playing basketball

Dribble, Pass, Shoot, Score! Tips For Becoming A Better Basketball Player

The first time playing basketball can be a surprising treat! There were so many different things to learn about the game. Even if you have been playing for years, there are plenty of skills you can learn. The tips you’ll find below will show you there is still a lot to learn.

TIP! Practice your bounce pass. If done properly, the pass will land near waist level with the opposite player.

You need to learn the correct way to dribble the ball. Avoid using your palm while dribbling. Instead, use your fingertips. Using your fingertips provides you with more control. When dribbling the basketball you should bounce it to your side instead of right in front. Keep your eyes up, not on the ground.

It is vital that you learn to crossover the basketball while dribbling. When you do a crossover, you move the basketball very fast from one hand over to the other hand. You must do it fast for best success. If you do it right, a crossover dribble will assist you in changing directions and getting down the court in an efficient manner.

Bad Passes

Make sure that your regular practice includes catching of passes. When you practice, be sure to do drills that improve catching wild throws and making great passes. This will help you catch those bad passes during a game. Help your team by learning to catch those bad passes, as well as those perfect passes.

TIP! Have a friend or family member videotape your games, then view the video to see the result. Are you able to see missed opportunities or ways in which you could have improved? Don’t be too critical, but do be honest.

If you’re injured when playing basketball, don’t push through the pain. This is an aggressive sport, and injuries happen often. If you keep playing when you are injured, you could end up with an injury which keeps you from ever playing again. If it is a serious injury, see a doctor.

Ask your fellow teammates if they have an opinion of your skills in the game. What areas are your strong points? Perhaps they see you as someone who is fast on the court, or that you’re a really good teammate. Honest feedback can really help you to narrow in on areas where you might need a little extra help practicing.

TIP! To help perfect your free throw abilities you should perform a consistent routine. This could mean two dribbles before taking your free throw, bending your knees, or some other thing you do to get into a rhythm before shooting.

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. This can help you to avoid surprises by fast passes, help you keep an eye on the rest of the court, and allow you to spot potential turnovers. Always be on the lookout for open areas where you can seize easy scoring opportunities.

Make sure your fingers are apart from one another when dribbling. This will help you keep a better grip on the ball. In addition, keep your palm off of the ball. You should try your best to only hold onto the ball with your fingertips when passing and shooting.

TIP! If you wish to succeed in a defensive role, you must be able to break your opponents’ concentration. You should work to make your opponent feel uncomfortable.

Always know where your feet are and what they are doing. If you fall on a baseline, you will be out of bounds. Not dribbling when you take more than a few steps will result in a walking call as well as a forfeit of the ball. In addition, moving one foot while working on setting a screen or pick will produce a foul.

These tips will make it easy for you to become a stellar basketball player. Make sure you practice hard to reach your goals. Fitting these techniques into your game strategy is going to significantly improve your game.

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Playing Basketball Is Fun And A Great Workout

Lots of people love to play basketball a lot because it’s exciting and fast-paced. But, to really play it well, there are several things to keep in mind. These tips will help you become a better player.

Practice your defense more than your offense. Basketball games are won with a good defense. Without good defense, a basketball team will lose the match.

One of the most important skills when playing basketball is balance. Even though a professional can hit all sorts of crazy off-balance shots, it is not the ideal method of shooting that you want to learn. They have just improvised, is all. Point your feet towards the basket, guide the ball with your weaker hand and push the ball away with your strong hand whenever you shoot the basketball.

TIP! Start out with proper balance before attempting to take a shot. You’ve seen the pros fall out of bounds when trying to shoot 30 feet from the basket; this is a bad move.

Try using hand signals to ensure that your passes are received. It’s frustrating to pass to your teammate at the very moment they’re heading toward the basket. You can stay away from doing this if you use a hand signal to see if someone is ready for a pass. If the person doesn’t make a signal the person shouldn’t get passed to.

Always be aware of your feet. Stepping ever so slightly out of bounds while you have the ball can cause an overturn. Taking a lot of steps when you’re not dribbling means you’re traveling and that’s a turnover call. You may get a foul call if you move your foot while you are attempting to take a charge, pick a charge or set a screen.

TIP! A good way to improve team passing to use a no dribbling drill, that is to play the game without dribbling at all. It’s hard to play without dribbling, however, it can help you and your team create more accurate passes.

