Do you enjoy basketball but feel like you’re behind on knowing all about it? You are certainly not alone. Professional basketball players make the game look so easy. This article is packed with basketball tips.
Make sure you are dribbling the right way. You want to dribble with the tips of your fingers, not your whole hand. Using your fingertips provides you with more control. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. You should always look upwards instead of at the ground.
Make layups a part of your daily practice regimen. Since layups account for the majority of scoring in a game. Don’t just walk through a layup drill. It is key to go at game tempo to practice the timing needed to maintain accuracy. This type of technique will translate well into actual game situations.
Connecting on your free throws is as much mental as it is physical. You’re able to train your whole body to do full free throw motions, but if you’re not mentally prepared, you will fail. Relax, take your time and be focused.
Want to become a better basketball player? Watch the pros! You can do this by watching games in person and on television. You will quickly notice all the different skills that they have which makes them a great player, then take what you learned and use it to help improve your own game.
Work on catching passes frequently. Try to catch all of the passes that are thrown to you. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. Therefore, learn how to catch any type of pass so that you can help lead your team to victory.
Remember to practice a lot of different possibilities so that you will not limit your game. Zone play will be important, but man-to-man will pop up from time to time, too. If your practice hasn’t included this type of scenario, you might lose control rapidly.
Hand signals can help you to stay away from making bad 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 help ensure that the player is ready to take the ball. If the signal is not used, then the pass should not be made to that player.
If you experience a basketball injury, don’t keep playing. It’s a challenging sport that’s very physical, and you have the ability to get injured. If you continue playing, you could make the injury even worse. See a doctor if the injury is serious enough.
Develop a routine to use every time you shoot a free throw. This can be any combination of movements that makes you feel comfortable and prepare for the shot. However, they need to be the same combination of movements each time. Having a consistent routine is ideal, and that helps train your body to know how to be in the proper position every time you shoot the free throw.
When you’re practicing passing, try to look the other way. This is a great way to fake out your opponents. You give your teammate a better chance to make the shot because the opposing player is moving the wrong direction when you pass the ball. This can be a great play if it is done correctly.
When moving in for a layup, push off from your weaker foot and lead with your shooting hand. When shooting right-handed, take off using the left foot. Your body remains balanced while you move towards the basket.
Practice dribbling with your weaker hand. If you use both your hands to dribble, it is easier to control. Bind your dominant hand so you will be forced to make use of your weaker side. You will improve dribbling with your weak hand soon enough.
To nab a rebound from a free throw attempt of a teammate, footwork is key. The defender below you will be moving toward you, so find a way to slip around him and get to the ball. This technique will help you rebound the ball without getting a foul called on you.
To avoid having the ball stolen, dribble hard. This makes the ball go back to your hand quicker, so offense has reduced chances at taking it from you. If you are being closely guarded, you should cease dribbling and pass the ball to an open member of your team.
You should ensure that you can clearly see. This isn’t just so you can read the scoreboard and be able to make shots and catch passes. You want to make sure that you see what is going on to the sides of you. If you view the entire game without focusing on the ball, you’ll see defensive pressure advance, along with open teammates.
In the final analysis, perhaps you enjoyed basketball before, but now you really understand it. By this point, you are enjoying a stronger sense of confidence in your abilities. So go out and recruit a few friends for a friendly game of basketball and show off your newly learned skills.