Have you ever pictured that you’re Michael Jordan, LeBron James or some other player on the court? Don’t just dream about it, do it! Keep reading to learn more.
Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. Four out of every five shots taken in a given game will be layups. During practice you want to get up enough speed to quickly get to the rim then easily lay the ball towards the hoop. Jump to the net and concentrate on shooting the ball in a specific location on the backboard.
Dribble properly. Use fingertips to dribble. Doing so will allow you a greater degree of ball control. Dribble to your body’s side instead of doing it out front, and bounce the ball at your waist’s level. Keep your eyes up, not on the ground.
Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. Most of the basketball game will probably be played in this zone, but the other team might decide to surprise you and do some man-to-man coverage. If you haven’t prepared yourself for that, you might lose your game very quickly.
When dribbling the basketball you should keep your head up. If you start staring at the ball while you dribble, you know you need to practice more. Bring the ball no matter where you go. If you walk to the store, dribble the ball. You will not be able to see what’s happening before you on the court while beholding the ball.
To learn how to pass well, drill without dribbling. Playing the game without the use of dribbling is a challenge, but it can help you and your team learn to make more precise passes. It may seem nearly impossible at first, but over time your team will learn to throw accurate passes and be in good position to receive them.
Make sure you spend your time focusing on your strengths. If you can rely on your strengths, you will become a better player. Understand your strengths and use it to your advantage to help your team win!
Before, during and after the season, play out games by yourself. Though basketball is surely a team sport, there may be times when you have nobody to play against. That is okay. In solo games, you can accomplish quite a bit. Whether focusing on foul shots or how to pivot with the ball, you can look for ways to improve. This will help improve the hard parts of your game.
Be sure to get lots of practice on layups. Up to eighty percent of the baskets attempted in a game are layups. When practicing this technique, run toward the goal and shoot. This technique helps improve your on-court layup skills.
Be aware of what your feet are doing and where they are. If you step on the baseline, you will be out of bounds. Taking a lot of steps when you’re not dribbling means you’re traveling and that’s a turnover call. Also, when you’re moving your feet when a screen is being set, you can take a charge or pick to try and get a foul.
When injuries occur on the court, it is unwise to keep on playing. The sport of basketball is very physical, which makes one susceptible to injury. Continuing to play when you are in pain can make an injury worse. Visit a doctor if you think it’s serious.
If you need some help seeing where you need work, try to get a friend or relative to record your games. You can see where you can improve and what plays you missed. It is important that your assessment is an honest one, but isn’t overly critical. The reality of your play is often very different from your perception.
Making a pass from between your legs is sometimes a good option when the opposing team is right on top of you. Refine this skill by bouncing a ball with force between the legs while stepping backwards or forwards. If this move is something you master, you’ll have an advantage when you go out to play a game.
Passing between the legs is great when you are being closely guarded. Bounce the ball very hard through your legs while stepping to the front or the back. When you’ve mastered this step, you will be at a great advantage.
Make sure your vision is good. This isn’t just for reading the scoreboard. You have to build your peripheral vision. If you scan the entire court, not just the location of the ball, it is possible to anticipate defense moves in advance and see which teammates are open.
A consistent pre-shot routine when at the line will increase your chance at success. If you are inconsistent then your shot will be off. The best way to perfect your free throw shooting technique is through repetition by practicing the same routine over and over again. If you don’t do the routine right, then the shot won’t make it.
You can make the 2-3 zone a lot more dangerous by having two defenders stay in this zone until a point guard is beyond the time line. Then, they ought to trap the point guard. Then, have the forwards on blocks run to the wing players. The point guard throws a pass that can be easily stolen by your forwards.
Practice dribbling with your weaker hand. If you use both your hands to dribble, it is easier to control. If you find it difficult to continue using your weak hand, make your strong hand unusable. Before you know it, your weak hand will become strong.
You should always have your free hand between you and your opponent when dribbling the ball. This keeps your opponent from being able to steal the ball. This move helps to keep the ball protected and you in control of it.