To make your layups count the most, take off from the foot opposite your shooting hand. If you normally shoot using your right hand, jump with your left. This will keep you balanced and going towards the basket.

Free Throw

TIP! Practice basketball in season and out of season. Basketball is a multiple player sport, but other people won’t always be around.

Your routines must be consistent for free throws. Your shot could be off if you are inconsistent. Free throw shooting is best improved by lengthy sessions of repetitive practice. If your free throw routine is out of whack, you will miss.

If you want to better your dribble, start practicing 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. Force yourself to not use your stronger hand. Your weak hand won’t be that for long!

TIP! Your child should work on their core muscles if they want to become a basketball player in high school. Show them how to exercise their hips, lower back and abs.

Upset and disrupt your opponent’s play. All successful basketball players do this. Get them outside their comfort zone. Be assertive and focused within the rules, aggressively keeping your player off balance. Do not allow them to pick and choose their plays. By doing so, the opponent will take advantage of you. Try to interrupt their game plan by taking charge and controlling the tempo.

It is important that you can clearly see everything that is occurring during a game. 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. When you can see the big picture, you can react to anything.

TIP! To improve your dribbling skills, practice dribbling with your weaker hand. Being able to effortlessly dribble with both hands gives you the ability to run both sides on an opponent and keep them off guard.

Many people love to play basketball and for good reason. This article has also proven that you need knowledge on this sport if you want to play like a pro. Become a better player by using the advice above.

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Basketball Tips You Could Benefit From Knowing

It doesn’t matter if you plan to play basketball or just watch a game, you should have a basic understanding of how the game is played. Lacking in the fundamentals? Don’t worry. Basketball is a very simple game that is very enjoyable. Read on for advice you can use for either viewing or playing basketball.

TIP! Free throws are an excellent skill to practice in your spare time. It looks simple to do, but it isn’t that easy.

If you get possession of the ball a lot, you must learn the crossover technique. Moving the ball from hand to hand is a crossover. The action needs to be performed quickly in order to be successful. Learn how to perform a crossover dribble will help you get down court quickly.

Proper Balance

TIP! Better your basketball skills by watching the pros play. Watch as many games on TV as you can.

Shooting has much to do with proper balance. We have all seen the professional basketball player falling out of bounds and making a basket from 30 feet away, but this is not proper technique. They are going with the flow when this occurs. You should have proper balance when making your shots, and over time this will lead to consistently making baskets.

It is important that you practice layups. This will make up about eighty percent of shots during any basketball game. When you are practicing, run full speed at the goal and make the shot. Practicing this technique helps you learn to make layups during a game.

TIP! Practice your pass catching often. You need to be able to retrieve perfect passes and not so perfect passes.

You should learn the best way to throw a great bounce pass. Proper bounce passes ought to hit the recipient at the level of their waist. One good rule of thumb is to bounce the ball around three quarters of the way to the other player. There are other variables to consider though.

Try playing basketball games alone before and during the season. Sometimes during off season, or when practicing, you can’t play as a team or find even a single opponent. That is okay. There is still much you can accomplish playing alone. Work on free throws or three pointers. You don’t need other players to work on your skills.

TIP! You should practice against a variety of defense types, not just zone. A lot of the game is sure to be played in the zone, but your opponent could change to man-to-man coverage.

You never want to have your back to the ball if you can help it. You must always be prepared to receive a pass and you need to know where players are on the court. Keep an eye open for easy shots.

That was easy, right? You should be able to enjoy basketball more now that you understand it better. Use what you’ve just learned to enhance your game or to be a better fan.

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When You’re In A Hurry, This Article About Basketball Is Perfect

When you’re working on playing basketball, you’re not going to know everything all at once. The game changes constantly, players get better and you have to keep your skills sharp. Do you want to be a good player? Read on to learn how you can gain a basketball edge.

TIP! Dribble properly. You’ll want to use your fingertips to dribble instead of using your palm.

Many people forget that defense is as important as offense during practice. Basketball games are won because of good defense. If your team doesn’t have a good defense, you’re not going to make it far in a game.

Crossover Dribble

TIP! Always keep your head up when dribbling instead of focusing on the ball. You need more practice if you feel that you cannot dribble without focusing on the ball.

Learn to crossover if you get the ball often. Crossover dribble is switching hands while you’re dribbling. Speed determines the success of the crossover move. When you do it right, the crossover dribble helps you alter directions and go down the court faster.

