Basketball is fun, fast-paced and sometimes frustrating. But, to really play it well, there are several things to keep in mind. The following tips will help you take your game up a notch.

Focusing on the offense may come easily but you need to be able to focus on the defense as well., Defense ultimately determines the winner of a game of basketball. Even though everyone loves to watch offense, defense is what wins you most games.

TIP! When dribbling, your head must be up, and you need to look forward. If you start staring at the ball while you dribble, you know you need to practice more.

Always work on your layups. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game. The best practice strategy is to go full tilt toward the hoop, then do a smooth jump shot. This running and jumping technique will help you learn how to jump and shoot better during the game.

Be sure to watch professional games to learn some great tips and tricks to improve your game. Go to games, watch them on TV and you can also watch videos. Every player has skills that make them good, and you can work on the skills they use.

Practice your pass catching often. When you’re practicing, you should drill in being able to catch random throws in addition to passes that are perfect. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. You can do the rest of your team a favor by practicing how you can best complete imperfect passes.

TIP! Know your strengths and they’ll help you become a better player. You might not become a big basketball star based on your strengths, but you will be an asset to your team.

Learn good passing by drilling often without dribbling. This is very hard to accomplish, but it forces you and your fellow players to work on accurate passing skills. Don’t get discouraged if it is hard initially’ because the gains you will make are sure to be worthwhile.

If you have a kid wanting to play basketball in high school, be certain that they are properly training their core muscles. Hips, abdomen and back must be worked on. The core is what holds the body in balance and allows the limbs to work well. A strong and solid core allows force that is generated via the legs to be used for helpful movements during the game like higher jumps and faster running.

If posting up is what you’re doing, you have to have good footwork to get open for a shot. Although physical presence under the basket is important, getting to a good spot before your opponent does is even more important. After establishing good position, you need to make sure you hold it. Strong footwork is key.

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

Clearly, basketball has the potential to be incredibly enjoyable. This article shows that you must have basketball knowledge to play like the pros. The information in the above article is your starting point for becoming a great basketball player.