What You’ve Always Wanted To Know About Basketball

TIP! If you typically handle the ball a lot, it pays to learn the crossover. A crossover means moving the ball between your hands.

Do you want to be as great as Shaquille O’Neil? Don’t just dream about improving your game; instead, take the pointers and learn how you can get out there and practice right now. Read on to learn what you can do to excel at basketball.

TIP! Free throws require as much mental focus as physical skill. Making the right physical motions is easier than having the right mind set.

Don’t just practice your game against the zone defense. Though much of the game is sure to be played within a zone pattern, the opposition may try to go man-to-man in order to confuse you. If your practice hasn’t included this type of scenario, you might lose control rapidly.

TIP! You can improve your skills by paying attention to how the pros play. Go to games, watch them on TV and you can also watch videos.

You can learn how to better pass the ball if you run drills without the dribble. This is very hard to accomplish, but it forces you and your fellow players to work on accurate passing skills. Don’t be frustrated by how hard it is at first; you will get used to it.

TIP! Basketball players of all ages benefit from exercises that strengthen their core. The core muscles include the lower back, hips and abdonimals.

Don’t bulk up if you want to be good as a jump shooter. Muscle is good, but you can have too much. Some pro shooting guards make their arms large enough to decrease their own field goal percentage.

TIP! Ask your fellow teammates if they have an opinion of your skills in the game. You may have a certain skill that you have perfected.

Figuring out the opponent is a great way to do well against a tight defense. You can read scouting reports and watch tapes to evaluate your opponents game. Learn which of the opposing players are left-dominant and which are right-dominant. Once you start to get to know the other team, you can do a lot better when you’re on defense. The more knowledgeable a defender is, the stronger he is.

TIP! Never turn away from the ball so that you can always be prepared for what’s coming. You have to be aware of what is going on with the ball at all times.

After going through this article you should be able to practice a number of things. Practice hard and with consistency. Over time, the work you put in will translate to confidence on the court. Learn from the advice in this article to become the best player you can be.