A thorough understanding of basketball makes it more fun for spectators and players alike. Are you lost? Don’t worry, you’ll get there. Basketball is so much fun and easy to learn about. Read on and gather up some fun tips to help you better your skills and make the game more fun to watch.

It is important to focus on both offense and defense when learning to play basketball. Many times, defense actually wins the game. Without good defense, a basketball team will lose the match.

TIP! It is tempting to concentrate just on offense when just staring out, but defensive practice is absolutely vital. Defense is how you win a basketball game.

Make sure to dribble properly. When you dribble, only use your fingertips instead of your palms. This gives you the best ball control. Bounce only at the level of your waist at the side and not in front. Look up and never down at the ground.

Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. You need more practice if you feel that you cannot dribble without focusing on the ball. Take you ball with you everywhere. Dribble the ball as you go about your day doing errands like walking the dog. Remember, if you are directly staring at the ball, there’s no way for you to see what’s happening on the court.

You need to keep your balance if you’re shooting. Your knees should be bent with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders. They’re just improvising at this point. Consider proper balance when you shoot, and eventually you’ll consistently make baskets.

TIP! It is important that you perfect dribbling the ball. Use fingertips to dribble.

Keep practicing your layups. Eighty percent of the shots taken in a game are layups. Don’t just walk through a layup drill. It is key to go at game tempo to practice the timing needed to maintain accuracy. Practicing the running and jumping method will help you shoot better this way in a game.

Are you interested in being able to fool the other team? Try the back pass. Hold the ball in your strong hand to start the pass. Keep control of the ball while it is behind your back. Flip your wrist towards the site where you want the ball to go. This will confuse the other team into wondering where the ball went.

Unseen passes can be avoided when proper hand signals are used by teammates. It can be frustrating to attempt to pass the ball to a team mate as that person is heading toward the basket. Hand signals can help you communicate with your teammate on the court. If there is no signal, the player should not make the pass to them.

TIP! Learn the mechanics of a free throw. This is something that seems simple, but in reality it can be hard.

Should you receive an injury during the course of the game, never try to continue playing despite the pain. This is a physically challenging game, so you may end up hurt much worse. Trying to be tough so you can keep going, even when you’re just a little uncomfortable, can make an injury worse. If you have a very serious injury, talk to a doctor.

Video tape your games, and then review your technique later. Are you able to see missed opportunities or ways in which you could have improved? It is important that your assessment is an honest one, but isn’t overly critical. Sometimes it’s beneficial to look at yourself the way you really look and not just like you think you look.

Dribbling hard helps you protect the ball. If you dribble hard, the ball will go back to your hand quickly and the offense will not be able to snatch it easily. When you are being guarded closely, pass the ball.

TIP! Constantly practice layups. You should expect layups to represent about 80% of all the shots you take in a game.

Strength training can be a major help in basketball. It is impossible to succeed if you lack endurance and strength. Children that are young are also able to get benefits from getting stronger arms and legs if they exercise right. Use weights when they get older. Continue training throughout the adult years to maintain a constant performance.

To see improvement in outside shooting skills, you must practice your shots hundreds of times daily from various points on the court. To improve even more, practice preparing for a shot quickly after dribbling the ball. Look at the target when you’re airborne and not a moment before. Doing so allows you to move more precisely and with greater accuracy.

Your exercise off the court needs to help your game. Sprints helps with individual plays, and long-distance running gives you stamina. Resistance training or lifting weights will increase muscle strength and shooting abilities. The resulting sense of confidence and power will help when you shoot.

TIP! Better your basketball skills by watching the pros play. Watch professionals play or go check out talented local teams to see who has the moves that you want to learn.

Not that wasn’t bad at all, right? Your fun level will only increase since you know more information about the sport of basketball. Take the things you’ve just learned here so you can get better at basketball, or just figure out how to adjust your TV to watch the pros go at it!