People of all ages and every walk of life around the world have loved basketball for a very long time. There are many people that don’t know how to play. This article was put together to help anyone who wants to play basketball to appreciate it so they can do better at it.
Learn to correctly dribble the ball. Use fingertips to dribble. You’ll have a lot more control over the ball this way. Dribble to your body’s side instead of doing it out front, and bounce the ball at your waist’s level. Never look at the ground. Always look up.
Practice layups often. In a typical game, up to four-fifths of all shots are layups. When you practice, you need to be able to run toward the basket at full speed, then shoot while jumping in the air. This will assist you in perfecting your ability to jump and then shoot.
Be sure to watch professional games to learn some great tips and tricks to improve your game. Go to a bunch of professional games in person, watch them on television, or just get online to search for basketball videos. Every truly great player has unique skills that you can learn from.
Don’t pump too much iron if you plan on being a jump shooter. Muscle strength can be great for basketball players, but it is actually possible to have excessive amounts for playing on the perimeter. Some professional shooting guards made their arms so big that it started decreasing their field goal percentage.
Work on pass catches. When you practice, mix it up so that you can catch perfect passes and errant throws. During the course of a game, you can expect there to be many errant passes. You can do the rest of your team a favor by practicing how you can best complete imperfect passes.
Having a pre-free-throw shot routine will help you become dependable at free throws. You could dribble twice, touch your forehead, bend your knees, or some other kinds of movements. If you make your routine consistent, your body will eventually know how to make the shot every time.
One of the best ways to play a strong defensive game is to know your opponent. Watch tapes and be sure you’re paying attention to scouting reports. Know which players are left and right handed. Having a good understanding about your opponent strengths and weaknesses allows you to focus on how to better stop him. A defender with an education will be good at what they do.
When exercising, concentrate on building up core strength and improving your footwork. Your balance will improve if you strengthen your core. Concentrate your efforts on the back, abdomen, buttocks and hips. Similar to boxers, jump rope to help increase speed and better your footwork.
Upset and disrupt your opponent’s play. All successful basketball players do this. Force them away from their comfort zone. Make aggressive plays. Do not allow them to decide which plays to make. If you allow this, they will run over you. Rather, you make the initial move and break up their flow.
You can prevent other players from stealing the ball from you by dribbling hard. This is because the ball returns to you hand faster, so the opposing team has less of a chance to get it. If you are being guarded closely, halt your dribble and pass to an open teammate.
There are many things that can make you feel great. Researching ways to bolster your basketball skills can do this as well. This will allow you to win the games you play, along with making sure your teammates are impressed.