When you set goals to improve your basketball game, the most important thing you can do is practice. If you aren’t practicing right then there really is no use in practicing at all. The helpful hints in the following text will help you get that ball into the basket time and time again.

A great way to bolster your basketball ability is to observe those who are considered to be the best in the sport. Watch professionals play or go check out talented local teams to see who has the moves that you want to learn. 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.

TIP! It’s natural to focus on offensive abilities when practicing the sport of basketball, but your practice time needs to focus on defense. Basketball games are won more often by defense than offense.

Spreading the fingers is something you have to do to handle the ball right. That makes it less likely that you lose control of the ball. Your palm should touch the ball as little as possible. Fingers need to be the only thing that touches the ball when you shoot it or pass it.

Basketball players must be fast. Try to play faster than your opponents for an advantage. Steady drilling will help speed up your play. However, don’t try and push past your limits. If you play too quickly, you lose control over the ball and the match.

Always be sure of where you’re placing your feet so you’re aware of what they’re doing. Stepping even over a baseline when you’re in possession of the ball will have you called out of bounds. Holding the ball for too many steps and not dribbling will result in a walking call which will cause you to you will lose possession of the ball. A foul will be called if your feet move while you attempt to screen other players.

TIP! If you want to improve your game, play up your strengths. Your skills might not make you an all-start every time out, but playing up your strengths makes you a great contributor.

Have someone record the games you play so that you can watch it to check out your form. While reviewing the tape, look for opportunities you may have missed during the game. When looking at the tape, don’t be too critical, but be honest. The reality of your play is often very different from your perception.

Free Throw

To become a better free throw shooter, use the same routine prior to every shot. It could be that you dribble several times, bend at the knees, brush your hair out of your eyes or do something else. When you have a steady and consistent routine, your muscles will remember what to do to shoot those free throw shots.

TIP! You may have better luck honing your passing skills if you forgo dribbling during practice. It’s tough to play basketball minus the dribbling, and it causes you to pass accurately.

Practice passing while looking in the opposite direction. You can really confuse your opponents this way. 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. It’s quite a play when done properly.

You need to mess with your opponent’s head. Force them out of their comfort zone. Use aggression with your moves. Do not allow them to decide which plays to make. By doing so, the opponent will take advantage of you. Rather, you make the initial move and break up their flow.

Keep low when you play defense. This helps your reaction time against your opponent. You must always utilize the proper defensive stance. If you break the stance to shot-block, then recover the proper form immediately after the pass or shot.

TIP! Play games against yourself in and out of season. Sometimes during off season, or when practicing, you can’t play as a team or find even a single opponent.

Use a 2-3 zone as a way to trap opponents. You can do this by having guards wait for the point guard to come at least 10 feet past midcourt. The guards must then rush the opposing team’s point guard and create a trap. It also lets you have forwards on blocks sprint to the wing players. Your point guard must then launch a pass in a way that is easy for your forwards to steal.

It doesn’t matter how often you play basketball, the tips in this article will better your game every time you play. Every skill can be improved on. You will learn to play like a professional basketball player.