A great thing about basketball is the simplicity of being able to pick up the basics. The fundamentals can be learned in a matter of minutes. However, you can always learn new things if basketball is something you wish to be good at, and this article is here to help you.
It is tempting to concentrate just on offense when just staring out, but defensive practice is absolutely vital. Many times, defense actually wins the game. Even though everyone loves to watch offense, defense is what wins you most games.
It is important that you perfect dribbling the ball. Finger tips, not palms, are the key to successful dribbling. This method gives you much more control of the ball. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. Look up and never down at the ground.
When dribbling, your head must be up, and you need to look forward. By focusing your sight on the ball, you cannot be fully aware of your surroundings. Wherever you go, take your ball with you. Walking to your mailbox? Dribble the ball. Get used to looking up as you go so that you can focus your attention on the court and not on your hands and the ball.
Bounce Pass
You have to know how to bounce pass properly. A bounce pass that’s good is going to end up hitting the other player near their waist. Aim for a firm bounce pass that hits the ground around 3/4 of the distance between you and the intended player. But, there are some factors that can change this.
Better your basketball skills by watching the pros play. Go to a bunch of professional games in person, watch them on television, or just get online to search for basketball videos. Every player has a skill that allows him to succeed. Practice their moves to become better.
Passing the ball is an important part of playing basketball so practice making and receiving passes. When you practice, mix it up so that you can catch perfect passes and errant throws. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. Be a better teammate by anticipating a bad pass to make sure it doesn’t get into the opponents hands.
Do not practice by playing against the zone defense. While a great portion of a game will be concentrated in the zone, your rivals could opt to go to man-to-man covering to keep you guessing. You may lose control of the game if you aren’t prepared.
A great way to learn how to pass is by doing drills often with no dribbling. This helps to develop passing skills with your teammates, making it much more difficult if you’re standing in one spot and not dribbling. Don’t let it frustrate you, just be patient.
Don’t pump too much iron if you plan on being a jump shooter. Being weighed down by too much bulky muscle can have a negative impact on your jump shot. You might see a decrease in your goal percentages if your biceps become too large.
How would you like to trick the opposing team? Try a pass back! Perform this pass by holding the ball using your dominant hand. The next step is to draw the ball behind you. Then, quickly snap your wrist toward the location where you want the ball to end up. This will confuse the opposition.
Play a good defense by knowing your opponent. You can read scouting reports and watch tapes to evaluate your opponents game. See if you can determine each players strong and weak sides. When you know more about the opposing team, you will play a better defense. A smart defender is someone who is good at his position.
If you slump when you shoot, look at what your shoulders are doing. No matter your skill level, you won’t make shots if your shoulders aren’t in the proper position. Be sure to keep the shoulders squared up to the hoop. Your dominant shoulder must be lined up with the rim.
Quickness is something that’s desired in basketball. Speed always gives you an edge over your opponent. Consistent, repetitive drilling is the key to speed. Make sure you never play past the speed you are comfortable. If you try to rush your play, and can’t keep up, you will turn the ball over or make unforced mistakes.
Maybe you recently started playing basketball. You may have played the game ever since you were young. No matter what, the tips in the article above are great for helping you improve. Take heed of what you learned here and bring it with you next time you head to the court.