Practice is of the utmost importance if you are intent on improving your game. You should use your practice time wisely, and follow good advice from experienced teachers. This text helps you get the shot in every time.

Practice shooting free throws. That’s a shot that appears simple but is actually difficult in reality. This technique should be practiced often if possible. To start off, hold the ball in front of you. Keep looking towards the goal and think about the ball getting into that goal. Shoot on the same path you saw in your mind’s eye.

TIP! Practice your bounce pass. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player at waist level.

You must learn how to dribble, how a crossover is done and other important ball handling skills. A crossover means moving the ball between your hands. Crossovers must be done quickly to keep defenders at bay. When done correctly, the crossover dribble help you to change direction in order to move down the court efficiently.

If you want to improve your game, concentrate on your strengths. Your talents might not make you a star, but when you make the most of your strengths, you might better contribute to your team. Ask others to help you identify your strengths and practice until you fully master these skills.

It is important to practice catching the ball from others as much as passing. Be sure to be able to catch off-target throws on top of good ones. When the pressure is on, not every pass will come straight to you. You’ll be helping out your team a great deal if you can catch their not so perfect passes.

TIP! Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. The majority of game play might take place in the zone, but that doesn’t mean that the opposing team will not try to catch you off guard.

Lifting weights too much can actually take away from your jump shot. Muscle strength is beneficial for playing any basketball position, but there is such a thing as too much. Some shooting guards that play professionally have such big arms that their field goal rate went down.

When it is not basketball season, keep in practice by shooting baskets and practicing your skills. You may not always be able to find someone to play with you. That is not a problem. You’ll still be able to get a lot done when playing solo. Practice pivoting or you can practice doing free throws. You can always hone your skills when practicing alone.

Make use of hand signals so that wild passes can be avoided. It can be frustrating passing to a teammate when you’re both heading to the basket. These common miscommunications can be avoided by utilizing hand signals, which tells the passing player the other player is ready for a pass. If your teammate misses your signal, then they may miss the ball as well and the other team could gain possession.

TIP! Would you like to learn how to fool your opponent? Back passes can give your team the opportunity to score while the other team is still wondering what happened. To do this pass, hold on to the ball with your dominant hand.

Never play through an injury on the court. Basketball is very challenging physically, and this can cause further serious injury. Trying to continue playing even if you’ve got discomfort can make the injury worse. If you are seriously injured, obtain medical care.

Regardless of your ability, by using the advice above you are sure to see improvement. Focus on one area at a time and enjoy the steady success. Improve your shooting, passing, and overall game control.