Many people derive a great deal of pleasure from the game of basketball. The truth is that a lot of people could stand to learn more about this exciting sport. Keep on reading to get some great basketball insight.

TIP! Dribble the ball the right way. Finger tips, not palms, are the key to successful dribbling.

Learn proper dribbling. You need to use the tips of your fingers rather than your hand’s palm when you are dribbling. You’ll have a lot more control over the ball this way. Dribble off to the side waist high. You should always be looking up instead of at the ground.

You must have good balance to shoot well. Your knees should be bent with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders. These players are using creative improvisation. You need to maintain good balance while shooting, which is sure to produce greater consistency.

TIP! If you have the ball a lot, learn to execute a crossover. In a crossover, you transfer the basketball from hand to hand.

A good way to practice sound passing is to drill without dribbling. It is hard to play with no dribbling, but it will help your team make great passes. This may be hard and frustrating at first, but as you get the hang of it your entire team will begin to excel at passing.

A great way to stay prepared at all times is to always face the ball. You have to be aware of what is going on with the ball at all times. Also, keep your eyes on areas that open up on the court for an easy basket.

TIP! Work on improving your strengths to become an even better player. Your best talent may not make you the star of every game, but learning to play your best angle will help you contribute more to the team.

If you find yourself unable to shoot well, consider your shoulders. You won’t be able to make a shot if your shoulders aren’t in the right position. Your shoulders should be facing the hoop. Also, allow your dominant shoulder to line up with the rim.

It is important to be aware of the location of your feet and just what they are up to. If you fall on a baseline, you will be out of bounds. Holding the ball for too many steps and not dribbling will result in a walking call which will cause you to you will lose possession of the ball. If you move either foot while trying to pick, take a charge or set a screen, it will result in a called foul.

TIP! Practice your layup shot often. In a typical game, up to four-fifths of all shots are layups.

Practice passing while looking in other directions. This should befuddle your opponent. If you do this fake the right way, then the receiver of the pass should have an advantage and a great look at the goal. It’s a powerful play when done right.

To land your layups, jump off the foot opposite the hand you shoot with. If you normally shoot using your right hand, jump with your left. This will keep you balanced and going towards the basket.

TIP! Better your basketball skills by watching the pros play. Go to professional games in person and/or watch them online or on TV.

If you don’t want someone to steal the ball, dribble hard. This means you get the ball back from your opponent faster. If another player is getting too close to you, it is best to pass the ball if a teammate is open.

One good way to play good defense is to stay in the defensive stance at all times. Keep your feet moving to each side or push your opposing foot off so you can keep yourself in position. Always keep your feet from crossing, and you will make it hard for any opponent to get past.

TIP! Make sure that your regular practice includes catching of passes. You need to be able to retrieve perfect passes and not so perfect passes.

As the point guard approaches within 10 feet of the middle of the court, your guards should take action and create a 2-3 trap. Once your opponent is trapped, he will have no option but to make a pass. While this is happening, your forwards must sprint toward players in the wings. A pass should be thrown by the point guard for forwards to steal.

The first step when dribbling is to bend at your knees instead of standing straight-legged. You will have a hard time controlling the ball if you always stand straight and opponents will be able to steal the ball. Bending your knees slightly will enable you to control the ball more efficiently.

TIP! When it is not basketball season, keep in practice by shooting baskets and practicing your skills. Even though you play on a team, practicing alone can be helpful.

Try practicing three pointers from the NBA range in order to be a more effective three point shooter. The established International standard line is closer, as are the high school and college lines. You are less likely to be guarded, the farther you are from the basket.

Try to contain the action to the area below your knees. This is going to make things harder for your opponents if they want to steal the ball. This also allows you to cover large distances across the court, which makes it difficult for opposing players o block you.

TIP! Never have your back to the ball so that you’re ready for anything in a basketball game. It’s all about court awareness, and always facing the ball will make it so you are less surprised by passes.

If you want to perform your best in basketball, you need to eat well. In order to be ready for practice and games, it is vital that you have the proper energy stored in your body. One way to keep your body in basketball shape is to incorporated grains and proteins into your diet. Try to reduce your salt and sugar intake, though.

If a shot is taken from the corner and missed, the ball typically ends up across the court from the player. If so, you should be able to guess its next location and move to get the rebound.

TIP! One of the most vital attributes one needs to play basketball is quickness. Developing speed and vision is vital to playing the game well.

To play or to watch, basketball is truly one of the most enjoyable sports in existence. To make certain to extract the full value of basketball, it pays to spend some time learning all about it. This article has hopefully given you the tips you needed.