What should you learn about basketball? What do you need to become a much better player and to better appreciate the game? These tips will help you become better in no time the next time you’re on the court.
Figure out how to perfect your free throw. This is one of those shots that seem easy but in real life are difficult. Try using this technique in practicing. Hold the ball level with your head. Visualize the ball sailing into the hoop. Then throw the ball just as you had visualized.
Observing what the professionals do can be a great way to improve your game. Go to as many pro games as possible, watch them on TV, or watch videos of them playing. Every truly great player has unique skills that you can learn from.
Practice your passes and catches frequently. When you’re practicing, you should drill in being able to catch random throws in addition to passes that are perfect. Understand that during a game, you will receive very scattered passes. Some will be good; some won’t. Learn how to catch any sort of throw.
Do not practice solely against zone defense. While much of the game is played in zone, the opponent can flip to man-to-man coverage, changing everything and surprising you. If you haven’t practiced against it, you could end up losing your grip on the game quite quickly.
You can learn how to pass well by drilling on it separately from dribbling. Passing drills with your team is important for accurate passes during game time, and you can try doing them without dribbling at all. The accuracy of passes will greatly improve over time and the drill will become a lot easier.
Don’t bulk up if you want to be good as a jump shooter. It’s possible to have excessive muscles when you play the perimeter. Some shooting guards worked on their arms so much that they started lowering their percentage of field goals.
Core Muscles
If you have a high school level basketball player for a kid, be sure their core muscles are properly trained. This includes their abs, lower back, and hips. A core that is not strong enough limits the linkage between arms and legs. Building strong core muscles will allow your to jump higher, run faster and maintain your balance.
One of the best ways to play a strong defensive game is to know your opponent. Watch tapes and be sure you’re paying attention to scouting reports. For example, you might look to see which players favor their left side and which have dominant right hands. Studying your opponent is one of the best ways to be able to win the game. Understanding the intricacies of the game will make you a better player.
Passing the ball through your legs is a useful maneuver if the opposing team is right on top of you. You can practice this technique by stepping forward or backward and bouncing the ball with force between your legs. If you can master this move, it will give you quite the advantage when you are on the court.
Work on passing in a direction you are not looking. This is a simple thing that could easily confuse your opponents. You give your teammate a better chance to make the shot because the opposing player is moving the wrong direction when you pass the ball. This play can be very powerful.
To land your layups, jump off the foot opposite the hand you shoot with. This means that if you shoot with your right hand, take off from your left foot. That will build your balance and help you stay in the right position.
In order to be good at rebounding the ball off a missed free throw, you must be quick with your feet. The defender that’s below you will move towards you, so try to slip by them to obtain the ball. This technique will help you rebound the ball without getting a foul called on you.
A good drill to try is the five dribble drill. You try to get the ball the entire length of the court in only five dribbles. This might not seem possible, but if you can do it your speed and length will strengthen. This is a vital skill to give you points on fast break opportunities.
You need good vision if you are going to play basketball. This is so that you’re able to catch passes, get shots in, and look at the scoreboard. You want your peripheral vision to be as good as it can. This will help you see the whole game better and anticipate openings and defense players.
Don’t discontinue dribbling until you have the chance to shoot or pass. You are limited once you cease dribbling. Basically the only move you have at this point is to pivot while finding an opening to move the ball. The opposition will cling onto you like a magnet.
Use your hand to create a barrier between the ball and your opponent. Be careful not to push your opponent or you may get a foul. You should try to keep your barrier arm up slightly when you are dribbling.
Be certain to practice moves off the court that will truly help you on the court. Running, both sprints and long distance, can help your game. Strength training helps, too. The confidence and adrenaline that builds don’t hurt either.
Do you understand what it takes now? Are you prepared to impress one and all with your basketball prowess? Can you deal with becoming a better basketball player thanks to this article? Go forth and make use of this excellent information to reap tremendous rewards as a powerful basketball player!