Whether shooting hoops like the pros or cheering from bleachers, you should have basketball knowledge to be able to fully enjoy the game. Not sure of the score? Never fret! Basketball is not the easiest game to learn but you can do it. Read on for tips which will be a real slam dunk!
Dribble the ball correctly. Finger tips, not palms, are the key to successful dribbling. This method gives you much more control of the ball. When dribbling the basketball you should bounce it to your side instead of right in front. Don’t look down, always look up.
Paying Attention
When dribbling, focus on what’s in front of you by keeping your head up. You need more practice if you feel that you cannot dribble without focusing on the ball. Wherever you go, take your ball with you. Practice in your home and wherever you walk. Paying attention to the ball means you’re not paying attention to the rest of the game.
When using the ball a lot, you must relearn a crossover. This term refers to switching the hand you use. You have to do this quickly to be good at it. If done correctly, a good crossover helps you get past your opponent and to the rim.
Watch professionals play to learn from their techniques. Watch as many games on TV as you can. Each player has their strengths and you can learn a lot from each one.
Passing the ball is an important part of playing basketball so practice making and receiving passes. Try to catch all of the passes that are thrown to you. During a hectic game, every throw is not going to be perfect. So do your teammates a favor by learning how to consistently haul in their less than perfect passes.
Want to make the other team not know what’s going on? Trick them using a back pass. Use your dominant hand to palm the basketball. Then, move the ball so it is behind your back. Finally, flick your wrist towards the direction in which you wish that ball to travel. This will confuse the other team into wondering where the ball went.
Basketball players of all ages benefit from exercises that strengthen their core. Hips, abdomen and back must be worked on. Without a strong core, a player’s performance may not be as good as it could be. A strong and solid core allows force that is generated via the legs to be used for helpful movements during the game like higher jumps and faster running.
Avoid errant passes by the use of hand signals. One of the more frustrating aspects of basketball is making a pass to a teammate at the same time they head to the basket. Avoid this with hand signals that let you know if the player is open to receiving the pass. If there is no signal, the player should not make the pass to them.
If you’re injured in a basketball game, don’t attempt to play while in pain. Basketball is very challenging physically, and this can cause further serious injury. If you keep on playing after sustaining an injury, you may make the injury even more serious. Be sure to talk to a doctor if you feel that the injury isn’t going away.
To properly handle the ball, you have to spread your fingers out. This way, you won’t lose the ball when holding it. Try to keep your palm off of the ball as well. You should try your best to only hold onto the ball with your fingertips when passing and shooting.
Understanding the opponent is a good way to win with defense. Watch tapes and be sure you’re paying attention to scouting reports. Know which players are left and right handed. When you know more about the opposing team, you will play a better defense. Strong defenders are knowledgeable defenders.
Passing the ball through your legs is a useful maneuver if the opposing team is right on top of you. Try practicing this by bouncing your ball hard in between your legs while stepping forward or backward. If you get this down, you will have a major advantage on the court.
Free Throw
In order to become a better free throw shooter you need to have a good practice routine. Inconsistency does not make a better shot. To better perfect free throw techniques, try using repetition via practicing one routine repeatedly. If the routine is off in any way, then you’ll miss the shot.
Using a weaker hand helps improve overall dribbling skills. If both hands are useful for dribbling, your opponents will not stand much of a chance. Bind your dominant hand so you will be forced to make use of your weaker side. Soon enough you will develop those weak hand dribbling skills.
You can improve your ability to handle the ball by working out your forearms and hands. Wrist curls are especially effective at making you better able to handle a basketball like you could dribble sleepwalking. Don’t ever believe you’re going to be able to stand still, receive a pass and take a shot. The best way to get into the flow of the game is to be in motion.
When on defense, try to keep yourself low whenever you can. This will let you get to the jump quicker and let you react to your opponent easier. Remain in a good defensive stance always. When rebounding or blocking, you break the stance, but then you must get back in the stance quickly.
That wasn’t too bad, right? Once you start playing, you will see exactly how much fun you can have. Keep this information in mind to become a great basketball player.