Dribbling Isn’t Enough – Great Tips To Improve Basketball Skills

TIP! It’s easy to focus on offense when learning to play, but your practice time would be better spent on defense. You can win a game, thanks to good defense.

Millions of people love the game of basketball. Having a thorough understanding of the game is the very best way to enjoy it. This article helps a reader understand perfectly.

TIP! To be a great basketball player you need to work on your balance. Everyone has watched a pro player drift out of bounds while still making their shot, but this isn’t something to emulate.

Get good at making free throws. This kind of shot seems easy, but it really is not. You should practice as often as possible with this technique. Start by holding your basketball right in the front of your own face. Visualize the ball sailing into the hoop. Shoot the basketball exactly as you saw in your mind.

TIP! Learn how a bounce pass is thrown. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player at waist level.

Make sure you are looking forward and looking up as you’re dribbling. If you have to ever look at the ball while dribbling, then you haven’t practiced that enough. The ball can go with you when you go anywhere. If you are heading down to the market, dribble as you go. If you are looking at the ball, you cannot see what is happening down the court in front of you.

TIP! Successful free throwing requires as much mental skill as it does physical skill. You can practice for hours on how to make the shot, but if you over think things or get distracted you will miss every time.

Avoid errant passes by using hand signals. Basketball passes can be really frustrating when shot wrong. You can stay away from doing this if you use a hand signal to see if someone is ready for a pass. If the signal is absent, do not pass to that player.

TIP! Observing what the professionals do can be a great way to improve your game. Go to as many pro games as possible, watch them on TV, or watch videos of them playing.

Proper handling of the ball requires that your fingers be spread apart. This way, you won’t lose the ball when holding it. Try to keep your palm off of the ball as well. Remember to maintain contact with the ball through your fingers only.

TIP! Lifting weights too much can actually take away from your jump shot. Muscle flexibility is more important than muscle mass.

If you aren’t shooting the ball well, you need to concentrate on your shoulders. If your shoulders aren’t correct, you may not be able to make the shots. Shoulders should be towards the hoop. The shoulder that’s dominant should be in line with the rim.

TIP! Practice basketball in season and out of season. While basketball is a team sport, sometimes you just can’t find others to play with.

Millions of fans love the excitement and thrills that basketball offers. However, it’s so easy for novices to be lost, wondering what the fuss is all about. This article should give any aspiring basketball player the knowledge to improve their game.