If you want to excel, you have to play to your strengths. You may not be the star player, but by contributing the best way you can you will win more games. Know your strengths and keep practicing to get even better.

TIP! A bounce pass is an important technique to learn. If done correctly, a well-executed bounce pass will reach the player in a way that allows them to move immediately with the ball.

It is important that you practice layups. Layups sometimes wind up being 4 out of every 5 shots in basketball. Run full tilt to the basket, then smoothly jump and shoot. This running and jumping technique will help you learn how to jump and shoot better during the game.

Would you like to fool the opposing team? Give the back pass a try! Hold the ball in your strong hand to start the pass. Now hold the ball behind you. The last step is to flick your wrist in the direction you want the ball to land. This should make it easy to trick the other team.

TIP! Don’t pump too much iron if you plan on being a jump shooter. It’s possible to have excessive muscles when you play the perimeter.

Play basketball games with yourself during the season and before it. There are times you may not find anyone to play with you. No problem. It is possible to get a lot done even when playing alone. You can practice many different techniques, such as your free throw routine. Additionally, you can practice vertical jumping and dribbling.

If you become injured when playing basketball, stop immediately. The sport of basketball is very physical, which makes one susceptible to injury. If you keep on playing after sustaining an injury, you may make the injury even more serious. Anytime you have a serious injury, you should seek medical attention.

TIP! Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a shot when you are posting up. You need to have physical presence beneath the net, but you also have to choose the right spot to be in.

In order to become better at dribbling the ball you should learn how to practice using your weak hand. If you can dribble equally well with each hand, it is simpler to get past your opponents. Practice with your weak hand by tying your dominant hand behind your back. In no time, the weak hand will also be useful for dribbling.

Being a good defensive player means disrupting the game of your opponent. Focus on getting them out of the comfort zone. Use aggression with your moves. Do not let them choose the plays to make. If you do so, then your rivals have the control. Make your moves first and end their patterns.

TIP! Ask your teammates what they like about how you play. Are you really good at any one thing? Perhaps you are great backup or fast on your feet.

You should now feel a new level of confidence about playing basketball. They should help improve your basketball skills. Don’t quit learning about basketball, and always keep practicing. Get better at the game and keep all of the things you’ve read here in mind so you can begin working towards being better.

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Every Single Secret We Provide About Basketball Is One You Need To Know

It was like a new world the first time you played basketball. You explored passing, shooting, and dribbling. After playing for awhile, you may feel you have learned all you need to know. These tips prove that you haven’t learned it all.

TIP! It’s natural to be drawn towards offense as a novice, but the pros know defense is where the game is won or lost. In the end, it’s defense that consistently wins you games.

Free throw practice is vitally important. This kind of shot seems easy, but it really is not. Practice regularly and employe the technique that follows. Begin by bringing the ball up to eye level. Maintain focus on the basket and try to visualize your basketball falling through the hoop. Once you’ve visualized this, take your shot as you just saw it in your head.

Focus on your strong point to help you become a better ball player. Your team will benefit more if you stop trying to be the star of the game and work your best. Knowing what you excel at and then practicing that can help you become perfect at it!

TIP! Make sure you are dribbling the right way. When you dribble, only use your fingertips instead of your palms.

Practice catching passes often. When you practice, drill yourself to pay attention to errant throws and passes that are picture perfect. Understand that during a game, you will receive very scattered passes. Some will be good; some won’t. You can do the rest of your team a favor by practicing how you can best complete imperfect passes.

Playing basketball does not require excessive muscle development. Strong muscles are certainly useful for basketball, but you can overdo it if you plan to play on the perimeter. Some shooting guards that play professionally have such big arms that their field goal rate went down.

TIP! Making a free throw takes mental concentration as well as physical prowess. You may know how to make a free throw but if your focus is off, then you will miss.

Do you want to fool the other team? Try a pass back! Use the dominant hand whenever trying a behind the back pass. With that same hand, bring the ball around your back. Lastly, flick the wrist in the direction you want the ball to go. It’s a great way to trick your opposing team.

Try playing basketball games alone before and during the season. Sometimes during off season, or when practicing, you can’t play as a team or find even a single opponent. For concentration purposes, it can be good to practice on your own. Solo games can help you immensely. Practice free throws and layups. You can always practice something.

TIP! Do not restrict your practices to zone defenses alone. While a good chunk of the game will most likely be played in zone, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you.

