Nobody wants to attempt an auto repair without a bit of research and training. How can you succeed at basketball without researching the sport first? Use the tips from this article to be able to play the greatest game that you can.

When dribbling, make sure you hold your head high and look straight ahead. Looking directly at the ball means you aren’t good at the game yet. Always have a basketball handy. If you walk to the store, dribble the ball. If you look your ball, you can’t see the court.

TIP! To be a great basketball player you need to work on your balance. You’ve seen the pros fall out-of-bounds and shoot a basket up to 300 feet away, however, this isn’t proper technique.

Crossing over is a vital skill to have for handling the basketball. Crossovers involve sending the basketball from one of your hands over to the other one. Crossovers must be done quickly to keep defenders at bay. When executed properly, a crossover dribble lets you alternate directions suddenly so that you can move down the entire court quickly.

Perfect your layup technique. This is the most popular shot in basketball. When you are practicing, run full speed at the goal and make the shot. Jump to the net and concentrate on shooting the ball in a specific location on the backboard.

You should practice pass catching regularly. Try to catch all of the passes that are thrown to you. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. Learning how to catch these errant passes will put you at an advantage.

TIP! To improve your game, concentrate on your strong points. You might not have star ability, but you can be an outstanding team player.

In order to get a good shot, good footwork is essential when posting up. Although it’s important to have a physical presence underneath the basket, it’s more important that you get in a good place before your opponent can. After establishing good position, you need to make sure you hold it. Footwork, therefore, is crucial.

If you experience a basketball injury, don’t keep playing. Basketball is very challenging physically, and this can cause further serious injury. Trying to be tough so you can keep going, even when you’re just a little uncomfortable, can make an injury worse. If an injury is serious, go to see a physician.

Practice looking in a different direction when you pass. This should befuddle your opponent. If you can pull it off, it’s effective to draw your opponents away from the shooter. That way the shooter gets a great look before shooting. You must practice this move with your teammates so that everyone on your team understands what is going on.

TIP! Practice your layup shot as frequently as possible. Layups comprise approximately 80 percent of all shots.

You need to practice dribbling with your weak hand in order to be a more effective player. If both hands are useful for dribbling, your opponents will not stand much of a chance. Hold the dominant hand behind the back and make certain you use just the weak hand. Eventually, your weak hand will be able to dribble well.

The key to great defense is being a nuisance to the player you are guarding. Getting them to do things they aren’t accustomed to doing is ideal. Make assertive moves, keeping your opponent unsure of your next move. Never let them control the game plays. By doing so, the opponent will take advantage of you. You should make the initial move and throw them off.

As soon as the ball leaves your teammate’s hands after a free throw, start moving into position. The defender in your path will be moving at you, so be sure you’re thinking of how to get past that defender. Doing this lets you get a rebound freely and not commit a foul in the process.

TIP! Bounce passes are important in the game of basketball. Proper bounce passes ought to hit the recipient at the level of their waist.

Take charges whenever you have the opportunity. When you take a charge, you have the opportunity to get a defensive stop, your team gets the ball and an additional foul is set up against the other team. Not only that, your opponents may become confused or frustrated and stop playing their game plan.

Bend the knees when you dribble a basketball. The ball is harder to control dribbling when you stand up straight. It also leaves you open to a steal from the opposing team. Just bending a little bit at your knees can really help you to control the ball better.

Dribble in a rhythmic way until you desire to catch the opposing player off guard. You can for instance suddenly speed up your dribbling to get past an opponent and get the edge you need for a shot. Perfecting this can make you nearly unstoppable on the court.

TIP! Basketball players of all ages benefit from exercises that strengthen their core. The core muscles are the hips, lower back muscles and the abdominal muscles.

Anticipate where the ball will go. For instance, corner shots usually bounce off the rim, ending up on the opposite side. If so, you should be able to guess its next location and move to get the rebound.

For the best balance, make sure you land with your feet spread apart. Keep your hands along any side and hold it up to your chest tightly. Do not swing your elbows around or you may be hit with a foul.

You need to control your nerves when shooting the ball. The basket should be the your main focus. Specifically, you should train you eyes to concentrate on the backside of the basket rim while you are making the shot. However, for lay-ups, focus your eyes on the spot of the backboard on which you are banking the ball.

TIP! Quality footwork will help you get better shots. You need to have physical presence beneath the net, but you also have to choose the right spot to be in.

Gain pride and confidence by learning how to play the game with skill. This feeling can only be rivaled if you’re able to succeed in playing basketball well. This information will help you become better and help you win games for your team.