When it comes to the game of basketball, no one knows everything, not even the greatest player. Not only must you know the basics of basketball, you must also keep up with the many and frequent changes as they evolve. Would you like to have a competitive edge? Read on to learn how you can gain a basketball edge.
Dribble while keeping your head upward and looking ahead. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while you’re dribbling. Always have a basketball handy. Whenever you are walking and it is appropriate, dribble there. Paying attention to the ball means you’re not paying attention to the rest of the game.
Bounce Pass
It is important to know the right way to throw a bounce pass. A bounce pass that’s good is going to end up hitting the other player near their waist. It’s generally a good idea to pass the ball about three-fourths of the distance between you and the receiving teammate. It does depend on a variety of other factors, however.
Successful free throws require you to be mentally and physically strong. Training your body is important, but you also have to be mentally ready for the shot. Relax yourself and concentrate on your shot.
Do not practice by playing against the zone defense. Learn how to play a man-to-man defense and a zone defense to get the best understanding of how the game works. If you have not practiced enough on this scenario, you could run afoul of the scoreboard very fast.
A good way to practice sound passing is to drill without dribbling. Playing the game without the use of dribbling is a challenge, but it can help you and your team learn to make more precise passes. Don’t get frustrated if it’s hard at first because it will get better over time.
Don’t pump a lot of iron if you wish to become a jump shooter. Muscle flexibility is more important than muscle mass. Some overzealous shooting guards buffed up too much, and it had an adverse effect on their overall field goal percentages.
Prior to basketball season, and even during it, you can play solo games. Sometimes you cannot find a team of people to play basketball with. There is nothing wrong with that. You can still do a lot on your own. You can practice free throws or pivot moves. You can always work on something.
Core Muscles
If you have a child who has expressed interest in becoming a basketball player in high school, make sure he trains his core muscles. That means their hips, lower back and abs. The lower and upper extremities are linked by the core, and athletes with a weak core will exhibit limited performance. When your core muscles are strong, you become a more powerful force on the court. This means greater speed and higher jumping skills.
Try using hand signals to prevent passes in error. It can be frustrating to attempt to pass the ball to a team mate as that person is heading toward the basket. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. No signal, no pass.
Keep your eye on the ball. This can help you to avoid surprises by fast passes, help you keep an eye on the rest of the court, and allow you to spot potential turnovers. Always be on the lookout for open areas where you can seize easy scoring opportunities.
Practice your footwork and control the position of your feet at all times. If you fall on a baseline, you will be out of bounds. In addition, if you move your feet and you don’t dribble, you will be called for walking. In addition, a foul can be called against you if you move either foot while setting a screen, a pick or taking a charge.
Have someone record the games you play so that you can watch it to check out your form. You’ll likely see ways that you can improve. Look at how you did and judge yourself. Sometimes you think of yourself as something you are not.
Use the foot opposite of the hand you shoot with for a better layup. This means that when you’re shooting from your right hand you have to use your left foot to take off. This will keep your body properly balanced with forward momentum.
To improve ball handling, consider focusing workouts on your forearms and hands. Wrist curls work well at helping you handle the ball. Don’t stay stopped; always move around the court. You need to be able to move the basketball to make things happen.
You should now feel a new level of confidence about playing basketball. These tips are designed to show you how to be the best player that you can be. Never stop learning and always keep practicing. Keep these tips in mind as you begin to enhance and sharpen your basketball skills.