Basketball isn’t a game that’s only played in after school games or gym class. You can play at the park or right in your driveway. If your passion is basketball, take the time to read the following article to learn more about the sport.
Many people forget that defense is as important as offense during practice. Defense is what keep the other team from scoring. Offense gets more attention, but the team is going to lose without a strong defense.
Make sure that you’re dribbling the ball correctly. Use fingertips to dribble. Using your fingers allows you to better control the basketball. When dribbling the basketball you should bounce it to your side instead of right in front. Do not look at the ground; look up at all times.
Always dribble with your head up and looking forward. Looking at your ball when you dribble indicates that you haven’t practiced enough. Wherever you go, take your ball with you. Try dribbling even when walking to a store. If you look at the ball, you’re unable to see what’s going on down the court before you.
Learn what a crossover is and how to do it. When you do a crossover, you move the basketball very fast from one hand over to the other hand. That action has to be done fast to be successful. When executed properly, a crossover dribble lets you alternate directions suddenly so that you can move down the entire court quickly.
If you want to be a jump shooter, avoid pumping iron excessively. Being weighed down by too much bulky muscle can have a negative impact on your jump shot. You might see a decrease in your goal percentages if your biceps become too large.
Frequently train yourself on your pass catching moves. When practicing, try catching great passes as well as really bad passes. When the game is going on, every pass isn’t going to make it to its target. Make sure that your teammates also practice this type of pass with you.
To be a good post-up player in the pain, you need to have really good footwork. While physical presence under a basket is important, finding a decent spot before the opponent is even more so. Plant your feet and own that spot. Good footwork is key to a good basketball game.
Do you want to fool the other team? Trick them using a back pass. Use your dominant hand to palm the basketball. Move the ball so that it is behind you. Flick your wrists in the direction that it must travel. This should trick the opposing team.
Remember to spread your fingers when handling the ball. You will have better luck holding onto the ball as well. However, remember to keep your palm away from the ball. The only things that should touch the ball are your fingers, as you shoot or pass.
Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a shot when you are posting up. While actually being beneath the basket is key, establishing a good position prior to the opposition is even more so. After establishing good position, you need to make sure you hold it. The key to this relies on having good footwork.
Passing between the legs is something that helps when you have defense all over you. Practice this by bouncing the ball hard between your legs as you take a step forward or back. This technique can really throw off defenders.
If you get hurt during a basketball game, don’t try to play while in pain. Basketball is physically challenging, and injuries are not uncommon. Trying to play through the pain could just cause more damage. If the pain is bad, visit a doctor.
Practice passing while looking another way. This will make your actions very confusing to the other team. If you do it right, this draws your opponents’ focus the wrong way. When executed properly, this is a powerful play.
The key to ball control is to spread your fingers out. This gives you better control of the ball. Keep your palm off the ball, too. You should try your best to only hold onto the ball with your fingertips when passing and shooting.
A solid routine is necessary for improvement in free throw shooting. If you aren’t consistent, you won’t make the basket. The most effective method to achieve a great free throw is by practicing it repeatedly until you get it right. You will probably miss your shot if the routine you use is not perfect.
You need to be quick to be good at basketball. Always stay ahead of the opposition. Steady drilling is the key to playing fast. Avoid playing faster than your abilities allow. If you play basketball past your own speed ability, then you can lose control of you game with bad passes and needless turnovers.
Practice dribbling with your weaker hand. Using both hands to dribble makes you a more effective player, especially when you’re trying to get past your opponent. Make an effort to dribble with your weak hand by keeping your dominant hand away from the front. Eventually, your weak hand will be trained to dribble properly.
To become a great free thrower, practice and develop a routine you will use during each shot. This can be any combination of movements that makes you feel comfortable and prepare for the shot. However, they need to be the same combination of movements each time. Just remember it has to be fast and consistent. The reason is, this routine will put your body on alert that the next thing coming is a free throw. This will help insure your success.
If you wish to succeed in a defensive role, you must be able to break your opponents’ concentration. Force them out of their comfort zone. When you are guarding, do so aggressively. Keep them from deciding what moves to make. You should never let an opponent control what you do on the court. Rather, you move first so that you interfere with their rhythm.
To land your layups, jump off the foot opposite the hand you shoot with. Practice shooting using your right hand, then jump off your left foot. Doing this lets you maintain balance and movement towards the goal, while keeping your body in between your defender and your shot.
Improve your ball-handling by strengthening your hands and your forearms. Wrist curls can be great for honing ball handling skills. Don’t assume that you are able to just stand anywhere, catch the ball and shoot it. Good dribbling skills will help you always stay in movement.
Consistent free throws require a consistent technique. If you don’t have one, your accuracy may suffer. In order to make your free throw perfect, you’ll need to practice the shot many times and get into a routine. If you alter your routine then chances are the shot will not be good.
In order to improve your game, make sure you do plenty of strength training. You need both stamina and strength to be a good player. Small kids who play stand to reap real benefits from strengthening their legs and arms. If you have been exercising regularly for years, it might be time to introduce weights into the mix. When they become adults, strength training is critical to maintaining solid court performance.
To play good defense, you have to upset and disrupt your opponent. Get them outside their comfort zone. Make aggressive plays. Never let them control the game plays. If you let them, you’ll be at their mercy. Rather, move first; attack their rhythm.
Don’t cease dribbling until you get ready to shoot or pass. After you have stopped dribbling, your options are quite limited. Aside from using your back foot to pivot, you have very little freedom. Once this happens, you are prone to being double-teamed and more likely to turn the ball over.
Strength Training
Keep the ball below knee level if possible. This is going to make things harder for your opponents if they want to steal the ball. You need to bend your body somewhat to accomplish this. It will, however, increase your overall effectiveness, as you are making the ball much harder to steal.
To increase your basketball playing abilities, consider strength training exercises. It’s important to have stamina and strength when playing basketball. Even youngsters can strengthen their arms and legs to improve game play. When they become teenagers, they can start using weights to increase their exercise. Adult players must use strength training to prevent loss of mobility, speed, and power.
Be sure you’re doing the right kinds of exercises off the court to help you on it. Sprinting will help you develop speed, while running long distances will help you develop great stamina. In addition, lifting weights will improve your strength, and hopefully, your shot. Your shooting abilities are greatly enhanced by a more self-assured, aggressive mindset.
To trap with a 2-3 zone, have your guards cover the point guard once he gets a few feet past midcourt. Once your opponent is trapped, he will have no option but to make a pass. While this is happening, your forwards must sprint toward players in the wings. The point guard will make a pass that forwards can steal.
Make sure you stay in a constant rhythm until it is time to make your move. Dribble consistently, then break it up by dribbling fast. This will keep your opponent off balance so you can get in a good shot. Both the change in speed and sound will confound the player who is guarding you.
You should always bend your knees while dribbling. If your knees are not bent, the basketball will be more difficult to control. A bit of a bend will boost your control.
Be sure to practice good teamwork on the court and off. Basketball is one of those games that goes to another level when a team gels completely. If you know your team members intimately and everyone trusts each other, your game will be seriously enhanced.
Bettering your game play is important if you love basketball. Since you’ve devoted this time to reading this article, the next step is to take these new skills out to the court. The more you know, the better player you’ll be.
If you know your opponent has a weak hand, make them use it. If your opponent favors their right side, step to them using your left foot. When successful, they will have to switch the side they are using. Keep your head low and be prepared to steal the ball.
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