The sport of basketball came about because of Dr. In 1891, Dr. James Naismith invented basketball. Basketball over the past century has exploded in popularity. People of all ages love the sport of basketball. Indeed, many basketball players are well known celebrities. For tips from the basketball experts, read the paragraphs below.

Learn to correctly dribble the ball. Proper dribbling technique involves use of the fingertips, not the palm of the hand. This allows you to control the ball better. Dribble the ball around the height of your waist, and over to one side. You should always be looking up instead of at the ground.

Paying Attention

Make sure you dribble properly by keeping your head held up, facing forward. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet. Take the basketball around off-court wherever you are. On your way to the grocery store, practice your dribbling. Paying attention to the ball means you’re not paying attention to the rest of the game.

If you handle the ball often, you need to learn how to do a crossover. A crossover happens when you switch hands the ball is in. You must do it fast for best success. If done correctly, a good crossover helps you get past your opponent and to the rim.

TIP! If you’re on the offense, you footwork needs to be excellent to stay open for passes and shots. Securing a good location is critical when playing basketball.

Learn the way to throw proper bounce passes. Proper bounce passes ought to hit the recipient at the level of their waist. A useful tip is to have the ball bounce roughly 3/4 of the distance to the recipient. There can be other factors in play to keep in mind, as well.

Don’t bulk up if you want to be good as a jump shooter. Even though having strong muscles is great for the inside game, being on the outside it can harm you when shooting the ball. Some overzealous shooting guards buffed up too much, and it had an adverse effect on their overall field goal percentages.

Core Muscles

TIP! If you experience a basketball injury, don’t keep playing. Basketball is physically demanding and you can easily get hurt.

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. The core links the upper and lower extremities and without a strong one, their athletic performance will be limited. A well developed core lets a player generate force with their legs to be applied to faster running and jumping higher.

Never turn away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for what’s coming. You must always be prepared to receive a pass and you need to know where players are on the court. Always watch for areas opening up where you can go for a quick basket.

If you’ve developed somewhat of a shooting slump, focus on your shoulders. When your shoulders are not properly positioned, then it is almost impossible to perform at your best. Be sure shoulders always remain squared towards your hoop. You want your strong-side shoulder in perfect alignment with the rim.

TIP! Get someone to analyze how you play on tape. Did you spot something that could be improved? Appraise your performance honestly but don’t be overly harsh with yourself.

Try practicing how to pass while looking in another direction. This trick can be used successfully to confuse defenders. 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. If you can master this move, it can really work in your favor.

In order to play, all you need is 9 more players, a hoop measured out at 10 feet, and a court that is nearly 100 feet in length. A thorough understanding of the game is necessary if you are going to become a great player. What you learned here is just the beginning, and now you need to study more and practice well to hopefully one day become a great.