Basketball can be enjoyed by everyone. People of all races, creeds, colors, genders and ages enjoy basketball the world round. The next time you’re playing a game, show your friends your new moves. What new moves, you ask? The following tips will help you hone your craft.

It is tempting to concentrate just on offense when just staring out, but defensive practice is absolutely vital. Many times, defense actually wins the game. Offense may score points but defense keeps the other team from scoring points that your team will have to match.

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

Learn how to hit a free throw shot. This may seem like an easy task, but in reality, things prove otherwise. Practice frequently using these techniques. Begin by bringing the ball up to eye level. Have your eyes on your goal and picture your ball going into it. Once you’ve visualized this, take your shot as you just saw it in your head.

Bounce Pass

Practice your bounce pass. It is best when the ball hits the receiving player near the waist. The ideal bounce pass should land about 3/4 of the way between you and the receiver. Practicing your bounce pass is important so that you can use it skillfully during games.

TIP! Work on being able to receive a pass. Try to catch all of the passes that are thrown to you.

One great way to pass good is to drill when you can without dribbling. This helps to develop passing skills with your teammates, making it much more difficult if you’re standing in one spot and not dribbling. Don’t get too frustrated if you’re having a hard time when you start because after a while passes are going to be more accurate.

If you are good at shooting the ball then the last thing you want to do is lift weights. Strong muscles are certainly useful for basketball, but you can overdo it if you plan to play on the perimeter. Overdeveloped muscles could actually interfere with your score percentage.

Armed with the information presented here, you can enjoy your next basketball game with confidence and flair. You are now in possession of some of the best kept secrets of basketball. Keep in mind that basketball is supposed to be fun. No matter what, though, winning is always a great feeling.