When you’re working on playing basketball, you’re not going to know everything all at once. Times change, and so does the game of basketball. You must always be ready to learn and stay updated. Give yourself a leg up on the competition. Continue reading so that you can learn new things that may give you an edge.
Look forward when dribbling. If you’ve got your eye on the ball while you’re dribbling, you haven’t mastered it yet. Take you ball with you everywhere. Dribble as you walk to the market. Get used to looking up as you go so that you can focus your attention on the court and not on your hands and the ball.
Knowing how to perform a crossover is a must when you handle the basketball frequently. Crossovers involve sending the basketball from one of your hands over to the other one. You must do it fast for best success. Once you’ve learned how to use it, the crossover dribble makes it easy to navigate the court in a more effective way.
Crossovers are key for ball handlers. This is when you switch hands while dribbling. It has to be done fast to be effective. A good crossover dribble can give you the opportunity to switch directions and progress on the court much faster.
To get better in your basketball game, focus on your strengths. Your skills might not make you an all-start every time out, but playing up your strengths makes you a great contributor. Clear self knowledge and dedicated practice will make you the best at what you do.
To get better in your basketball game, focus on your strengths. Your best talent may not make you the star of every game, but learning to play your best angle will help you contribute more to the team. Learn what your strengths are, then practice to perfection!
Make sure to practice your layups whenever possible. Layups sometimes wind up being 4 out of every 5 shots in basketball. When you are practicing, run full speed at the goal and make the shot. This method will teach you to improve your jumps and shots throughout the game.
Remember to practice a lot of different possibilities so that you will not limit your game. Always try to anticipate when your opponent is going to switch up their game to catch you off guard. This can cause your team to lose momentum to the other side if this isn’t something you’ve practiced.
Bounce passes are important in the game of basketball. The bounce pass needs to reach the player at waist level. One good rule is for you to bounce the basketball most of the way toward the other player. There are, however, other factors that influence the pass.
Would you like to pull one over on the other team? Try a back pass. To do this pass, hold on to the ball with your dominant hand. Then you will want to pull the ball into position behind your back. Next, snap your wrist in the direction you want the ball to be moved to. This helps trick your opponents.
Play basketball games with yourself during the season and before it. You may not always be able to find someone to play with you. This is perfectly acceptable. There is much that can be accomplished when playing on your own. Practice pivoting or you can practice doing free throws. You can always do something.
You can play basketball solo before and during the season. While it’s a team sport, you may not be able to find others that will play. That should not matter. You are able to do a lot with solo games. Work on free throws and pivot moves. You can always do something.
Try using hand signals to prevent passes in error. One of the most challenging aspects is trying to send the ball to your teammate as they are going for the basket. This can be prevented through the use of hand signals. If you don’t receive a signal then realize your teammate is not able to get the pass.
Building core muscle is key to playing great basketball. The concept encompasses the abdominal muscles, the hips and the lower back. The core connects the lower and upper extremities, and if a person has a weak core, they will fail to excel in athletic pursuits. A strong core helps the legs move better, like jumping higher and running faster.
If you want to correctly handle the ball, you need to know where to place your fingers. That makes sure that you don’t lose the ball when you hold it. Your palm should not be touching the ball. Your fingers should be all that is holding the ball when you pass it or shoot it.
Have your team mates critique your playing skills. They will probably notice the things you do best. You might be quick, or you might always be around to support them. Honest feedback can really help you to narrow in on areas where you might need a little extra help practicing.
Jumping Rope
Work on passing through your legs to add another skill to your arsenal. Take a step back or forward and bounce the ball hard through your legs. Perfecting this technique will help thwart the opposing team while you’re trying to advance the ball.
As you exercise to improve your game, it is important to work on your footwork and strength. Your body will be able to move quicker and be more balanced when you have srong core muscles. Strengthen you back muscles along with abs, hips and buttocks. Jumping rope is a favorite amongst professionals when practicing. By jumping rope, you improve speed and footwork.
