Get In The Game: A Guide To Playing Basketball

If you want to excel in basketball, you know that you need to be dedicated and practice a lot. When you play for amusement, you still want to win! Reading the following article will help you become a skilled player.

You need to learn the correct way to dribble the ball. Use the fingertips, not the palm, for the best dribbling. Doing so will allow you a greater degree of ball control. Dribble off to the side waist high. Look up, not down.

Learn the best way to make your free throws. It seems easy to do but surely isn’t. Put this technique into practice as often as you can. Hold the ball level with your face. Picture yourself going through the shot in your mind, with the ball sinking through the net. Then, use the trajectory you just visualized and shoot the ball.

Knowing how to perform a crossover is a must when you handle the basketball frequently. This term refers to switching the hand you use. 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.

Put the emphasis on your strengths can help you to be a better basketball player. Your strengths might not make you a star player, but you’ll be contributing a lot to your team. You can also focus on your weaknesses if you know what they are.

Practice your passes and catches frequently. Make sure you get used to catching less than perfect passes smoothly. This will help you catch those bad passes during a game. Therefore, learn how to catch any type of pass so that you can help lead your team to victory.

If you post up, you need to use good footwork to get open and make sure you get a good shot. Being physical under the rim is crucial, but having good positioning on the court is even better. Having found a good spot, you must secure it. These will both require powerful footwork.

Keeping your fingers spread will facilitate better ball handling. This makes sure that it does not escape away from your grip. Don’t let your palm touch the ball either. Remember to maintain contact with the ball through your fingers only.

Boost your defensive abilities by studying the opposing team and its players. Watch tapes and be sure you’re paying attention to scouting reports. Find out who are the right-handed or left-handed players. Once you start to get to know the other team, you can do a lot better when you’re on defense. Smart defenders are good defenders.

Always be aware of the locations of your feet and what they’re doing. Stepping your toe in a baseline with a ball in your grip will mean that you’re out of bounds. You will get called for walking if you take extra steps and are not dribbling. Also, moving a foot when setting up a screen can result in a foul.

It is time for you to take the tips here and put them into action. You will begin to see a little improvement at a time. That plan will help you see results.