If you’ve ever dreamed of being a great basketball player, you should be aware that it will take lots of practice and dedication. Even if your goal is to just have fun, you’ll still want to be a good player. This article will help you better your game.
Many people forget that defense is as important as offense during practice. Many times, defense actually wins the game. Offense is often what gets the glory, but most winning basketball teams play great defense.
Look forward when dribbling. You haven’t practiced enough if you keep looking at the basketball while you’re dribbling. You can practice dribbling almost anywhere. Keep dribbling the ball even while you’re doing your errands. Maintaining unbroken visual contact with the ball makes it difficult to be aware of your surroundings.
Crossovers are very important if you’re a ball handler. Crossovers involve moving the ball from hand to hand. This must be done quickly to be successful. Once you master the art of the crossover dribble, you will be able to change directions quicker.
To be a great basketball player you need to work on your balance. Falling when you make a shot is not the right way to shoot. They have just improvised, is all. You should have proper balance when making your shots, and over time this will lead to consistently making baskets.
Learn the way to throw proper bounce passes. A good bounce pass should hit the player on the receiving end at waist level. If it helps to measure it out, consider aiming for a mark on the floor about three-fourths of the way between you and your teammate. There can be other factors in play to keep in mind, as well.
A great way to bolster your basketball ability is to observe those who are considered to be the best in the sport. Get tickets to some pro games, if possible, or catch some games on television. When you find a player who has the skills that you want, then watch them and emulate.
If you get injured while playing basketball, do not try to play through the pain. It is possible to receive an injury when playing basketball because it is a sport that is physically challenging. You can quickly turn a strain into a debilitating medical issue if you do not take a break from the action. If the injury feels too bad then seek medical attention right away.
Talk to your teammates and find out what they like about your game. Do they feel you are really good at something? They may say you’re fast or that you share well. Find out what others perceive as your natural gifts and build upon those more completely.
Make sure you know what is going on with your feet. When you are in possession of the ball, touching the baseline will get you out of bounds. If you take too many steps and don’t dribble, then you are walking. You can’t move a foot when you take a charge, pick or screen either, or it’s a foul.
In order to become a better free throw shooter you need to have a good practice routine. Inconsistent shooting will lead to inconsistent results. The easiest way to make sure you’re doing great at free throws is to do repetitions of the same routines time and again. If the routine is off in any way, then you’ll miss the shot.
Improve both forearms and hands to improve ball control. Wrist curls can be effective at helping you to control the ball as if you’ll be dribbling in your sleep. One thing that is important to remember is that it is difficult to be static and be a scorer. You must move the ball to have things happen.
Dribble the ball hard to keep it from being stolen. This will make the ball come back to you faster, and the opponent will have a hard time to get it from you. If an opposing player is guarding you to the point where you can’t dribble well, it’s time to pass to an open teammate.
Make it your goal to dribble the ball across the entire court in under 5 dribbles. This seems an impossible feat when you start. By working on this drill regularly you develop speed and great, lengthy strides. Being able to do this lets you lead your team on a fast break and gets you to the rim that much quicker.
Take charges whenever possible. When you take a charge, you have the opportunity to get a defensive stop, your team gets the ball and an additional foul is set up against the other team. This is play that’s powerful.
Until the moment you are prepared to shoot or pass, you must dribble constantly. Once you stop dribbling, you are extremely limited in your options. Basically the only move you have at this point is to pivot while finding an opening to move the ball. This leaves an opening for your opponents to double team and try get the ball away from you.
Start using the techniques and tips the next time you play a game of basketball. You’ll get better a little bit at a time if you keep the tips here in mind and practice them as well. Use the three steps as detailed and you will be on the road to success.
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