People just love basketball! No matter if you prefer to watch games on television, play in a pick-up game on weekends or shoot baskets in the driveway, you likely know that basketball isn’t going anywhere. Naturally, if you play, you want to excel at the game. Read these ideas to help move your game up a notch. A sport played well is more fun than one you struggle with.
It’s simple to want to work on offense when you’re getting into basketball, but it’s smarter to think about defense practice too. Defense ultimately determines the winner of a game of basketball. If your team doesn’t have a good defense, you’re not going to make it far in a game.
Want to become a better basketball player? Watch the pros! Go to as many pro games as possible, watch them on TV, or watch videos of them playing. Every truly great player has unique skills that you can learn from.
Learn good passing by drilling often without dribbling. It is hard to play a game when you don’t dribble, but it will help you to be sure that everyone is passing accurately. Try not to lose yourself in frustration if you do not master it immediately, with the more time that passes with you and your team practicing, the more accurate they will become.
You can play basketball solo before and during the season. Sometimes you cannot find a team of people to play basketball with. This is just fine. You can still do a lot on your own. Work on your free throws or your pivot moves. You don’t need other players to work on your skills.
Hand signals will help you avoid those errant passes. One thing that can frustrate you when playing basketball is to try and pass while a player is trying to run to the basket. Hand signals can help you communicate with your teammate on the court. If no signal is displayed, a pass ought not be made.
Focus on your footwork and core strength when working out. A strong core allows you to be more balanced during games. Don’t forget to also work out muscles in your back, buttocks, abdomen and hips. Practicing with a jump rope is a great way to increase your foot speed.
Watch your shoulders and their position if you notice yourself developing a slump in your shooting. When they are out of alignment, all shots will fail. Your shoulders should be facing the hoop. The shoulder that is dominant should be perfectly aligned with the hoop rim.
Create and stick to a routine each time you prepare to shoot a free throw. Whatever you do, from bending your knees to dribbling three times, do every time. Just make your routine quick, so that it can be consistent, and your body is going to remember just how to nail free throws following your ritual.
Perform drills in which you move the ball up the court in just five dribbles. This might seem impossible at first, but if you achieve it, you will have remarkable stride length and speed. This drill can help you to have success with lay-ups during a fast break.
You can make the 2-3 zone a lot more dangerous by having two defenders stay in this zone until a point guard is beyond the time line. At this point, your guards must rush the point guard thus trapping him. Have forwards sprint to players on the wing. Your forwards should easily be able to steal the pass that the point guard throws.
You should always have your free hand between you and your opponent when dribbling the ball. You don’t need to push any opponents since that’s a foul, but try using your non-dribbling arm like a separator for keeping the ball safe. Keep it slightly up when you dribble with your opposite hand.
One way to misdirect your opponent is to dribble in a rhythm, then break that rhythm. Changing your pace quickly can take the other player by surprise and give you an advantage. It’s not just the speed, it’s the change in sound too that can stymy the person guarding you.
Double Dribbling
Avoid double dribbling. If you start, stop and then begin again, that is double dribbling. Your only options when you stop dribbling are passing the ball or shooting it. You can’t start dribbling again. If you double dribble the ball will be given to the other team.
There are several ways you can improve your basketball skills. It can be easy when you practice. The more you practice, the more you’ll improve your skills. Whether you are practicing to play competitively or just for fun, the information in this article will improve your game.