If you want to excel in basketball, you know that you need to be dedicated and practice a lot. Even when playing for fun, you would like to play well, right? Well, by reading this article, you will surely make some improvements to your basketball game.
Look forward and hold your head up while you dribble the ball. Lack of practice will manifest itself in looking down towards the ball when dribbling. Take your basketball everywhere. Dribble the ball when you’re walking to the shops. If you’re trying to look at the ball then you’re not concentrating on what’s going on down the court.
If you hold the ball a lot, you have to learn crossovers. A crossover happens when you switch hands the ball is in. You need to perform crossovers very quickly to get good results. When you do it right, the crossover dribble helps you alter directions and go down the court faster.
Perfect Passes
Practice the skill of pass catching. You need to be able to retrieve perfect passes and not so perfect passes. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. You can do the rest of your team a favor by practicing how you can best complete imperfect passes.
In order to get a good shot, good footwork is essential when posting up. You do, of course, need to be near the basket, but finding the right spot without getting blocked is essential. If you are just stepping into position, you now have to secure the spot. Practicing your footwork is important to master these skills.
Focus on your footwork and core strength when working out. Your body is going to be more balanced and be able to move faster when you have strong core muscles. Focus on your hip, abdomen, and back muscles. To help get even quicker and have better footwork you can jump rope.
Always know where your feet are and what they are doing. An errant toe to the baseline while holding the ball will result in an “out of bounds” call. If you walk without dribbling, you will be called for walking and this will result in a turnover. A foul will be called if your feet move while you attempt to screen other players.
Work on passing in a direction you are not looking. This throws your opponents off. 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. Practicing this pass can really help to give your team the winning edge.
Use the foot opposite of the hand you shoot with for a better layup. So, your left foot should be the one you take off from if you use your right hand to shoot. Your body will develop good coordination and you keep your defender at a distance.
Dribble hard to make it less likely for the ball to be stolen. The ball will get back to the hand faster, giving the other team less of an opportunity to grab it away. If you are being guarded closely, halt your dribble and pass to an open teammate.
It is important that you can clearly see everything that is occurring during a game. This isn’t just so you can read the scoreboard and be able to make shots and catch passes. You need to have the best peripheral vision possible. By seeing the court well, you can anticipate defensive moves as well as what all your teammates are doing. Good vision is vital to basketball success.
Always bend the knees while dribbling. The ball is harder to control dribbling when you stand up straight. It also leaves you open to a steal from the opposing team. Bending your knees will make a big difference in the way you can control the ball.
Don’t stop dribbling until you are ready to pass or shoot. When you stop, your options are limited. If you can’t shoot or pass, then you will have to pivot with your back foot. This will leave you open for double teaming from opponents and you may lose control of the ball.
Communicating with your teammates is a vital part of being a good basketball player. In order to win games, you have to work together as a team. Offense and defense aren’t up to the individual. This knowledge makes it easier for you to assist each other. You must communicate with your teammates so that you can all play better.
If you’re training to become a very good basketball player then start changing your diet. In order to be ready for practice and games, it is vital that you have the proper energy stored in your body. Adding nuts, chicken, peanut butter and whole grain breads to your diet can help. Sugar gives quick bursts of energy, but you should eat it sparingly.
Make sure your team really meshes together off and on the court. A good basketball team usually comes from having a team that is gelling and in sync with one another. If you feel like you know your teammates like the back of your hand, and you trust them too, then you’ll see your game lifted to new heights!
If you figure out which hand is non-dominant, make your opponent use it as much as possible. For instance, you could step toward a player on their right side to force them to switch to their left hand. Stay low and be prepared to block a shot or intercept a pass.
Improve your game now by following the advice in this article. You will soon become a better player if you apply the tips you just read in this article. Those three simple steps will carry you all the way to the top.