In order to be great at basketball, you must remain dedicated and practice often. Even when you’re playing for fun, you probably wish to be the best at it. By reviewing this piece, you will have what you need to tweak your game for the better.

Correct dribbling is key. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm. This method gives you much more control of the ball. When dribbling the basketball you should bounce it to your side instead of right in front. Instead of focusing on the ground, gaze upward.

TIP! When learning the game of basketball, it’s easy to get caught up in offensive play. But you should also give plenty of attention to defense.

Free throws are an excellent skill to practice in your spare time. As easy as these shots may seem, they are rather hard. Practice a lot with the following method. First, keep the ball in front of you and at eye level. Concentrate on the basket and visualize the basketball going in. Then, shoot the ball using the trajectory you pictured.

Balance is vital to good shooting. You’ve seen the pros fall out of bounds when trying to shoot 30 feet from the basket; this is a bad move. They are going with the flow when this occurs. 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.

You should often work on your layups. Layup shots make up nearly 80% of a game’s shots. When practicing this technique, run toward the goal and shoot. That technique of running and jumping helps you get ready for an actual game.

TIP! It is important that you perfect dribbling the ball. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm.

Work on pass catches. When practicing make sure you drill yourself to catch errant throws as well as picture perfect passes. During the game, not all passes will go where they’re intended. You’ll be helping out your team a great deal if you can catch their not so perfect passes.

You can learn how to pass well by drilling on it separately from dribbling. It’s tough to play basketball minus the dribbling, and it causes you to pass accurately. Don’t get frustrated if it’s hard at first because it will get better over time.

One good way to always be ready for whatever happens on the court is to never turn your back on the ball. Always knowing where the ball is will make sure that you are ready if it quickly comes your way. Make sure you also have the court in your line of vision as well, so you know when and where you can drive in for the score.

TIP! You want to be prepared for any type of defense the other team plays. The majority of the game is in that area, but be careful about a team who changes things up.

If you want to correctly handle the ball, you need to know where to place your fingers. This will help prevent the ball from getting away from you while dribbling. Your palm should not be touching the ball. Don’t let anything but your fingers touch the ball during passing or shooting.

So, take the initiative and learn some new skills and start practicing and playing better today. Over time you will see progress if you stick to a plan, practice regularly and never give up. Use what you have learned here to help become the best player possible.