When basketball was something you first learned to play, it probably felt like a new world. You began to figure out how to play such as shooting, dribbling and passing. Now you may feel that you know quite a bit about the game. This article will provide you with what you need to know.
Free throw practice is vitally important. This is one of those shots that seem easy but in real life are difficult. Use this technique to better your game. Put your weaker hand in front of the ball and center your stronger hand over the air valve in the basketball. Have your eyes on your goal and picture your ball going into it. Shoot on the same path you saw in your mind’s eye.
You must have good balance to shoot well. While the all-time greats have shown time and time again how they can shoot while off-kilter, this is not the ideal way to score. These are not practiced skills, they are just flukes. If you have correct balance when you are making a shot, you will make more consistent baskets over time.
You should often work on your layups. 80% of all shots in a game are usually layups. Practice running while dribbling, jumping and shooting as smoothly as you can. This type of technique will translate well into actual game situations.
Bounce Passes
Learn the way to throw proper bounce passes. Good bounce passes need to hit the other player waist length when they receive it. One thing you should do is always remember the ball should be bounced three quarters on its way towards the person you’re passing too. At the same time, take into account any other extraneous factors that may affect the pass.
Ask your teammates what they like about the way you play. They will probably notice the things you do best. Perhaps you are great backup or fast on your feet. Learn what the other people around you see while you are playing and it may open your eyes to new areas for practice.
Never turn away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for what’s coming. This keeps you aware of what is going on so you aren’t surprised. You will want to keep extra attention on areas that could improve your position as well.
Build up your forearms to become a better ball handler. Curling your wrists also help you improve your own dribbling. Never assume you can just stand somewhere, catch and then shoot. Things rarely happen unless you are actually moving the basketball.
You need to take a charge anytime you can. Taking a charge allows you a chance to earn a defensive stop, take the ball for your team, and sets up one more foul against the opponent. This can devastate a competitor psychologically as well as being a powerful play on the court.
When playing defense, always try to stay low. This helps you jump fast and react quickly. Stay in your defensive stance. If you need to block someone’s shot, quickly get back into your stance.
For your weaker hand, to build skills, use it off-court for as much as you can, from brushing teeth to opening jars. These tasks help to make your weaker hand feel more natural when you use it on the court. As a result, your basketball game will significantly improve.
Try practicing your dribbling while switching the momentum of your body from side to side. Real game dribbling has a lot of variety. It would be great if you are always able to go full speed ahead, but more times than not you will need to move and flow with the defense in front of you. Remember to dribble while leaning in various directions. This will help you in bad situations.
Keep all motion below the knees if possible. Your opponents will find it tougher to steal the ball from you. Bend a little so you can keep the ball closer to the ground and move through the court as quickly as possible.
To help ward off your opponent, practice using your other hand to help shield him away from you. Avoid physical contact like pushing, but keep the ball from them by separating them from it. Hold your arm slightly elevated as you dribble with the opposite hand.
Diet is essential when it comes to playing ball. You need to eat carbs, fats and protein on game days. You want to make sure that your body has enough energy to keep going; think about eating chicken, nuts and whole grain bread. Try to reduce your salt and sugar intake, though.
With all of this great advice at your fingertips, the sky is your limit. Make goals for yourself and keep improving. Fitting these techniques into your game strategy is going to significantly improve your game.