Perform exercises to strengthen the muscles in your forearms and hands in order to maximize your ability to handle the ball. Wrist curls work well at helping you handle the ball. Don’t ever believe you’re going to be able to stand still, receive a pass and take a shot. Your ability to handle the ball will affect your success on the court.
Practice a variety of shots from different locations on the court. The first thing to do is to practice on your balance and your grip. Shooting when you are not in balance is less accurate, but it is possible. The valve, which is located at the center of the ball, should help you perfect your grip. Keep your dominant hand spread out, and place the palm on top of the valve; this is the basketball’s center.
To nab a rebound from a free throw attempt of a teammate, footwork is key. Be aware that the defender who is below you will start moving in your direction. Slip past him, and you can get the ball. In this way you can get the rebound without a foul.
If basketball is something you wish to pursue seriously, your diet should reflect that. To play with great frequency, you will need a large amount of carbs combined with a bit of fat and protein. You should eat more lean sources of protein, fruits and vegetables. Stay away from salt and sugar as much as possible.
Dribble very hard to prevent the opposing team players from stealing the ball. The ball bounces faster, giving the guard less time to steal. If you are being guarded closely, bring your dribbling to an end and pass the ball to another open team member.
Build your team up at all times. Basketball is a great game that can be elevated when the team is of one mind. If you know your team members intimately and everyone trusts each other, your game will be seriously enhanced.
You want to strive in practice to bring the ball all the way up the court in no more than five dribbles. This may seem like an impossible challenge, but it will increase your stride length and your speed. If you master this, you will be able to quickly take layups.
Be sure that you’re not double dribbling. This occurs if you restart dribbling seconds after you have stopped your original dribble. If you have stopped dribbling, you’ll need to either shoot or pass the ball. You are not allowed to resume dribbling. This is called a turnover, and you’ll lose the ball immediately to your opponent.
Be sure your vision is unobstructed. Vision is an integral part of making shots and catching passes. You want to make sure that you see what is going on to the sides of you. If you look across the whole game and not just focus on the ball, you can see oncoming defensive pressure in advance, as well as open teammates.
If you are assigned to defend someone bigger than you are, try staying in the passing lane between your man and the current ball handler. This prevents them from becoming open for passes and makes sure that they do not get the ball, which they would be have the ability to shoot over you.
Alternating your pace is critical to keeping the defense guessing. You can try faking a jump shot by planting quickly, and straightening your body. The guard may think you’ve slowed down and may try to straighten themselves. When they do, try pushing forward hard and running right past them.
If you’re in possession of the ball, learn when you should be passing the ball to a player with a better shot and when you should be taking the shot yourself. It’s better to assist a goal, than the team to lose a play.
While you’re dribbling the basketball it is wise to bend your knees. If you don’t bend your knees, you are more susceptible to having the ball stolen by the other team. You will have better ball control with bent knees.
Focus on the ball whenever it leaves any players hands. One of the biggest key plays in the game is the rebound. After all, you need to be able to get possession of the ball to shoot it for a score.
Work on your 3 point shot by shooting from the established NBA distance. All the other lines are closer. Putting in the shot from the NBA distance will give you an advantage over defenders who are not expecting it.
Passing must be a crucial element in your game. Passing keeps your opponent guessing and on their toes. Players who don’t know how to pass or refuse to do so may be termed ‘ball hogs’. You will certainly have your time to shine. You will be able to show off your individual talents but you must also learn to be a team player.
Take control of opposing players’ movements. With practice, you can learn how to control the path of others players with your footwork. This will let you go where you would like and they cannot determine your path.
Have you learned some helpful tips? You must be self confident, and you must practice regularly. Keep your head up and use what you learned here.
The position you take just before and just after getting a rebound will play a large role in whether you can retain possession. If you wish to have better balance and power, then make sure you use both feet when you jump. Once you get the rebound, come down with both feet wider apart than your shoulders in order to secure good balance, and make sure the ball is held close to the chest.
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