Good footwork is important when you’re posting up in the paint. While physical positioning is important, it is even more essential to move quicker than an opponent. If you are just stepping into position, you now have to secure the spot. These skills require solid footwork.

With everything you learned here, you can do anything. Build towards your goals with practice. Put putting these tips to use, along with your plan, you will notice the difference in your game.

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Best Tips On Becoming A Great Basketball Player

People around the globe love basketball. Basketball is easy for people of all ages to enjoy. When playing, be sure you get along and work with your fellow teammates and stay positive no matter if you lose or win. The article below is great for people that want to learn a lot about basketball.

TIP! Learn proper dribbling. Finger tips, not palms, are the key to successful dribbling.

Your balance is an important aspect to consider when you are shooting. While some NBA players are able to launch a ball to the net mid-fall, this is not appropriate for most people. This kind of improvisation is the result of years of practice and loads of ability. Good balance while shooting will lead to landing more baskets.

Free Throws

TIP! Learn how to maneuver a crossover if you have the ball fairly often. A crossover means moving the ball between your hands.

There is a lot of pressure when shooting free throws. Making the right physical motions is easier than having the right mind set. Stay focused and vigilant to improve your ability to make free throws.

If you want to take jump shots, don’t spend time pumping iron. 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.

TIP! Any good basketball player needs to know how to make a layup. This is the most popular shot in basketball.

Practice playing by yourself. Sometimes you cannot find a team of people to play basketball with. For concentration purposes, it can be good to practice on your own. You can still practice when playing alone. You can practice many different techniques, such as your free throw routine. Additionally, you can practice vertical jumping and dribbling.

If you have a high school level basketball player for a kid, be sure their core muscles are properly trained. Focus on hips, lower back and abs. A core that is not strong enough limits the linkage between arms and legs. Having a strong base allows the player a solid position from which to jump and accelerate during the game to help speed up their movements.

Playing Basketball

If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. It’s easy to be hurt when playing basketball. Trying to play through the pain could just cause more damage. See a doctor if the injury is serious enough.

TIP! Avoid turning away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for what occurs on the court. You develop a good feel for the game around you, making it much easier to quickly react to your opponent.

Ask your teammates what they like about how you play. Do you do something really good? It could be your speed, or it could be your back-up abilities. You can learn a lot about your skills by knowing how others see you on the court.

Play a good defense by knowing your opponent. Follow the scouting reports and watch tapes of their games. Keep track of which players are right hand dominant and which are left hand dominant. Defense is more effective when you know what your opponent is likely to do. Knowledge can make you a strong defender.

TIP! Your defensive game will be more successful if you know your opponents. Watch tapes of their games and see how others move on the court.

Accept a charge when you can. 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.

Don’t break out of defensive stance always remain in the proper defensive position. To do this, avoid lurching or stepping across the floor; instead use smaller, shuffling steps to move with your opponent. Don’t let your feet get crossed and it will be hard to get around you.

TIP! Focus on your footwork and core strength when working out. Your body will naturally balance well if you have strong core muscles.

To what is basketball’s great popularity attributable? Most likely because it’s a simple game to play and learn. The advice above is vital for anyone who is a fan of the game. Use these tips to become a great player.

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Playing Basketball: How To Improve Your Game

Basketball is a popular game that is easy to start playing. Each player who plays it has certain skills that they perform in order to help their team win. Learn to improve your skills by reading the following tips.

TIP! Watch your form while you dribble the ball. You want to dribble with the tips of your fingers, not your whole hand.

Dribbling the ball the right way needs to be done. You need to use the tips of your fingers rather than your hand’s palm when you are dribbling. You’ll have a lot more control over the ball this way. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. Do not look at the ground; look up at all times.

Watch Professionals

TIP! Perfect your bounce pass. If done properly, the pass will land near waist level with the opposite player.

Watch professionals play to learn from their techniques. Watch professionals play or go check out talented local teams to see who has the moves that you want to learn. You will quickly notice all the different skills that they have which makes them a great player, then take what you learned and use it to help improve your own game.

There are passes that can confuse the other team momentarily. Consider the back pass. To do a back pass, begin by grasping the basketball using your dominant hand. Keep control of the ball while it is behind your back. Next, snap your wrist in the direction you want the ball to be moved to. This will trick your opponents.

TIP! If you want to be a master of the jump shot, do not make weight lifting a priority. Muscle flexibility is more important than muscle mass.

