There is always more to learn about basketball. Things change all the time and you have to know that you have to learn more about the sport all the time. Do you want to become better? Get an advantage by using the tips in this article.

You must have good balance to shoot well. Many the professional player can be seen slipping out of bounds or making baskets from far away, but these are not proper techniques. They’re just improvising at this point. Consider proper balance when you shoot, and eventually you’ll consistently make baskets.

Free throws are as mental as physical. You must be mentally strong to be a consistent free throw shooter. Relax yourself and concentrate on your shot.

Watching the pros play is a great way to see how great basketball players use their skills in the game. Watch as many games on TV as you can. You will notice great skills from different players that you can practice.

A good tip about passing is try doing it without dribbling the ball. This is very hard to accomplish, but it forces you and your fellow players to work on accurate passing skills. Frustration can be an issue at first, but passing will improve as time goes by.

TIP! Make sure you learn how to shoot free throws. This looks easy, but it is actually very hard to do.

Try using hand signals to prevent passes in error. One things that’s frustrating in basketball is passing to a teammate while they try heading to the basket. Hand signals can help you communicate with your teammate on the court. If the signal is not used, then the pass should not be made to that player.

Ask fellow team members what they like about your skills on the court. You may have a certain skill that you have perfected. It could be your speed, or it could be your back-up abilities. Find out what your strong points are in the eyes of others. This way you can develop your most valuable skills.

Don’t let the ball go behind your back. This helps keep you aware of the action, and it takes away the surprise factor. Maintain awareness of open areas on the ball court that may allow you to quickly score a basket.

TIP! When dribbling the basketball you should keep your head up. If you start staring at the ball while you dribble, you know you need to practice more.

Being able to anticipate your opponent is a key skill. Watch taped games, and keep current with scouting reports. Figure out which people are right or left handed. The more you understand what you are up against, the more likely you are to develop an effective strategy during games. A smart defensive player is a strong one.

Hopefully you’re able to be more confident about playing a game of basketball after reading through the tips above. These tips were written to better your game. Do not stop learning, and do not stop practicing. Keep these tips in mind and be the best basketball player you can be!