The delight and enjoyment countless people get from playing and watching basketball cannot be overstated. However, the truth is that many people have a lot to learn about the sport’s benefits. Use the following advice to learn more about the game that you love.

Watch professionals play to learn from their techniques. Go to as many pro games as possible, watch them on TV, or watch videos of them playing. Each player has their strengths and you can learn a lot from each one.

TIP! Make sure you are looking forward and looking up as you’re dribbling. If you must look at the ball while dribbling, you haven’t practiced enough.

Don’t limit your practice to just playing against the zone defense. Zone play will be important, but man-to-man will pop up from time to time, too. If you have not practiced against this, you may lose your grip of the game for the remainder of it.

Play solo basketball in the months leading up to the season, as well as during the season itself. Though basketball is surely a team sport, there may be times when you have nobody to play against. That is okay. In solo games, you can accomplish quite a bit. Practice pivoting or you can practice doing free throws. You can always hone your skills when practicing alone.

Hand signals can help stop you from turning the ball over. It can be frustrating passing to a teammate when you’re both heading to the basket. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. If you don’t see a signal, try to find someone else to pass to.

TIP! Practice your layup shot often. In a typical game, up to four-fifths of all shots are layups.

The key to ball control is to spread your fingers out. This will help you to be sure that it won’t escape your grasp when trying to hold it. Keep your palm off the ball too. Whether you are passing or shooting the ball, your fingers are the only part of your hand that should be touching the ball.

If you need some help seeing where you need work, try to get a friend or relative to record your games. Did you spot something that could be improved? Assess yourself honestly, but don’t be a harsh critic. Sometimes it’s beneficial to look at yourself the way you really look and not just like you think you look.

Passing the ball through your legs is a useful maneuver if the opposing team is right on top of you. This will make it very hard for your defender to get it. When you get this move down, you will have an advantage.

TIP! A great way to hone your own basketball abilities is to watch the pros. It is important that you see how other people play the game.

To rebound off your fellow player’s free throws, use sly feet. The defender in your path will be moving at you, so be sure you’re thinking of how to get past that defender. You’ll be able to grab the rebound without fouling your opponent.

Playing basketball well means developing good court “eyesight.” This will prepare you for unexpected passes and help you evade defenders. Peripheral vision is important during game play. You need to know the location of other players on the court in order to make good passes and avoid turnovers.

Take charges whenever possible. When you take a charge, you have the opportunity to get a defensive stop, your team gets the ball and an additional foul is set up against the other team. Not only that, your opponents may become confused or frustrated and stop playing their game plan.

TIP! Practice using different types of defenses. While a good chunk of the game will most likely be played in zone, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you.

Keep on dribbling until your shot or passing opportunity is imminent. When you stop dribbling the ball, you only have a limited amount of plays you can perform. If you decide that you cannot shoot or pass the ball, all you can do is pivot onto the back foot. This causes you to be wide open to some double teaming by the other team and increase your chances of having the ball stolen.

Dribble the ball below knee level. This makes it more difficult for your opponents to steal the ball. You’ll have to bend over, but it will be worth the effort.

Many shots from the court corner end up sailing right over the basket. Anticipate where the ball lands and grab the rebound.

TIP! Learn good passing by drilling often without dribbling. It is a challenge not to dribble while playing, but it will ensure the accuracy of your team’s passes.

Become a better basketball team by becoming a stronger team when playing and in practice. Basketball is best played with a team which works well together. When you trust your teammates, you’ll play a better game.

Double dribbling is a huge no-no. This occurs whenever you resume dribbling after a brief pause. If you have already ceased dribbling, your only options are to pass or shoot the basketball. You cannot return to dribbling again. If you do, you are committing a turnover, and the other team will get the ball.

Try always focusing on the location the ball goes after it exits your teams’ hands or the opponents’ hands. A crucial part of the game is being able to rebound the ball. Gaining possession on a turnover is always going to be a positive for your team.

TIP! Playing basketball does not require excessive muscle development. Muscle strength is beneficial for playing any basketball position, but there is such a thing as too much.

Ask yourself what your weaknesses are. Honestly assess your skills. Practice your foul shots if you often miss them. If you need work in the paint, toughen up and hit the weights harder. Work on weaknesses to become a better player all around.

When you are on defense, forcing your opponent toward the side of the court can be a great move. If a player remains in the court’s middle, they will have more options available to them. Pushing opposing players to the sidelines will limit their choices.

Make a list of your exercise goals. People work out without a plan in place. They simply visit with friends and go from one thing to the next without focus. If you have a definite routine written down, it is possible to concentrate on conditioning your body and working on your physicality without any distractions.

TIP! You should always be aware of the position of your feet and their actions. Placing even a single toe atop the baseline while holding the ball will result in you being ruled out of bounds.

Basketball is a sport that many people enjoy playing and watching. However, you need to know everything about the subject to be sure you’re reaping all of its benefits. Hopefully, this article has provided you with the tools to become a great basketball player.