Basketball is a favorite of all ages. However, not everyone knows what you need to be a real success at it. People of every skill level can benefit from the tips in this article.

It’s natural to be drawn towards offense as a novice, but the pros know defense is where the game is won or lost. In the end, it’s defense that consistently wins you games. Offense is often what gets the glory, but most winning basketball teams play great defense.

TIP! You need to learn the correct way to dribble the ball. Don’t use your palm to dribble, but use your fingertips instead.

Get good at making free throws. It seems easy to do but surely isn’t. Put this technique into practice as often as you can. Put your weaker hand in front of the ball and center your stronger hand over the air valve in the basketball. Your eyes should be on the goal. You should be thinking about the ball going in the hoop. Bend your knees to control the arc of the ball.

Crossovers are very important if you’re a ball handler. Crossovers involve sending the basketball from one of your hands over to the other one. It should be done quickly. If done correctly, a good crossover helps you get past your opponent and to the rim.

Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. A bounce pass that’s good is going to end up hitting the other player near their waist. If it helps to measure it out, consider aiming for a mark on the floor about three-fourths of the way between you and your teammate. But, a series of other considerations can require you to make adjustments.

TIP! Free throws are an excellent skill to practice in your spare time. This seemingly simple shot can be difficult to execute under game conditions.

In order to handle the ball correctly, spread your fingers out. This will help you keep a better grip on the ball. Keep your palm off the ball too. Your fingers must be the only things contacting it when you shoot or pass the ball at the target.

As you exercise to improve your game, it is important to work on your footwork and strength. Your body will be able to move quicker and be more balanced when you have srong core muscles. You should get a good workout in your hips, buttocks, back and abs. Just like boxers, you can improve your footwork and speed by jumping rope.

Making a pass from between your legs is sometimes a good option when the opposing team is right on top of you. Try practicing this by bouncing your ball hard in between your legs while stepping forward or backward. When you’ve mastered this step, you will be at a great advantage.

TIP! You should practice your crossovers a lot. In a crossover, you transfer the basketball from hand to hand.

Practice passing while looking the opposite direction. This will 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. When completed correctly, it creates an awesome play.

Give your layouts the most by launching from the foot that opposes the hand you are shooting with. Jump off your left foot when you shoot using your right hand. This balances your body when moving towards your basket. It keeps your body in between you and the defender.

Sly feet will help you get the rebound of your team mates free throw. The defender may be coming toward you, so its important to slip away from him and get the ball. This allows you to grab the rebound legally.

TIP! You can learn how to pass well by drilling on it separately from dribbling. This helps to develop passing skills with your teammates, making it much more difficult if you’re standing in one spot and not dribbling.

In your drills, you should attempt to move the basketball the length of the court in fewer than half a dozen dribbles. It isn’t impossible, it just takes practice. In games, this drill will become useful when you have fast break opportunities.

You want to keep your vision completely clear at all times. You don’t need great vision just to keep score. Your peripheral vision needs to be as strong as possible. Watching the whole court allows you to foresee future attacks from the opponent.

In order to improve your weaker hand, make use of it for everyday things, such as brushing your teeth, eating out of a spoon, etc. If you can train yourself to be ambidextrous, you will gain complete control of that hand. This will begin to spill over into your basketball game as well.

TIP! Figuring out the opponent is a great way to do well against a tight defense. Review videotapes and monitor scouting reports.

Be sure to keep your knees bent while you dribble. When you stand straight up, you’ll find that the ball is harder to control and the ball will be a lot easier for an opponent to steal. A bit of a bend will boost your control.

Continuously dribble the ball until you have an opening to pass it to one of your teammates, or you are prepared to shoot. Standing there without dribbling takes away most of your options on offense. If you decide that you cannot shoot or pass the ball, all you can do is pivot onto the back foot. You leave the ball vulnerable to possible steal attempts and yourself open to being double teamed.

Always practice from all spots on the court. Practice your grip and proper balance. It is possible to make an off-balance shot, but it has less accuracy. Perfect your grip by using the basketball valve. Put the middle of your palm over the valve.

TIP! Work on core strength when you work out. If the core muscles are in good shape, you will feel lighter on your feet.

Foster a strong team camaraderie both on the court and off. Basketball is a great game that can be elevated when the team is of one mind. Trusting your teammates is key to becoming a good team and also bettering your own skills, and that leads to your team winning lots of games!

Basketball is appealing to people of all types. Learning the game will not only help you enjoy watching the sport, it will also help you play better. This information will help you to get your skills to the highest level.