This is why basketball is enjoyed by so many people; the game is fast and exciting. To make the most of your abilities, you need to learn all aspects of the game and how to improve. The following tips will help you take your game up a notch.
You should learn the best way to throw a great bounce pass. Executed properly, a bounce pass will connect with the receiving player at the waist. It’s smart to get the ball to bounce about 75% to the receiving player. There can be other factors in play to keep in mind, as well.
Prior to basketball season, and even during it, you can play solo games. You may not always be able to find someone to play with you. For concentration purposes, it can be good to practice on your own. In solo games, you can accomplish quite a bit. Practice pivoting or doing free throws. You can always hone your skills when practicing alone.
Ask fellow team members what they like about your skills on the court. Can they tell you what you’re really good at? They may say you’re fast or that you share well. By understanding what your teammates see as your best skills, you can ensure that you keep a strong focus and hone these abilities even more.
To hold the ball right, spread your fingers out. This will help you keep a better grip on the ball. Keep your palm off the ball too. Remember to maintain contact with the ball through your fingers only.
Core Muscles
When exercise, concentrate on perfecting footwork and strengthening your core muscles. Your body will be able to move quicker and be more balanced when you have srong core muscles. Your muscles in your buttocks, hips, abdomen, and back should be worked. Just like boxers, you can improve your footwork and speed by jumping rope.
Be aware of what your feet are doing and where they are. If you have the ball and you step outside the baseline, then you’re out of bounds. You will get called for walking if you take extra steps and are not dribbling. Moving your feet as you are setting a screen or pick usually results in you being called for a foul.
Free Throw
Create and stick to a routine each time you prepare to shoot a free throw. This could mean two dribbles before taking your free throw, bending your knees, or some other thing you do to get into a rhythm before shooting. If you make your routine consistent, your body will eventually know how to make the shot every time.
You need to constantly disrupt your opponents in order to be a great defensive player. Take them out of their own comfort zone. Stay aggressive. Don’t let them choose what plays to make. By doing so, the opponent will take advantage of you. Force them to act and their rhythm will get disrupted.
Stay low when playing defense. This will help you be quicker on the jump and react to the man in front of you easier. Be in the correct defensive stance all the time. If you need to leave your feet in order to prevent your opponent from shooting the ball, quickly get back into that good defensive position.
The first step when dribbling is to bend at your knees instead of standing straight-legged. Standing straight makes it hard to control the ball. A bit of a bend will boost your control.
Shoot from every point on the court thousands of times a day to get better. To improve even more, practice dribbling the basketball and then pull up fast for a quick shot. Focus on the target when airborne, but never before. This helps to simulate game conditions and improving your accuracy.
Use your non-dribbling hand as a barrier between your opponent and the ball. Be careful not to push your opponent or you may get a foul. You should try to keep your barrier arm up slightly when you are dribbling.
If you’re determined to do good at basketball, then you have to watch your diet. You need to eat carbs, fats and protein on game days. Peanut butter and nuts are great choices. Avoid sugar and salt when possible.
A missed shot from the corner often results in the ball landing on the opposite side of the net. If that happens, you can guess the place where it will go and manage to get the rebound.
Be sure not to double dribble. Double dribbling happens when you’ve stopped dribbling once, and then start again a few seconds later. When you’ve ceased dribbling, you can just shoot or pass the ball. You’re not allowed to start dribbling again. That’s called a turnover, which will result in you having to hand over the ball to your opponent.
If you’re trying to guard a person that’s bigger than you are, try keeping between that person and the one in possession of the ball. That way, they will never be open to receive a pass, and they will not be able to make an easy shot over your head.
Focus on the path of the basketball as it leaves a players hand. Watch whether it is an opponent or teammate. You cannot win a basketball game without rebounds. If you cannot recover the ball, it really makes no difference how well you cover an opponent’s missed shot.
As you can see, people around the world love basketball. This article has given you some of the knowledge you need to truly excel. Use the tips above to become the best basketball player you can be.