Basketball is definitely enjoyable to a large number of people. Many people don’t know all that there is to know about this game. Continue reading to find out the best basketball techniques available.

Dribble the ball the right way. Avoid using your palm while dribbling. Instead, use your fingertips. Using your fingers allows you to better control the basketball. Also, dribble off to the side instead of in front. The ball should bounce no higher than your waist. Keep your head up and do not look at the ground.

TIP! When dribbling, make sure that you look forward and keep your head up. If you have to look at the ball while dribbling, that means you need to practice more.

In order to get a good shot, good footwork is essential when posting up. Being physical under the rim is crucial, but having good positioning on the court is even better. If you are just stepping into position, you now have to secure the spot. Expert footwork is the key to these skills.

See if your teammates admire something in particular about your game play. Do you do something particularly well? Perhaps you are quick footed, or you are always ready to lend a hand on the court. It’s great to get an idea of how your teammates think of your skills, this way you know what areas of the game to focus on.

In order to handle the ball correctly, spread your fingers out. You are more likely to hold onto the ball this way. Don’t allow yourself to have your palm touching the ball either. You should only let the fingers touch the ball during passing or shooting.

TIP! Practice your pass catching often. When practicing, try catching great passes as well as really bad passes.

It’s important to know where you have your feet and also what they’re doing. If you slide onto the baseline, you will lose the ball for being out of bounds. Going too many steps with no dribbling is a waking call and turnover situation. A foul will result if you try to take a charge or set a pick and your feet are moving.

Ask someone to take a video of you playing and watch it. You can see where you can improve and what plays you missed. Don’t be too critical, but do be honest. A realistic view of yourself can be quite helpful.

The best free throws come as a result of routine. Always dribble the same way, or with the same movements. Just remember it has to be fast and consistent. The reason is, this routine will put your body on alert that the next thing coming is a free throw. This will help insure your success.

TIP! Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. Usually, a big part of the game is probably going to be in zone; however, the opposing team can suddenly switch to man-to-man to catch you off guard.

In order to be good at rebounding the ball off a missed free throw, you must be quick with your feet. The defender may be coming toward you, so its important to slip away from him and get the ball. Now you can achieve a proper rebound and not commit a foul.

Basketball provides lots of potential as both a spectator sport and physical activity. To make sure that you’re getting the most out of the game, you should know all that you can about the sport. Hopefully, this article has provided you with valuable tips for being the best player possible.