There is no limit to the love that so many people feel for the sport of basketball. It combines skill, accuracy, excitement, and entertainment. If you’re looking to turn into a skilled basketball player, practice and be serious. Using these tips will help you improve your basketball game.

You can easily focus on offense when learning to play basketball, however, you must really focus how playing defense. Defense is what keep the other team from scoring. While offensive players sometimes seem like the stars of the show, it is the efforts of defensive players that allow them to shine.

TIP! It is important to focus on both offense and defense when learning to play basketball. In the end, it’s defense that consistently wins you games.

When dribbling the basketball you should keep your head up. If you need to look at the ball while dribbling, you’ll need to practice more. Take the ball with you wherever you go. Dribble the ball as you go about your day doing errands like walking the dog. If you are looking at the ball, you cannot see what is happening down the court in front of you.

Bounce Pass

A bounce pass is essential to learn. In order for a bounce pass to be sufficient, the person should receive the ball around their waist. Bounce it 3/4 of the distance to the receiver. There are other variables to consider though.

TIP! It is important that you perfect dribbling the ball. Proper dribbling technique involves use of the fingertips, not the palm of the hand.

Tricking the other team is a good way to win a game. Make use of the back pass. If you wish to try this pass, get the ball in your dominant hand. Next, pull the ball behind your back. And last, flick the wrist in the direction you want the ball to go. This should help to trick the other team.

Perform skills, practice your ball handling and shoot free throws when you are practicing alone. While basketball is a team sport, sometimes you just can’t find others to play with. No problem! You can still accomplish a lot when playing solo. You can practice free throws or pivot moves. Many things can be practiced.

Hand signals can help stop you from turning the ball over. You can become easily frustrated when a teammate does a poor job of anticipating your next passing move. These common miscommunications can be avoided by utilizing hand signals, which tells the passing player the other player is ready for a pass. If the signal is not used, then the pass should not be made to that player.

TIP! Free throws have a huge mental element to them. You’re able to train your whole body to do full free throw motions, but if you’re not mentally prepared, you will fail.

If posting up is what you’re doing, you have to have good footwork to get open for a shot. Focus on positioning yourself more quickly than the opposing player is just as important as having someone beneath the hoop. If you are just stepping into position, you now have to secure the spot. Solid footwork can make both of these things happen.

If you have the right tips in mind as you practice basketball, you will find the game becomes easier and more enjoyable. Learn as much as you can from videos and articles to enhance your skills. The more you learn, the better your game will be.