What is there to learn about basketball? How do you become a great player and be able to show appreciation for the game? This article provides you with a great base of knowledge about playing basketball, so reading it should bring you amazing benefits when you next hit the court.

Pay attention to what you are good at. You may not be the star player, but by contributing the best way you can you will win more games. You can also focus on your weaknesses if you know what they are.

TIP! Learn the mechanics of a free throw. As easy as these shots may seem, they are rather hard.

Practice layups often. Layups sometimes wind up being 4 out of every 5 shots in basketball. When you are practicing, run full speed at the goal and make the shot. Like everything, practicing at game speed will only improve your skill and have you ready to play at the fastest pace.

There is a lot of pressure when shooting free throws. You can practice for hours on how to make the shot, but if you over think things or get distracted you will miss every time. Take a deep breathe, relax and block out all outside distractions before taking the shot.

Observing what the professionals do can be a great way to improve your game. Watch pro games on TV, or attend games in person. Watch great players to learn the specific skills that make them exceptional.

TIP! Keep your head up when you dribble. You should never be looking at the basketball while dribbling.

Do not wait for any special season to play some basketball. Sometimes you cannot find a team of people to play basketball with. No problem! In solo games, you can accomplish quite a bit. Practice pivoting and free throw shooting. Additionally, you can practice vertical jumping and dribbling.

When avoiding errant passes, use hand signals. One of basketball’s most frustrating elements is the concept of sending a quick pass onto a teammate who has just moved in a different direction. These common miscommunications can be avoided by utilizing hand signals, which tells the passing player the other player is ready for a pass. If you don’t see a signal, try to find someone else to pass to.

Do you understand what it takes now? Are you prepared to leave it all out on the court? Are you able to handle the fact that you’re going to do the best at basketball that you’ve ever done because of this article? Practice a variety of skills every day to improve your overall game.