You don’t need a gymnasium or a competition stadium to play basketball. You can play at the park or even at your own home. To shoot hoops and play basketball better in general, focus reading the information below.
Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Finger tips, not palms, are the key to successful dribbling. When you do this you will have more control over the ball. Dribble to the side of your body rather than directly in front of you, bouncing at waist level. Do not look at the ground; look up at all times.
Learn how to hit a free throw shot. It looks simple to do, but it isn’t that easy. Practice often using the following technique. Start with the ball held out from your face. Keep looking at the goal while visualizing the basketball going through the hoop. Shoot the ball how you imagine it going in.
Make sure you are looking forward and looking up as you’re dribbling. If you’ve got your eye on the ball while you’re dribbling, you haven’t mastered it yet. You can practice dribbling almost anywhere. Dribble as you walk down the street. If you look at the ball, you’re unable to see what’s going on down the court before you.
Want to become a better basketball player? Watch the pros! Attend as many professional games as you can, watch the pros on TV, or watch video of professionals. You’ll learn that every player is skilled at certain things and that can help you to know what you can do to get better.
Work on improving your strengths to become an even better player. You may not be the star player, but by contributing the best way you can you will win more games. Know what you are good at, then practice it until you’re absolutely perfect at it!
Remember to practice a lot of different possibilities so that you will not limit your game. A lot of the game is sure to be played in the zone, but your opponent could change to man-to-man coverage. Practicing these techniques can give you a competitive edge over your competition.
Frequently train yourself on your pass catching moves. Try to catch all of the passes that are thrown to you. When a game is underway, not every throw will be perfect. So do your teammates a favor by learning how to consistently haul in their less than perfect passes.
Learn good passing by drilling often without dribbling. It is a challenge not to dribble while playing, but it will ensure the accuracy of your team’s passes. Even though this is not an easy drill, you will be rewarded for your efforts during game time.
One great way to pass good is to drill when you can without dribbling. It is tough to play when not dribbling, but your accuracy is sure to inprove. Frustration can be an issue at first, but passing will improve as time goes by.
Lay off the weights if you are trying to become a jump shooter. Muscle is good, but you can have too much. Some shooting guards that play professionally have such big arms that their field goal rate went down.
In order to get a good shot, good footwork is essential when posting up. You must be certain to get the good spot ahead of your opponent. Once there, you have to firmly claim the area as your own. Both of those skills rely on solid footwork.
A great way to stay prepared at all times is to always face the ball. You have to be aware of what is going on with the ball at all times. Always watch for areas opening up where you can go for a quick basket.
Avoid turning away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for what occurs on the court. Always knowing where the ball is will make sure that you are ready if it quickly comes your way. Keep an eye open for easy shots.
Keeping your fingers spread will facilitate better ball handling. You are more likely to hold onto the ball this way. Also, keep your palm off the ball. You should only let the fingers touch the ball during passing or shooting.
Speed is a key attribute in the game of basketball. You’ll have an advantage if you’re faster than an opponent. Consistent, repetitive drilling is the key to speed. Don’t try playing fast until you can. Playing beyond your own capabilities sends the game spinning past your ability to control it, and turnovers are bound to occur.
If your shooting is in a slump, take a look at your shoulders. If your shoulders aren’t properly positioned, your shot is not going to go in. Ensure that you line up your shoulders so that they are squared with the basketball net. Your shooting arm’s shoulder also needs to be exactly lined up with the rim.
A good way to see yourself playing is to have someone record your games. You should be able to see what you missed or can do better. Assess yourself honestly, but don’t be a harsh critic. It can be an eye-opener to see how you’re playing the game really, not just what you picture it to be.
Where are your feet? If you slide onto the baseline, you will lose the ball for being out of bounds. You will get called for walking if you take extra steps and are not dribbling. Avoid lifting your feet when you are screening or in position for a charge or the foul will be called on you instead of your opponent.
Passing between the legs is great when you are being closely guarded. Go forwards and backwards with the ball to practice bouncing it. If you manage to master this, you will have a tremendous advantage during games.
Look away when you practice passing. This is a great way to fake out your opponents. When done properly, this technique distracts the opposition and gives your pass recipient a chance to focus on the basket. It’s a powerful play when done right.
When you are passing the ball, get used to looking in the other direction. Doing this is a great way to confuse your opponents. When done right, the look draws your opponents to the wrong locale so that the person you passed to has a good long look at the basket before shooting. When done smoothly it can be a game changer.
Being a good defensive player involves disrupting your opponent’s concentration. Don’t let them get comfortable. Be assertive and focused within the rules, aggressively keeping your player off balance. Do not allow them to decide which plays to make. By doing so, the opponent will take advantage of you. Instead, you move first and throw them off their game.
Dribbling the ball fast and hard will help you to keep better control of it. The ball will get back to the hand faster, giving the other team less of an opportunity to grab it away. If you are being guarded closely, bring your dribbling to an end and pass the ball to another open team member.
To avoid having the ball stolen, dribble hard. Dribbling fast allows you to keep better control of the ball and there is a slimmer chance of it being stolen from you. If your opponent is playing you up close, stop what you’re doing and quickly look to find and open teammate to pass the ball to.
Stay low when playing defense. This will let you get to the jump quicker and let you react to your opponent easier. Hold a defensive stance always. If you break the stance to shot-block, then recover the proper form immediately after the pass or shot.
If you want a 2-3 zone to be turned into a machine that traps, your two defenders that are guarding should wait until your point guard is around ten feet past mid court. At this point, your guards must rush the point guard thus trapping him. It also lets you have forwards on blocks sprint to the wing players. This can cause the point guard to pass the ball in a way that your teammates can easily steal.
Always bend the knees while dribbling. If you are standing straight, you will have a harder time controlling the ball and your opponent will be able to steal it more easily. Bending your knees slightly will improve your overall ability to control the ball.
Always set your three-point shooting practice goal at the official NBA distance. College, as well as high school three-point lines are set at a shorter distance. Nailing shots from the NBA line can really help improve your overall shooting skills.
You’ll want to use the hand that you aren’t dribbling with as a barrier to protect the ball. However, you’re not actually going to push with this hand; instead, you’re going to separate yourself using this hand. Simply elevate it slightly as you dribble.
Stop Dribbling
The best way to become a better player is to talk to your teammates and know what they are going to be doing. The sport of basketball is truly a team game. That means offense and defense aren’t one on one. You must help one another out. Let others know when you require assistance.
Do not stop dribbling unless you’re going to shoot or pass. Once you stop dribbling, you are extremely limited in your options. If you don’t shoot or pass, you can only pivot using your back foot. The chances of the ball being stolen is high, and you might be double teamed as well.
You have to learn to get your opponent to alter their path. Whether you are playing defense or offense, controlling the movements of your opponents is vital. If you can master this skill then you determine where the ball is going, not your opponent.
Dribble with a rhythm, that is until you need to outsmart your opponents. The opposing player expects you to maintain that rhythm, so when you switch things up you create an element of surprise. Both the speed and the sound will contribute to confusing the player that is guarding you.
If you’re sure that the person in possession of the ball isn’t good with one hand, try getting them to use it. If that player is right-handed, move in the player’s direction on your left foot. This will force the player to switch hands. Keep your head inline with their shoulders, that way you will be low, and in a good position to take the ball.
Whether you play competitively or for fun, learning to be a better ball player is paramount. Now that you’ve read this, you can start using it. Knowledge is strength in every venue, including basketball.
Part of being a great basketball player is knowing when it is time to give the ball to someone else. It’s best to be a winning team, than someone that lost the game.
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