play the game. What are your your best skill areas? They may say you’re fast or that you share well. Learn what the other people around you see while you are playing and it may open your eyes to new areas for practice.
Understanding your opponent is a good way to shut him down on defense. Follow the scouting reports and watch tapes of their games. One simple thing to know before the game is if your opponent shoots with their right or left hand. Once you start to get to know the other team, you can do a lot better when you’re on defense. A defender with an education will be good at what they do.
If your shooting is suffering, take a close look at your shoulders. When they are out of alignment, all shots will fail. Be sure to keep the shoulders squared up to the hoop. The dominant shoulder needs to be lined up with the rim.
Try practicing how to pass while looking in another direction. You are able to confuse opponents with this technique. When it’s done properly, it will cause the opponents to go to the wrong area so that you can pass to someone that has a good look at a basket before shooting. It’s a great play if done properly.
Using a weaker hand helps improve overall dribbling skills. Opponents are a lot easier to blow by when you can dribble with ease using both hands. Tie your dominant hand behind your back and force yourself only to use your weak hand. After a while, your weak hand will be able to dribble better.
Build up your forearms to become a better ball handler. Consider wrist curls and and exercise machine that focuses on strengthening each finger individually. Do not make the mistake of thinking you can stay stationary, catch all the ball, and shoot them from that same location. It is essential to move the ball around in order to succeed.
In order to ensure that you are always ready to defend, keep your stance at all times. You will always be in a defensive position if you slide your feet one way and then the other and push off using your opposing foot. Don’t allow your feet to cross and opposing players will have difficulty getting around you.
Change your pace up to throw the offense off. When you approach the goal, put your front foot in firm place and start straightening up. Your defender will likely think you are taking a shot or passing, and straighten up as well. When they do this, run ahead and push yourself forward.
After reading the above article you should be familiar with how to get better at basketball. Some are simple and just take practice. Practice is the key to learning anything, so practice often to help improve your game. You can perform drills by yourself of with your team, or you can mentor younger players. Any way you approach it, these activities will benefit your game.