Basketball basics are simple to learn. Basic techniques can be learned in a couple minutes. This advice helps you further your basketball skills.

TIP! If you hold the ball a lot, you have to learn crossovers. This move entails transferring the basketball from your left hand to your right hand and back again.

Watch the pro’s play if you want to improve your game. You can do this by watching games in person and on television. You’ll be able to learn from the moves they make.

During your workouts, concentrate on improving your footwork as well as your core strength. Your body will be more stable and easier to move when you have strength in your core muscles. Exercise your abdominal muscles as well as those of the hips, buttocks and back. Practicing with a jump rope is a great way to increase your foot speed.

TIP! Avoid errant passes by using hand signals. You can become easily frustrated when a teammate does a poor job of anticipating your next passing move.

Speed is everything in the sport of basketball. To get an advantage over an opposing player, you must have the quickest reactions. Regular drilling will increase your speed. Don’t attempt to play more quickly than your skills allow. Playing beyond your capabilities will lead to bad passes and lots of turnovers.

Stay conscious of your foot motion and placement. Placing even a single toe atop the baseline while holding the ball will result in you being ruled out of bounds. Not dribbling when you take more than a few steps will result in a walking call as well as a forfeit of the ball. Also, moving either foot when trying to set a screen, pick or take a charge results in a foul call.

TIP! If you are posting up, strategic footwork is important to becoming open and making a good shot. You must beat the opposing playing to an open spot.

To help improve your ball handling skills, start incorporating your weak hand into your dribbling. If you can dribble equally well with each hand, it is simpler to get past your opponents. You can actually force yourself to utilize your weak hand by tying your other hand behind you. Eventually, your weak hand will be trained to dribble properly.

You can improve your ability to handle the ball by working out your forearms and hands. Curling your wrists also help you improve your own dribbling. Don’t stay stopped; always move around the court. Things rarely happen unless you are actually moving the basketball.

TIP! Study you opponent well to give yourself an edge. Study video tape on your opponent and read over any scouting reports.

Remain low when playing defense. Staying low gives you a better chance to play the ball and helps you move more quickly. Make sure you always maintain your defensive stance. When you must break from your stance in order to block shots, make sure to return to form right away.

Have two of your guards wait for the point guard to go past midcourt for the best results. At that point, both guards should move in for the trap. While that is happening, your forwards should race out to the opposing wing players. This will cause the point guard to throw a pass that will allow your forwards to steal.

TIP! Speed is everything in basketball. You’ll have an advantage if you’re faster than an opponent.

Be sure to keep your knees bent while you dribble. If you are standing straight, you will have a harder time controlling the ball and your opponent will be able to steal it more easily. You will gain a lot of ball control by bending your knees just a bit.

Avoid dribbling above your knees. In this way, opposing team members will have difficulty stealing the ball. Practice moving quickly while dribbling below knee level.

TIP! When playing a game of basketball, have a friend tape the game. This way, you can take a look at your game.

Your workout routine can help you do well in the game. Sprints helps with individual plays, and long-distance running gives you stamina. You can build muscle to support your shots and ability to hustle by lifting weights and engaging in resistance training. You will develop a confidence and attitude that you make you a better shooter.

Understanding your teammates is a vital part of basketball. Basketball requires a team. This means you can’t plan your strategy without taking your teammates into account. The whole team has to work together. Communicate with your team and you will have more success.

TIP! If the opposing team is breathing down your neck, it’s a good idea to pass the ball between your legs. Refine this skill by bouncing a ball with force between the legs while stepping backwards or forwards.

You need to follow a rhythm when you dribble so you can break the rhythm and throw off an opponent. By dribbling consistently and then breaking it up into a different rhythm that’s fast, you can trick an opponent so you have more time to shoot. It’s not just the speed, it’s the change in sound too that can stymy the person guarding you.

Maybe you recently started playing basketball. Perhaps you grew up playing the sport. Either way, this information improves your playing skills. Use these tips when you are ready to play again.