Basketball is definitely enjoyable to a large number of people. But, most people don’t have the knowledge it takes to excel at this sport. Keep reading to learn some great insights that everyone who plays basketball can use.
Many people only direct their attention to the offensive part of the game without realizing that defense is the key to winning. Defense ultimately determines the winner of a game of basketball. Offense is often what gets the glory, but most winning basketball teams play great defense.
When dribbling, focus on what’s in front of you by keeping your head up. If you are looking at the ball for any reason while dribbling, you have not put in enough practice. Make the basketball an extension of your body, taking it wherever you are. Practice in your home and wherever you walk. If you look at the ball, you’re unable to see what’s going on down the court before you.
Balance is important when shooting. Many the professional player can be seen slipping out of bounds or making baskets from far away, but these are not proper techniques. They are going with the flow when this occurs. When you shoot, you should always be properly balanced, which will help you make more baskets more consistently.
Focus on your strong point to help you become a better ball player. Your best talent may not make you the star of every game, but learning to play your best angle will help you contribute more to the team. Focus on the skills you have and work to make them better.
In order to help you improve your basketball acumen you should watch how the pros play. Watch pro games on TV, or attend games in person. You are sure to notice the key skills each player has mastered, and from there you can start practicing.
Improve your passing abilities by challenging yourself to perform drills without actually dribbling. It is hard to play basketball without dribbling, and demands accurate passing and teamwork, so it will be a challenge. Don’t get frustrated if it’s hard at first because it will get better over time.
Would you like to completely fool the opposing team, making them look silly? Try doing a back pass! Use the dominant hand whenever trying a behind the back pass. Keep control of the ball while it is behind your back. Lastly, flick the wrist in the direction you want the ball to go. This is a very useful trick to confuse the opposing team.
Free Throws
Perform skills, practice your ball handling and shoot free throws when you are practicing alone. There are times you may not find anyone to play with you. This is perfectly acceptable. You’ll still be able to get a lot done when playing solo. Practice free throws and work on pivot moves. Additionally, you can practice vertical jumping and dribbling.
Hand signals will help you avoid those errant passes. Often in basketball, a player makes a pass at the exact same time the receiving player heads to another part of the court. Avoid this using hand signals to see if they can get the pass. Without a signal, there shouldn’t be a pass.
Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a shot when you are posting up. While physical presence under a basket is important, finding a decent spot before the opponent is even more so. Once you have a location, it is important that your feet are firmly planted there. Strong footwork skills help to build both types of skills.
If you’re injured when playing basketball, don’t push through the pain. Basketball is challenging physical sport and you can get injured. If you try to keep playing, you can hurt yourself worse. See a doctor if the injury is serious enough.
Be aware of what your feet are doing and where they are. An errant toe to the baseline while holding the ball will result in an “out of bounds” call. More than three steps will cause you to get called for travelling. If you move either foot while trying to pick, take a charge or set a screen, it will result in a called foul.
Basketball provides tremendous potential both as a physical activity and as a spectator sport. To make sure you are getting all you can out of the game, become informed. Hopefully, this article has provided you with valuable tips for being the best player possible.