Many people love the enjoyable sport of basketball. That said, it isn’t easy to master. Genetics, athleticism and practice may make you a star, but everyone can enjoy a game of b-ball. Continue reading to learn how to play the game to the best of your ability.
If you get possession of the ball a lot, you must learn the crossover technique. Crossover dribble is switching hands while you’re dribbling. It should be done quickly. When done correctly, the crossover dribble help you to change direction in order to move down the court efficiently.
You need good balance when you shoot. Sometimes you’ll see professional players fall out of bounds while making a shot from afar, but this doesn’t work at all times. They are improvising. You need the right balance to shoot; it is the only way to eventually make consistent baskets.
Free Throw
Your mind plays as big a part in making a free throw as your actual body does. You must be mentally strong to be a consistent free throw shooter. Relax yourself and concentrate on your shot.
When playing basketball, it is important to always keep your eye on the ball. You develop a good feel for the game around you, making it much easier to quickly react to your opponent. Also, keep your eyes on areas that open up on the court for an easy basket.
Work on core strength when you work out. When you have strong core muscles, your body will be better balanced and will move faster. Your hip, buttocks, back and abdomen muscles need to be worked on. Similar to boxers, jump rope to help increase speed and better your footwork.
Passing between the legs is great when you are being closely guarded. Practice bouncing the basketball forcefully between your legs while stepping forwards and backwards. When you’ve mastered this step, you will be at a great advantage.
You need to work on your forearms and your hands to handle the ball more efficiently. Consider wrist curls and and exercise machine that focuses on strengthening each finger individually. Never assume you can just stand somewhere, catch and then shoot. You have to start moving the basketball around to get things to happen.
Dribble hard to avoid ball stealing. A good hard dribble brings the ball back to you much faster, leaving less time for the opponent to steal it from you. If another player is getting too close to you, it is best to pass the ball if a teammate is open.
Practice dribbling while you switch your body’s momentum from one side to the other. During game time, you’ll find yourself dribbling from all sorts of positions. There may be times when you are covered by multiple opponents; however, there may be times when you have the whole court in front of you. You must dribble while you make your body lean in various directions. It can help you get out of a jam.
You should keep the ball below the knees if you’re able to. This is going to make things harder for your opponents if they want to steal the ball. You need to bend your knees to have this happen, but you will be able to move along the court fast because you’ll be throwing off your defenders.
Be sure that off-court exercises are proper for playing on-court. Running sprints can make you faster on individual plays, while long-distance running helps you make it through a game with good stamina. If you need to perform better shots, work on your resistance by doing some weight lifting. You will develop a confidence and attitude that you make you a better shooter.
Be sure to practice shooting from a variety of spots on the court. Work on your grip and balance first. Shooting when you are not in balance is less accurate, but it is possible. The basketball’s valve can improve your grip. Spread your dominant hand over the ball, positioning the valve in the middle of your hand; this is the center of the ball.
Know where missed shots are most likely to end up. Figure out where it will land to grab the rebound.
Create a team environment that is tough on the court and off of it. Basketball is one of those games that goes to another level when a team gels completely. If you get to know and trust your teammates, you’ll see that your game will reach untold levels of excellence!
Follow the path of the ball once it has left the hands of your teammate or the opposing player. A big part of a basketball game are rebounds. It doesn’t matter if you defend an opponent greatly when they shoot and miss if you can’t get the ball once again.
Are you prepared to give this your all? You might want to spend some time practicing first! Get excited, get energized, get motivated, and get out there on the court! You will soon see changes for the better in your game.