Basketball is a sport that is loved by millions. A basic understanding of basketball will make the game more enjoyable. Read on to find out more.

Practice your layup shot often. Layups account for up to 80 percent of the shots taken during a game. Run as fast as possible, while jumping and performing a smooth shot. Knowing how to run and jump quickly and smoothly will assist you in knowing how to leap and shoot more effectively while playing.

Core Muscles

If you have a kid that wants to play basketball in high school, ensure they’re training core muscles in the right way. The core is the following areas: abdominal muscles, lower back muscles and hip muscles. Stronger core muscles will help them be more resistant and allow them to develop many different athletic abilities. A strong core helps the legs move better, like jumping higher and running faster.

Spreading the fingers is something you have to do to handle the ball right. This can help you avoid losing it when you hold it. However, remember to keep your palm away from the ball. Whether you are passing or shooting the ball, your fingers are the only part of your hand that should be touching the ball.

TIP! Make sure you learn how to shoot free throws. This is something that seems simple, but in reality it can be hard.

When you’re trying to work out, you should build up your core strength while getting your footwork perfected. With strong core muscles, you will have better balance. Work your ab, back, hip and buttocks muscles. Your speed and footwork can be improved by jumping rope.

Quickness is something that’s desired in basketball. Developing speed and vision is vital to playing the game well. You need to really drill to get to the point where you can play fast. Do not try playing faster than you can. If you play beyond your speed, the game gets out of control, with errant passes and turnovers.

It can help you when you pass through your legs. Take a step back or forward and bounce the ball hard through your legs. Mastering this move can give you an advantage on the court.

TIP! Dribble while keeping your head upward and looking ahead. If you need to look at the ball while dribbling, you’ll need to practice more.

To dribble the ball better, it is important that you practice dribbling with the hand that’s weaker. Being ambidextrous on the court makes it more difficult for defenders to figure out what you will do next. Tie your dominant hand behind your back and force yourself only to use your weak hand. Your dribbling skills will improve with your weaker hand.

Being a good defensive player involves disrupting your opponent’s concentration. Getting them to do things they aren’t accustomed to doing is ideal. Make aggressive plays. Which plays are made shouldn’t be up to them. This will give your opponent the advantage. Rather, you make the initial move and break up their flow.

A great drill to try is to see how many dribbles it takes for you to make it across the court. The ideal number of dribbles is five. This may seem quite difficult at first, but once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you’ll have great speed and stride length. You will have easy layups on fast breaks and you will be able to advance your team easily.

TIP! Learn how to maneuver a crossover if you have the ball fairly often. A crossover is when you move the ball from one hand to the other.

One of the best ways to always be in proper defensive position is to never break out of the defensive stance. You need to learn how to slide your feet instead of crossing one foot in front of the other. Don’t allow your feet to cross and opposing players will have difficulty getting around you.

Alter your pace to confuse the opposition. Try to block the net by planting your foot hard. The guard is sure to anticipate a slow-down and will then straighten their own body. When they do this, run ahead and push yourself forward.

To become a better three-point shooter, make sure you attempt shots from where the NBA three-point line would be. The standard line , high school and college lines are all going to be closer. If you’re able to get the shot from where the NBA shoots, then you can start working from a range further than the defense expects.

TIP! Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. Proper bounce passes ought to hit the recipient at the level of their waist.

You should always have your free hand between you and your opponent when dribbling the ball. However, you’re not actually going to push with this hand; instead, you’re going to separate yourself using this hand. Keep it up and dribble with your other hand.

You need to practice many types of shots on the basketball court. Initially, you need to practice both your grip and your balance. Shooting when off-balance isn’t impossible, but it isn’t effective either. Get a better grip on the ball by using the valve. Put the middle of your palm over the valve.

You should never double dribble. This happens when you cease dribbling once and begin again within a few seconds. Once you’ve stopped dribbling, you can only pass the ball or shoot the ball. You can’t just start dribbling again. That’s called a turnover, which will result in you having to hand over the ball to your opponent.

TIP! Making a free throw takes mental concentration as well as physical prowess. Of course, you can show your body how to make free throws.

When you shoot, try to stay calm. It’s important to focus. Condition your focus on the backside of the rim during the times when you shoot. When you are going all in for a lay-up, focus your vision on the backboard you will be banking the basketball off of.

Part of being a great basketball player is knowing when it is time to give the ball to someone else. You don’t want to be the player that cost your team the game due to your selfishness.

Recognize the bad aspects of your game. It’s important to be honest when it comes to your weaknesses. If you commonly miss free throws, work on these more than you do on three point shots. If you need work in the paint, toughen up and hit the weights harder. Keep working to build your strengths, as well as your weaknesses, and you will become a better all-around player.

TIP! When developing your jumping skills, limit your use of weight-training. While muscle strength is good to have in any basketball position, it is possible to have too much for perimeter play.

No sport can compare to the excitement basketball fans experience. If you’re not completely familiar with how the game is played, you won’t be able to enjoy the sport fully. This article should have given you all you need to know.