Do you enjoy watching players like Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Carmelo Anthony? Do you want to be like them? Do you want to play better? Keep reading to learn more about the game of basketball.

Crossovers are key for ball handlers. This move entails transferring the basketball from your left hand to your right hand and back again. You must do it fast for best success. A good crossover dribble can give you the opportunity to switch directions and progress on the court much faster.

TIP! Learn to correctly dribble the ball. Use the fingertips, not the palm, for the best dribbling.

Teach yourself to throw bounce passes correctly. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player at waist level. One good rule is for you to bounce the basketball most of the way toward the other player. There are, however, other factors that influence the pass.

Improve your passing abilities by challenging yourself to perform drills without actually dribbling. It is hard to play with no dribbling, but it will help your team make great passes. Keep your emotions in check if quality passing is not happening right away as it takes time to perfect this part of the game.

Make use of hand signals so that wild passes can be avoided. It can be frustrating making a pass when a player moves away towards the basket. Hand signals can help you communicate with your teammate on the court. If no signal is displayed, a pass ought not be made.

TIP! Make sure you learn how to shoot free throws. The execution of a free throw is not as simple as it may appear.

Footwork is what gets you ready for a shot. There are two important points you must remember. You must create a physical presence below the basket, and you must secure a good spot in advance of your opponent. Once you’re in the proper position, you’ll have to then secure your spot. Each of these skills is reliant on good footwork.

You can play a great defensive game if you know the opposition well. Study video tape on your opponent and read over any scouting reports. Find out who are the right-handed or left-handed players. Studying your opponent is one of the best ways to be able to win the game. Strong defenders are knowledgeable defenders.

Have someone taper your games and then watch it to see how you look on the court. You should be able to see what you missed or can do better. Be honest with yourself, but avoid being too critical. You can learn a lot by watching your plays instead of just trying to remember what you did.

TIP! Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. If you’ve got your eye on the ball while you’re dribbling, you haven’t mastered it yet.

To improve your dribbling skills, practice dribbling with your weaker hand. If you can dribble equally well with each hand, it is simpler to get past your opponents. Practice with your weak hand by tying your dominant hand behind your back. In no time, the weak hand will also be useful for dribbling.

Try to strengthen your forearms and hands to better handle the ball. Try doing some wrist curls as they are particularly effective in honing your dribble skills. One thing that is important to remember is that it is difficult to be static and be a scorer. You have to learn to move the ball if you want something to happen.

A great drill to try is to see how many dribbles it takes for you to make it across the court. The ideal number of dribbles is five. This will help you to gain speed, stride length and control of the ball. It will allow you to execute easy layups.

TIP! If you typically handle the ball a lot, it pays to learn the crossover. In a crossover, you transfer the basketball from hand to hand.

Take charges whenever you have the opportunity. Taking charges gives you an opportunity to get defensive stops, get the ball and lay the groundwork for fouls. This can throw off the opposing team and mess up their rhythm.

Stay low when playing defense. This will aid you as you jump and make it easier to react to the front man. Maintain proper defensive position at all times. If you break the stance to shot-block, then recover the proper form immediately after the pass or shot.

The goal to improving a game is building conversation with your teammates. Each team has multiple players on it. Playing is more than just you and one other person. Everyone has each others’ backs. If you communicate your wishes before you go out on the court, the team will work better as a unit.

TIP! Balance is essential to shooting. Your knees should be bent with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders.

Now that you know what needs to be done, go practice and become the best player you can be. Practice hard and with consistency. Over time, the work you put in will translate to confidence on the court. Keep this excellent advice in mind as you show off your new skills on the court.