Nobody tries to fix a car without understanding what’s wrong. Why would someone think they could be great at basketball if they didn’t do some research first? This article details many of the tips the experts use to make their game as good as it is.
Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Instead of using your palm to dribble focus on using your fingertips. This allows you to control the ball better. Dribble along the side of the body, not immediately in front of it, and keep the bounce to the waist level or below. You should always be looking up instead of at the ground.
Dribble properly. Don’t use your palm to dribble. Instead, use your fingertips. Using your fingertips will allow you to have better control when dribbling the ball. Avoid dribbling in front of you and only dribble to the sides of your body. Always look up and never look down at the ground.
Make sure you learn how to shoot free throws. These shots may seem easy, but they can be quite difficult. Try using this technique in practicing. First, keep the ball in front of you and at eye level. Focus on the ball and visualize it going toward the goal. Then repeat that when you take the shot.
Learn how to maneuver a crossover if you have the ball fairly often. Crossover dribble is switching hands while you’re dribbling. This must be done quickly to be successful. When done properly, crossover dribbling is a great way to quickly switch direction or move around the court in an efficient manner.
In order to help you improve your basketball acumen you should watch how the pros play. Go to professional games in person and/or watch them online or on TV. Every truly great player has unique skills that you can learn from.
Make sure that your regular practice includes catching of passes. When practicing, try catching great passes as well as really bad passes. During the game, not all passes will go where they’re intended. You’ll be helping out your team a great deal if you can catch their not so perfect passes.
Don’t spend all your time practicing how to confront a zone defense. 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. Practicing these techniques can give you a competitive edge over your competition.
You should practice against a variety of defense types, not just zone. While a great portion of a game will be concentrated in the zone, your rivals could opt to go to man-to-man covering to keep you guessing. This can cause your team to lose momentum to the other side if this isn’t something you’ve practiced.
Make use of hand signals so that wild passes can be avoided. You can become easily frustrated when a teammate does a poor job of anticipating your next passing move. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. Without a signal, you should not attempt to pass the ball to a player.
Solo Games
Footwork is what gets you ready for a shot. Although a strong presence in the key is important, beating your opponent to good spots on the floor is more important. Once you get into your position, you need to secure it. Practicing your footwork is important to master these skills.
Prior to basketball season, and even during it, you can play solo games. These skills all help with muscle memory so you know just what to do when you’re playing in a game. That’s OK! Solo games can help you immensely. Practice free throws and work on pivot moves. There’s always some work to do.
In order to be more reliable shooting free throws, practice your routine. Whatever you do before each shot, from dribbles to body motions, should be the same each time. Just make your routine quick, so that it can be consistent, and your body is going to remember just how to nail free throws following your ritual.
If you’re on the offense, you footwork needs to be excellent to stay open for passes and shots. You need to have physical presence beneath the net, but you also have to choose the right spot to be in. When you are in position, you must secure your spot. Strong footwork is key.
To get the rebound from the free throw your teammate is making, you need to do some fancy footwork. The defender in your path will be moving at you, so be sure you’re thinking of how to get past that defender. This technique will help you rebound the ball without getting a foul called on you.
One great thing to do if you wish to be prepared while playing is to make sure your back isn’t turned to the ball. You have to be aware of what is going on with the ball at all times. Always be on the lookout for open areas where you can seize easy scoring opportunities.
Dribble hard to make it less likely for the ball to be stolen. This causes the ball to return to your hand more quickly, so the offense has less time to try to get it away from you. If someone is guarding you closely, stop dribbling and pass to someone else who is open on your team.
You can play a great defensive game if you know the opposition well. Follow the scouting reports and watch tapes of their games. Remember which player shoots left and which shoots right. This knowledge will help you play the best game possible. A smart defender is someone who is good at his position.
Practice noticing what is in your peripheral vision. You don’t just want to be able to pass and shoot well. You want to make sure that you see what is going on to the sides of you. Having good court awareness to see everything around you lets you see plays develop before they happen, either by warding off the defenders or getting the ball to open teammates.
If the other team has a good defense, passing the ball between your legs is a good option. Practice dribbling the ball between your legs. Mastering this move can give you an advantage on the court.
When you dribble, keep your knees comfortably bent. Standing straight makes it hard to control the ball. You only need to bend your knees slightly to improve your control of the basketball.
Practice passing while looking the opposite direction. This can go a long way toward confusing the opposition. If you can pull it off, it’s effective to draw your opponents away from the shooter. That way the shooter gets a great look before shooting. It can be a really powerful play.
Shoot from NBA distances to see your three-point skills improve. All other distance lines, high school, college and International, are not as far. If you get it from the NBA range, your open looks will have deeper range than defense will mind you until you begin hitting.
You must have a consistent practice routine if you want to learn to shoot free throws well. Failure to use consistency may make your shots less accurate. The best way to perfect your free throw shooting technique is through repetition by practicing the same routine over and over again. If you are off your game, you will not make the shot.
Only stop dribbling if you want to shoot or pass. The moment you cease dribbling, you have given yourself very few options. If you don’t shoot or pass, you can only pivot using your back foot. This situation leaves you vulnerable to a double team by the defense, and you risk losing the ball.
If you see a chance to gain control of the ball, take it. Taking a charge allows you a chance to earn a defensive stop, take the ball for your team, and sets up one more foul against the opponent. Perfecting this play can really give you an advantage on the court.
Maintain a rhythm to the dribble until you are ready to surprise the opponent. You can for instance suddenly speed up your dribbling to get past an opponent and get the edge you need for a shot. Changing the speed is part of what confuses your opponent, but the difference in sound can throw him off, as well.
Strength Training
Many shots from the court corner end up sailing right over the basket. If that happens, you can guess the place where it will go and manage to get the rebound.
It can be great help to do strength training when you’re training for basketball. Strength and stamina are both needed to excel at basketball. Even the youngest kids that play will benefit from the game. As the teenage years approach, weights can be used for even greater impact. As adults, it will be imperative to maintain a strength training routine.
Do not double dribble. If you start, stop and then begin again, that is double dribbling. If dribbling stops, you must pass or shoot the basketball. You’re unable to restart that dribble again. Double dribbling means your team turns the ball over to the other team.
In order to improve your weaker hand, make use of it for everyday things, such as brushing your teeth, eating out of a spoon, etc. Being more dexterous means you will have better control. You will soon see a difference on the court if you are consistent with these simple exercises.
When guarding a player who exceeds you in size, attempt to stay in between that player and the one with the ball. In this position you prevent them from receiving a pass and shooting it over your head.
Don’t discontinue dribbling until you have the chance to shoot or pass. The instant you stop the dribble, your options become limited. If you don’t have the chance to shoot or pass, you can just pivot with the foot in the back. You leave the ball vulnerable to possible steal attempts and yourself open to being double teamed.
A good thing to do on defense is to get your opponent near the sideline. If a player remains in the court’s middle, they will have more options available to them. But, they will not have as many options when they’re pushed toward a sideline.
When you learn how to fix your car yourself, you will have a sense of pride unrivaled by any other. Pride that is not easily matched but can be bolstered by learning and reading about how you can improve your game. This information will help you become better and help you win games for your team.
For basketball players with an advanced skill set, dribbling ends up being more mental than it does physical. You have to control how the ball spins, how hard it hits and where the ball lands in relationship to where your legs and feet are. A good way to throw off your opponent to is to change momentum by using your body in a different position.
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