Without practicing basketball, it would be pretty difficult to win any games. However, practice is futile when you’re not doing it correctly to begin with. This article will teach you the right way to play basketball.

It is tempting to concentrate just on offense when just staring out, but defensive practice is absolutely vital. Defense can make or break a basketball game. Offense is flashier, so it draws the attention of fans and journalists, but a team that can’t defend well won’t win any games.

TIP! You need to learn the correct way to dribble the ball. Don’t use your palm, use your fingers.

Work on improving your strengths to become an even better player. Your skills might not make you an all-start every time out, but playing up your strengths makes you a great contributor. Knowing what you excel at and then practicing that can help you become perfect at it!

Practice your layup shot as frequently as possible. Four out of every five shots taken in a given game will be layups. When you practice, run full speed ahead at the basket, jump, and shoot. This will assist you in perfecting your ability to jump and then shoot.

Bounce Passes

TIP! Try learning how to hit free throw shots. There are usually a lot of distractions when you are shooting free throws so you need to concentrate.

Bounce passes are important in the game of basketball. Proper bounce passes ought to hit the recipient at the level of their waist. Try bouncing it about three-quarters to them. It does depend on a variety of other factors, however.

Connecting on your free throws is as much mental as it is physical. You can train your body to complete the motions of making a free throw, but if you are mentally prepared to fail, you will. Relax and focus on your shot, and you can make it.

A good way to get your basketball game up to speed is to start trying to see how the pros are playing. Get tickets to some pro games, if possible, or catch some games on television. You’ll see that every great player has specific skills that cause them to be great and you have the opportunity to practice what you’re watching them do.

TIP! Concentrate on your strong points if you want to improve your game. You can contribute to the team by consolidating your best skills, even if these skills do not make you one of the star players.

Do you want to fool the other team? Give the back pass a try! To do a back pass, begin by grasping the basketball using your dominant hand. The next step is to draw the ball behind you. Then do a wrist flick in the same direction that you want the ball to end up. This should help to trick the other team.

Make better passes through the use of coordinated hand signals. One of basketball’s most frustrating elements is the concept of sending a quick pass onto a teammate who has just moved in a different direction. You can avoid this by using hand signals if a player is able to take a pass. If no signal is displayed, a pass ought not be made.

Ask fellow team members what they like about your skills on the court. You may have a certain skill that you have perfected. Perhaps you are great backup or fast on your feet. When you find out what they think, you may learn a lot.

TIP! You can improve your skills by paying attention to how the pros play. It is important that you see how other people play the game.

A great way to stay prepared at all times is to always face the ball. You develop a good feel for the game around you, making it much easier to quickly react to your opponent. Also, keep your eyes on areas that open up on the court for an easy basket.

Spreading out your fingers is key to handling the ball correctly. This will keep the ball from getting away while you hold it. Additionally, the palm of your hand should not come into contact with the ball. You should try your best to only hold onto the ball with your fingertips when passing and shooting.

Focus on your footwork and core strength when working out. By developing strong core muscles, you will be able to recover quickly and keep your balance. Your muscles in your buttocks, hips, abdomen, and back should be worked. Jump rope can be used to speed up your feet.

TIP! There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. Make use of the back pass.

Watch your shoulders and their position if you notice yourself developing a slump in your shooting. If your shoulders aren’t correct, you may not be able to make the shots. Keep your shoulders square in line with the basket. The dominant shoulder needs to be aligned correctly with the rim.

Practice dribbling with your weak hand as much as possible. If you can dribble equally well with each hand, it is simpler to get past your opponents. Don’t allow yourself to use your dominant hand when practicing. Your dribbling skills will improve with your weaker hand.

Regardless of your skill level in basketball, these tips will help you become even better. Begin with a single concept and see the improvements take hold. Improve your shooting, passing, and overall game control.