If you have wished you were a basketball star, you know you’ve got to commit and practice enough. Even if you’re only playing for enjoyment, you wanna be the best, right? This article is sure to offer you advice on how you can improve your game.

When you dribble, look forward, keeping your head up. Anyone who watching the ball while they dribble surely needs to spend more time in the gym practicing. Bring your ball along when you go out. Try dribbling even when walking to a store. Get used to looking up as you go so that you can focus your attention on the court and not on your hands and the ball.

TIP! Learn proper dribbling. Instead of using your palm to dribble focus on using your fingertips.

If you hold the ball a lot, you have to learn crossovers. This is when the ball is moved from hand to hand. It has to be done fast to be effective. Once you master the art of the crossover dribble, you will be able to change directions quicker.

Balance is important when shooting. You’ve seen the pros fall out of bounds when trying to shoot 30 feet from the basket; this is a bad move. Taking a shot when you are off balance will probably lead to a turnover. Keep your balance so you can consistently win points.

Want to trick the other team? Try using a back pass! Hold the ball using your dominant hand. Next, place the ball behind you. Next, snap your wrist in the direction you want the ball to be moved to. This is a good way to trick your opponents.

Core Muscles

Your child should work on their core muscles if they want to become a basketball player in high school. Core muscles include hips, abs and the lower back. A core that is not strong enough limits the linkage between arms and legs. A strong core helps the legs move better, like jumping higher and running faster.

Practice your footwork and control the position of your feet at all times. An errant toe to the baseline while holding the ball will result in an “out of bounds” call. Taking a lot of steps when you’re not dribbling means you’re traveling and that’s a turnover call. Being aware of your body movements can give you an advantage on the court.

TIP! Make sure that you practice your layups frequently. This will make up about eighty percent of shots during any basketball game.

Learn to pass the ball without looking at your intended target. This should befuddle your opponent. If you do this fake the right way, then the receiver of the pass should have an advantage and a great look at the goal. It can be a really powerful move in the game.

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. You will need to learn how to push the basketball in front of you while making long strides. This will help you accomplish great layups on those fast breaks.

You need good vision if you are going to play basketball. This is not just to make reading the scoreboard easier, but also to facilitate the making of shots and catching of passes. Your peripheral vision needs to be as strong as possible. If you scan the entire court, not just the location of the ball, it is possible to anticipate defense moves in advance and see which teammates are open.

TIP! Observing what the professionals do can be a great way to improve your game. Attend as many professional games as you can, watch the pros on TV, or watch video of professionals.

When you are defending, keep your stance low. Staying low will help you to be a more swift opponent when you mirror the man standing in your path. Hold a defensive stance always. If you must break your stance to block someone’s shot, return to formation as quickly as you can.

Mid Court

If you want a 2-3 zone to be turned into a machine that traps, your two defenders that are guarding should wait until your point guard is around ten feet past mid court. Once he passes mid court the guards should rush up on him. While this is going on your forwards can be sprinting to the players located on the wings. The point guard will make a pass that forwards can steal.

TIP! If you’re a jump shooter, don’t lift weights too often. It’s possible to have excessive muscles when you play the perimeter.

Keep dribbling when you’re going to switch the body’s momentum from side to side. Expect to encounter many different situations in a game. It is likely that you will be fending off two or more players from the opposing team. You have to figure out how you can dribble while you’re working with your body leaning. Dribbling can help get you out of trouble.

To keep your opponent on their toes, keep your dribbling steady and regular, then surprise them. Consistent dribbling followed by fast dribbling can confuse your opponent and put you in place for a shot. The speed as well as the shift in sound combine to cause confusion.

Make sure you practice shooting all over the court. Practice your grip and balance first. Off-balance shooting can happen, but it’s not as accurate. Use your basketball’s valve for perfecting your grip. Cover the basketball valve with your palm and spread your fingers. This will center your hand on the ball.

TIP! If you have student that wants to play basketball for their high school team, they will need to spend some time training their core muscles. Focus on hips, lower back and abs.

If you’re serious about basketball, seriously consider your diet. Carbs, fats and proteins all keep your energy levels at the right place. You should try to include more wheat bread, chicken, nuts and peanut butter into your diet. Sugars and salt should be used sparingly.

Know where missed shots are most likely to end up. Figure out where it will be and rebound the ball.

Practice dribbling the ball on both sides and in front of you. A ball bounced harder travels more quickly, thereby giving your opponent less opportunity to try to steal it from you. Use force when dribbling.

Now, all you have to do is put these tips to use. As you work on your skills, they will improve bit by bit. This plan will be successful.