You may get injured while practicing or playing. Don’t try to play if you are hurt. This is an aggressive sport, and injuries happen often. Trying to be tough so you can keep going, even when you’re just a little uncomfortable, can make an injury worse. Be sure to seek medical care if you have a serious injury.

A smart tip to follow while playing basketball is to always keep your eye on the ball and not away from the play. That will keep you aware, so you don’t get surprised by turnovers or quick passes. Maintain awareness of open areas on the ball court that may allow you to quickly score a basket.

TIP! Build hand signals so passes are more successful. It’s frustrating to pass to your teammate at the very moment they’re heading toward the basket.

Being able to anticipate your opponent is a key skill. Watch tapes and stay up on scouting reports. See if you can determine each players strong and weak sides. Knowing your opponent well helps you be much more effective. A defender that has knowledge will be a strong one.

It’s important to know where you have your feet and also what they’re doing. If you slide onto the baseline, you will lose the ball for being out of bounds. Also, you can cause a turnover if you walk without dribbling the ball. Do not move your feet when attempting to set up a screen, a foul can be called.

TIP! Have your team mates critique your playing skills. Can you get better at something? Perhaps you have an excellent understanding of defensive strategies or you are the fastest player on your team.

If an opponent is staying with you, try passing the ball between your legs. Bounce the ball very hard through your legs while stepping to the front or the back. Perfecting this technique will help thwart the opposing team while you’re trying to advance the ball.

Be sure your vision is unobstructed. You will need it for more than checking the scoreboard or passing and shooting. You want to make sure that you see what is going on to the sides of you. You need to know the location of other players on the court in order to make good passes and avoid turnovers.

TIP! Your fingers should always be spread out when handling the ball. This will help you to be sure that it won’t escape your grasp when trying to hold it.

When you dribble while playing basketball, focus on bending your knees. The farther the ball has to bounce, the less control you will have of it. Just a slight bend in your knees can have a huge impact on ball control.

Anyone who plays basketball wants to get better. The tips included above should have given you ideas on how to become better at your chosen sport. Keep practicing and you’ll get better.

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Tips To Improve Your Knowledge About Basketball

Men and women, young and old alike, enjoy basketball as a sport. Almost anyone can get in the game if they want to. Get a group of friends together and show off your moves. Maybe you are wondering, what moves? Read the tips in this article to find out how to improve your moves on the court.

TIP! Dribble the ball correctly. Use the fingertips, not the palm, for the best dribbling.

Keep practicing your layups. Up to eighty percent of the baskets attempted in a game are layups. Practice running while dribbling, jumping and shooting as smoothly as you can. Practicing the running and jumping method will help you shoot better this way in a game.

Practice your bounce pass. It needs to get to the player at their waist. A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the receiving player is. Of course, there are factors that should be taken into consideration when passing using the bouncing technique.

Free Throw

Learn how to block out movement, noise and other distractions when taking a free throw. You can train your body to complete the motions of making a free throw, but if you are mentally prepared to fail, you will. Relax as you focus on making the shot, and soon you’ll be making more free throws.

TIP! The key to ball control is to spread your fingers out. This way, you won’t lose the ball when holding it.

Don’t dribble during your drills. It is hard to play a game when you don’t dribble, but it will help you to be sure that everyone is passing accurately. This is very challenging at first, but eventually it will really improve your entire team’s passing game.

To make sure there are no errant passes, use hand signals. It’s frustrating to pass to your teammate at the very moment they’re heading toward the basket. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. Without a signal, there shouldn’t be a pass.

TIP! You can play a great defensive game if you know the opposition well. Follow the scouting reports and watch tapes of their games.

A smart tip to follow while playing basketball is to always keep your eye on the ball and not away from the play. You develop a good feel for the game around you, making it much easier to quickly react to your opponent. Keep an eye open for easy shots.

When working out, focus on building your core strength and perfecting your footwork. With a stronger core, you’ll be able to balance better. Give your hips, buttocks, back and stomach a workout. Just like with boxing, you can do a little speed and footwork training with a jump rope.

TIP! 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.

Practice your footwork and control the position of your feet at all times. Just touching the baseline is going to get you called 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.

Now that you know how to play, you can be confident when you play. Knowing skills and tricks that others are unaware of will give you an edge. Drill as much as you can but remember that playing basketball should be fun. Either way, it’s exciting to win.

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