What do I need to know about basketball? What sorts of skills must you learn to enhance both your performance and your enjoyment of the game? This article is going to provide you with great knowledge to take with you to the court.

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. Offense gets more attention, but the team is going to lose without a strong defense.

TIP! Learn the mechanics of a free throw. This seemingly simple shot can be difficult to execute under game conditions.

When dribbling, focus on what’s in front of you by keeping your head up. If you have to keep your eye on the ball when you’re dribbling, practice can remedy that. If you are just getting started, bring your ball with you everywhere. Keep dribbling the ball even while you’re doing your errands. If you look at the ball, you’re unable to see what’s going on down the court before you.

Practice your layup shot often. This will make up about eighty percent of shots during any basketball game. Run as fast as possible, while jumping and performing a smooth shot. If you can do this right, you can master this shot.

Work on catching passes frequently. Be sure to be able to catch off-target throws on top of good ones. In the middle of a heated game, not all attempted passes will go exactly where you want them to go. Being able to get imperfect passes will limit turnovers.

Core Muscles

When exercise, concentrate on perfecting footwork and strengthening your core muscles. Your body is going to be more balanced and be able to move faster when you have strong core muscles. You must work out your hip, back and abdomen muscles. Similar to boxers, jumping rope can better your speed and footwork.

When you are passing the ball, get used to looking in the other direction. This is a simple thing that could easily confuse your opponents. This will give the person that you passed the ball to a chance to make their move before your opponent can correct from their mix up. It’s a great play if done properly.

TIP! Watch professionals play to learn from their techniques. Watch pro games on TV, or attend games in person.

In order to be good at rebounding the ball off a missed free throw, you must be quick with your feet. Guards will be attempting to stop you, so get around them. This will allow you to score a rebound without getting penalized for a foul.

Do you now know the answers to your questions? Are you now prepared to take on any challenge? Do you now have a better base of knowledge to work with? Practice a variety of skills every day to improve your overall game.