No matter if you are in the stands or on the court, information helps appreciate the game. Just starting out? Don’t worry about that. It’s easy to learn basketball. Read on for tips which will be a real slam dunk!

Learn to correctly dribble the ball. Don’t use your palm, use your fingers. This allows you to control the ball better. Bounce the ball no higher than your waist and keep the ball at your side rather than in front. You should always look upwards instead of at the ground.

TIP! Shooting has much to do with proper balance. You have seen some crazy shots made by professionals, but these shots aren’t going to be based on fundamentals.

Practice your free throw shot. This seems like an easy shot, but it is quite hard. Practice regularly and employe the technique that follows. First, hold the ball just above your nose, about 8 inches from your face. Focus on the ball and visualize it going toward the goal. Shoot the ball how you imagine it going in.

If you get possession of the ball a lot, you must learn the crossover technique. Moving the ball from hand to hand is a crossover. Speed determines the success of the crossover move. When done correctly, a good crossover dribble assists you in being efficient and helping you change direction when you need to.

Need to dupe the opposition? You should try a back pass. To do a back pass, begin by grasping the basketball using your dominant hand. Then, move the basketball around your rear. Finally your wrist should be flicked towards where you want the ball to go. It’s a great way to trick your opposing team.

TIP! Should you receive an injury during the course of the game, never try to continue playing despite the pain. This is an aggressive sport, and injuries happen often.

Hand signals will help you avoid those errant passes. 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. Players should use hand signals often when available for a pass. If the signal is absent, do not pass to that player.

Work on core strength when you work out. When your core is strengthened, you will have more balance and be able to move more swiftly. You should get a good workout in your hips, buttocks, back and abs. Just like with boxing, you can do a little speed and footwork training with a jump rope.

Not that wasn’t bad at all, right? Given your newfound knowledge about the sport, you should see why so many enjoy playing and watching. Use what you have learned here to play a better game or have a better time being a spectator.