Basketball here is one of the most popular sports in the world, enjoyed by millions in many different countries. No matter how much experience you have with the game, there is always something else you can learn. If you want to improve your skills on the court, keep reading for some great advice.
When you’re passing the ball, make sure that you pass the ball to the location of where the person should be headed. You don’t want your pass to be the reason a person needs to slow down or double back. Your pass should be aimed for a little bit in front of the person that you are passing to.
To better your basketball rebound when on the dribble drive, try running to the front of the rim. When you’re in dribble drive penetration, try following your teammate to the rim. You can retrieve the ball if they miss. It’s a great time for rebounding since the defense tends to collapse on the drive, which they can forget to block out. It also lets you get more offensive rebounds and points.
Don’t prepare more for a game than you do for a practice. If you don’t tape up for practice, don’t do it for games. You will naturally take games more seriously than practice. However, you don’t need to start panicking over a game by overpreparing. Have a consistent and calm routine.
To play solid defense, if you are guarding the person with the ball, keep your eyes on the basketball. If you look at his eyes instead, he will fake a pass one way, just by looking in that direction, and then dribble around you the other way. The ball can’t lie about where it’s going.
Use two hands when trying to make shots. Have both thumbs on the ball so that they are almost touching. Put the ball over your head but be sure you are able to see what you are aiming for. When you shoot, aim for the backboard or give it a backspin by rolling your hands down while shooting.
Play full-court basketball whenever you can. If you love playing, then you probably know a half-dozen spots where you can play street ball or playground pick-up games. While these are good, they don’t give you the practice or experience of getting down the whole court. This matters in fast break situations, both offensive and defensive.
To get a good workout at practice, dribble back and forth on the court. Start by running to the free throw line, then go back to the end of the court. Then dribble to the middle and then go back, then to the far free throw line and then go back again, and then the entire length of the court.
Don’t leave your defensive stance. Slide your feet from side to side or push off with your opposing foot so that you are always in position. Always keep your feet from crossing, and you will make it hard for any opponent to get past.
Repetition in shooting is important to success. Once you perfect your shot, being able to repeat it will ensure you can score often. Practice repetition by laying on your back and resting the ball on the fingertips of your shooting hand. From this position, “shoot” the ball and practice getting the proper spin and rotation.
To make your weaker hand stronger, play non-competitive basketball games with only your weak hand. The more you practice with it, especially in a real game, the better your skills will become. This is a great way to become more ambidextrous than you are without risking a loss in a competitive game.
Try to contain the action to the area below your knees. This makes it more difficult for the opposing players to get control of the ball from you. This takes some stooping and bending, but just move quickly down the court as you thwart the opposition.
Your shooting stance is a vital part of making the shot. Whether you are shooting long distance, inside or making a free throw, your stance gives you proper balance and determines how much power is behind your shot. Point your feet at the basket and bend your knees. Bent knees affect the arc of your shot.
Create a team environment that is tough on the court and off of it. Basketball is best played with a team which works well together. When you feel like your team is part of your family, you have mutual trust. This bond will bring your game to new levels.
When you are defending, it is important that you stand correctly. If you are able to move in any direction at any time, your opposition won’t be able to predict what you will do. Bend your knees slightly, keep your legs apart and have one foot ahead of the other a bit.
Learn to become perfectly at ease with the basketball in your hand. Practice dribbling, power crossovers and even dribbling while blindfolded. Knowing how the ball reacts in all situations will make you a better player. Being able to play as if the basketball is an extension of yourself makes you a more natural player.
Just like in golf, a good short game in basketball is vital. It is fun to take half court shots, and practice your three pointers, but the game is won and lost closer in. Practice shots from as close as one foot away from the basket until they are mastered. Use the backboard for these shots.
If you are trying to block a shot, do so when you know there is someone to pass the ball to. You should slap it away from the person taking the shot towards the open teammate. That will allow them to get it out of the area and back to the other side of the court.
Now that you have read this article, you have learned some great techniques for becoming a better basketball player. Maybe you just play for fun, or maybe you play more seriously. Maybe you are even a professional! No matter who you are, you can profit from the tips you have just read.