Whether you play competitive basketball or pick-up games at the local gym, you can improve your game. Practice drills improve your overall physical abilities while giving you specific skills to concentrate on. If you want to become a better player, you are sure to appreciate these tips.
It is easy to be focused on offense when you are learning how to play basketball, but you really should focus your practice on defense. Defense is essential to winning these games. If your team doesn’t have a good defense, you’re not going to make it far in a game.
Try learning how to hit free throw shots. The execution of a free throw is not as simple as it may appear. Practice often using the following technique. Start out by holding the basketball right in front of you. There may be a number of distractions so you need to focus on your goal. Then throw the ball just as you had visualized.
Practicing Alone
Perform skills, practice your ball handling and shoot free throws when you are practicing alone. These skills all help with muscle memory so you know just what to do when you’re playing in a game. That’s fine. You can accomplish a lot by practicing alone. Work on your free throws or your pivot moves. You can always do something.
Avoid errant passes by the use of hand signals. Basketball passes can be really frustrating when shot wrong. Hand signals can be a great way to find out if a teammate will be able to receive your pass. If the person doesn’t make a signal the person shouldn’t get passed to.
Quick and solid footwork is what it takes to make the shot when your posting up. You always want to beat your opponent to the open spot. After grabbing the position, you need to hold the area. These skills require solid footwork.
Seek advice from your teammates about how you play the game. What areas are your strong points? Maybe you are quick like lightening or maybe you are a strong defender. Improve the skills where you tend to be a bit weaker while maintaining your stronger skills.
Work on passing in a direction you are not looking. Your opponents can really get confused by this, as well. By looking in the opposite direction, your teammate has a few extra seconds to make the shot. If this is pulled off, then it usually has good results.
If you have the right tips in mind as you practice basketball, you will find the game becomes easier and more enjoyable. Read the article carefully and head out onto the court to get all of the practice you need before starting your next game. Take advantage of every piece of advice you can and practice as much as possible.