When you’re practicing passing, try to look the other way. This will make your actions very confusing to the other team. The look will cause your guard to turn away. It can be a really powerful play.
For more consistency in making those free throws, stick with the same sequence of motions before you take each shot. Perhaps you will dribble twice, follow up by bending your knees, pulling your earlobe or performing some other ritualistic action for good luck. As long as you make it quick, if you have a consistent routine, your body will remember how to make those free throws after you go through your ritual.
Practice dribbling with both hands, dribble on both sides of your body and learn to dribble in front of you while taking large strides. When you are ambidextrous, you’ll be a better player. Tie your strong hand to the rear of your back to ensure you only use your weaker hand. After a while, your weak hand will be able to dribble better.
To be a good dribbler, and a more versatile player, you have to develop not only your dominant hand but your weaker side as well. Getting by an opponent should be a lot easier if you can dribble using both hands. Immobilize your dominant hand by tying it behind your back, then practice using your other hand for everything. You will quickly strengthen your non-dominant hand for dribbling.
Good footwork will help you get rebounds off your teammates’ foul shots. The defender that’s below you will move towards you, so try to slip by them to obtain the ball. Then you gain the ball without the foul.
Improve both forearms and hands to improve ball control. Wrist curls are especially effective at making you better able to handle a basketball like you could dribble sleepwalking. Do not make the mistake of thinking you can stay stationary, catch all the ball, and shoot them from that same location. Good dribbling skills will help you always stay in movement.
Keep low as you defend. Doing so improves your reaction time with regards to your opponents’ actions. Remain in a good defensive stance always. When rebounding or blocking, you break the stance, but then you must get back in the stance quickly.
Be sure that you’re able to see clearly. This isn’t just for reading the score, but for catching passes and making shots. Your peripheral vision needs to be as strong as possible. Being aware of the entire court will help you to better anticipate who will move where.
For your weaker hand, to build skills, use it off-court for as much as you can, from brushing teeth to opening jars. Try becoming ambidextrous outside of the court, and you will soon find that you do not have a weaker hand when playing basketball. This will make you a force to be reckoned with on the court.
Never pass up a charging opportunity. By taking charge you can create a defensive stop so you can get the ball, and allows you to create setups so that the opponent will foul you. This play can give your team a psychological boost, as well as demoralizing the other team.
Only stop dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass the ball. If you stop, you limit your options. If you don’t shoot or pass, you are going to be pivoting with your back foot. This causes you to be wide open to some double teaming by the other team and increase your chances of having the ball stolen.
If you play basketball, you should incorporate strength training into your workout routine. When you play basketball you need a lot of stamina and strength to keep going through the entire game. Even young kids can improve if they exercise the right way and strengthen their core. Adding weights in stronger increments is effective as the child becomes a teenager. Playing as an adult, it is important that you focus on your stamina for optimal performance.
Force your opponent to use his weaker hand. If that player is right-handed, move in the player’s direction on your left foot. This will force the player to switch hands. Your head should be parallel to their chest and your body should be low since this is the best way to prepare to steal the ball.
As the point guard approaches within 10 feet of the middle of the court, your guards should take action and create a 2-3 trap. The guards must then rush the opposing team’s point guard and create a trap. At the same time, have your forwards on the blocks sprint out to the players on the wings. Your point guard must then launch a pass in a way that is easy for your forwards to steal.
When you shoot, try to stay calm. Focus on the basketball hoop. Focus on the area of the basket where you want your shot to go. If you want to make a layup, look where you need to bounce the ball.
We hope that you will approach your next basketball game with confidence thanks to the tips presented here. We have chosen them specifically to help you become a better player. Keep learning and practicing. Use the information from above to take your skills to a new level.
Know what aspects of your game are weak. And that starts with being honest about your skills. If you’re always missing foul shot, practice these over everything else. If you don’t play well inside the paint, focus on short shots, and teach yourself to become a more physical player. Keep working to build your strengths, as well as your weaknesses, and you will become a better all-around player.
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