During basketball season, basketball consumes the lives of players and fans alike. A team needs to be good if they want the support of their fans. You play a major role in your team’s abilities, so you should constantly be working to improve your game. Some great tips follow below that can help you become a winner in the game of basketball.
Dribble the ball the right way. Avoid using your palm while dribbling. Instead, use your fingertips. You retain much more ball control this way. You should be dribbling the ball at your side instead of in front of your body. The ball should always be dribbled at waist level. Keep your eyes up.
Perfect your free throw. This is one of those shots that seem easy but in real life are difficult. This technique should be practiced often if possible. Hold the ball level with your head. Have your eyes on your goal and picture your ball going into it. Then throw the ball just as you had visualized.
When dribbling the basketball you should keep your head up. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while you’re dribbling. Always have a basketball handy. Walking to your mailbox? Dribble the ball. If you’re looking at the basketball, you won’t be able to see what is coming at you.
Crossing over is a vital skill to have for handling the basketball. A crossover is when you move the ball from one hand to the other. You need to perform crossovers very quickly to get good results. When done properly, crossover dribbling is a great way to quickly switch direction or move around the court in an efficient manner.
Work on being able to receive a pass. When practicing, try catching great passes as well as really bad passes. When playing in the game, it’s rare that every pass will hit a bulls-eye. You’ll be helping out your team a great deal if you can catch their not so perfect passes.
Lifting weights too much can actually take away from your jump shot. Strong muscles are certainly useful for basketball, but you can overdo it if you plan to play on the perimeter. Some professional shooting guards made their arms so big that it started decreasing their field goal percentage.
Core Muscles
Basketball players need to build strong core muscles. This will involve their lower back, hips, and abs. The core muscles link lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they won’t have strong athletic performances. Having a strong base allows the player a solid position from which to jump and accelerate during the game to help speed up their movements.
As you’ve read, there are several ways to better your game. The more you contribute to your team, the better it will be for the team and the fans. Many people have a part in basketball, even if they are just cheering in the crowd. You must do all that you can to help your team out. Remember these tips to become that player that is wanted on all teams.