When basketball was something you first learned to play, it probably felt like a new world. You explored passing, shooting, and dribbling. These days, you may feel a lot like you’ve learned all that you need to know. The following article will show you that you still have much to learn.

Learn how to hit a free throw shot. As easy as these shots may seem, they are rather hard. The following technique should be practiced often. Hold the ball level with your face. Use visualization to imagine the goal occurring. Then throw the ball just as you had visualized.

TIP! Always dribble with your head up and looking forward. Anyone who watching the ball while they dribble surely needs to spend more time in the gym practicing.

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. One done the right way, the crossover dribble can help you change directions and get down the court more efficiently.

Proper balance is essential when shooting. While some NBA players are able to launch a ball to the net mid-fall, this is not appropriate for most people. Professional basketball players tend to improvise when need be. You need to be balanced properly if you’re going to be making shots, so that over time you’ll be able to always hit the basket.

Make sure that you practice your layups frequently. Almost 80% of shots will be layups. When practicing it is important to run at full speed toward the goal, then jump and shoot smoothly. This running and jumping technique will help you learn how to jump and shoot better during the game.

Bad Passes

Passing the ball is an important part of playing basketball so practice making and receiving passes. During practice you should come up with drills where you perfect catching bad passes along with the good ones. This will help you catch those bad passes during a game. Help your teammates by learning what you need to haul in those imperfect passes.

Make it your goal to never turn away from the ball on the court. You have to be aware of what is going on with the ball at all times. Keep your eyes open for areas that are open.

TIP! Never practice only against the zone. The majority of game play might take place in the zone, but that doesn’t mean that the opposing team will not try to catch you off guard.

When playing a game of basketball, have a friend tape the game. This way, you can take a look at your game. Can you see chances that you missed or ways that you could have done better? Be honest when assessing, but avoid being overly critical. Analyze your skills honestly so you can become the player you want to be.

If you wish to do free throw shots reliably, always do the exact same thing before making each shot. For example, you might tug your ear, dribble three times, or flex your wrists. Just keep things brief, but make sure you always do the same moves.

Between the leg passes are usually helpful when another team’s players are riding you hard. Practice dribbling the ball between your legs. Perfecting this technique will help thwart the opposing team while you’re trying to advance the ball.

TIP! You can learn to trick the opposing team. Give the back pass a try! To start, grab the ball using your good hand.

Look away when you practice passing. This may confuse your opponents, greatly. When you do this right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. Practicing this pass can really help to give your team the winning edge.

A good drill to try is the five dribble drill. You try to get the ball the entire length of the court in only five dribbles. This may seem like an impossible challenge, but it will increase your stride length and your speed. If you master this, you will be able to quickly take layups.

Never break your defensive stance when playing ball. 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 ever allow your feet to cross to become a hard player to pass.

TIP! Bad passes can be avoided with the right hand signals. One things that’s frustrating in basketball is passing to a teammate while they try heading to the basket.

If you wish to get your weaker hand built up, you need to use it to brush your teeth and to do other simple tasks. Being able to dribble and shoot the ball with both hands will make it much more difficult for opponents to defend you. This will have a positive impact on your basketball game, too.

If you are a basketball player you should be eating a healthy diet. If you want to have plenty of energy to play, you should take in plenty of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and lean sources of protein. Some good things to add to a diet would be peanut butter, nuts, chicken, and wheat breads. Sugar gives quick bursts of energy, but you should eat it sparingly.

If someone shoots from the corner of the basketball court and misses, it will bounce over the net onto the opposite side. This knowledge will help you get more rebounds.

TIP! Never try to push through pain after an injury. Basketball is very physical and there’s always a risk of injury.

Do not double dribble. This happens when you cease dribbling once and begin again within a few seconds. Your only options when you stop dribbling are passing the ball or shooting it. You can’t start dribbling again. A turnover means you will have to give up the ball to the other team.

There is no limit to your success when you use these tips. Set goals for yourself, and be sure you practice, practice, practice! Put putting these tips to use, along with your plan, you will notice the difference in your game.