One of the neat facts about basketball is that it is easy to learn. The fundamentals can be learned in a matter of minutes. But there’s still a lot to learn, and thee tips can help you get there.

Make sure you are looking forward and looking up as you’re dribbling. By focusing your sight on the ball, you cannot be fully aware of your surroundings. You can practice dribbling almost anywhere. Dribble on your way to school. Always look ahead when you are dribbling the ball.

TIP! Perfect your free throw. These shots may seem easy, but they can be quite difficult.

To be a better basketball player you should concentrate on the things that make you great. Your skills may not turn you into the star player, but knowing how to make the most of your skills will make you a more valuable player. Find you best position and then refine it until you are unbeatable.

You want to be prepared for any type of defense the other team plays. 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. If your practice did not include this, you can quickly lose control of the game.

Entire Team

TIP! If you get possession of the ball a lot, you must learn the crossover technique. When you do a crossover, you move the basketball very fast from one hand over to the other hand.

Completing passes to your teammates is just as important as dribbling the ball. Playing basketball without dribbling is very challenging, but your entire team will quickly improve their passing skills. This is very challenging at first, but eventually it will really improve your entire team’s passing game.

Keep your skills sharp in the off-season by playing different challenging games. Even though you play on a team, practicing alone can be helpful. That’s fine. There is still much you can accomplish playing alone. You can work on pivots and free throws. There’s always some work to do.

If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. Basketball is physically demanding, and it is easy to get hurt. You can quickly turn a strain into a debilitating medical issue if you do not take a break from the action. Serious injuries may require medical attention.

TIP! Focus on your strong point to help you become a better ball player. If you can rely on your strengths, you will become a better player.

A great way to stay prepared at all times is to always face the ball. You have to be aware of what is going on with the ball at all times. Maintain awareness of open areas on the ball court that may allow you to quickly score a basket.

Build a consistent routine for your free throws. If you’re consistent, your shots will be too. The best way to perfect your free throw shooting technique is through repetition by practicing the same routine over and over again. If you have a glitch in the routine, you are likely to miss your shot.

To gain greater dribbling skill, always practice with the weaker hand as well as the more dominant one. If you’re using both hands to dribble the ball well then you can get by an opponent easily. If you find it difficult to continue using your weak hand, make your strong hand unusable. You will quickly strengthen your non-dominant hand for dribbling.

TIP! You should often work on your layups. Eighty percent of the shots taken in a game are layups.

You must disrupt and upset the play of your opponent if you want to be successful as a defensive player. Force them away from their comfort zone. Your defensive moves must be aggressive and executed properly. Don’t allow them to control the match. The more aggressively smart team is usually the one who wins. You need to adopt an aggressive style and react quickly so you can interrupt the patterns set by your opponents.

Make your forearms and hands stronger so you can handle the ball better. Wrist curls are especially effective at making you better able to handle a basketball like you could dribble sleepwalking. Making a goal isn’t just standing there as the ball miraculously comes to you and then shooting it at the basket. You need to be able to move the basketball to make things happen.

Try to get the basketball from one side of the court to the other in about five dribbles. This may not seem feasible, but once you master it, your speed and stride will be truly impressive. This may mean you can get your team some numbers for a period of time, or you can do easy lay-ups.

TIP! Practice the skill of pass catching. When you practice, be sure to do drills that improve catching wild throws and making great passes.

Have two of your guards wait for the point guard to go past midcourt for the best results. Once he passes mid court the guards should rush up on him. While that is happening, your forwards should race out to the opposing wing players. Point guards need to throw up passes that your team’s forwards can steal easily.

Maybe you are a newbie when it comes to basketball. Perhaps you were good at basketball already. In any case, the information you got in the above article will assist you in becoming a better player. Make use of this advice the next time you step onto the court.