Basketball isn’t a game that’s only played in after school games or gym class. Basketball can be played at the park, driveway or at the local rec center. If you like shooting hoops, you will enjoy learning how to improve your game with the information presented here.

TIP! Make sure you are dribbling the right way. You’ll want to use your fingertips to dribble instead of using your palm.

If you handle the ball often, you need to learn how to do a crossover. In a crossover, you transfer the basketball from hand to hand. It has to be done fast to be effective. When done properly, crossover dribbling is a great way to quickly switch direction or move around the court in an efficient manner.

Free throws are as much mental as they are physical. You must train both your body and your mind. Take a deep breathe, relax and block out all outside distractions before taking the shot.

TIP! Successful free throws require you to be mentally and physically strong. You must train both your body and your mind.

You may have better luck honing your passing skills if you forgo dribbling during practice. It’s tough to play basketball minus the dribbling, and it causes you to pass accurately. Keep your emotions in check if quality passing is not happening right away as it takes time to perfect this part of the game.

Good footwork remains a vital part of basketball. There are two important points you must remember. You must create a physical presence below the basket, and you must secure a good spot in advance of your opponent. Once there, you have to firmly claim the area as your own. Both of those skills rely on solid footwork.

TIP! A great way to bolster your basketball ability is to observe those who are considered to be the best in the sport. Go to actual games or watch on TV.

Have your team mates critique your playing skills. What areas are your strong points? Maybe you are nimble or you are reliably there to support them. By understanding what your teammates see as your best skills, you can ensure that you keep a strong focus and hone these abilities even more.

Get someone to analyze how you play on tape. Do you see how you could’ve handled a situation differently? When looking at the tape, don’t be too critical, but be honest. It is prudent that you look at yourself as others do and not as how you would like to be.

TIP! You must know your opponent in order to be tough on defense. Follow the scouting reports and watch tapes of their games.

Try practicing looking in the opposite direction when you pass. This should befuddle your opponent. When done right, the look draws your opponents to the wrong locale so that the person you passed to has a good long look at the basket before shooting. It’s a powerful play when done right.

Use the foot opposite of the hand you shoot with for a better layup. Jump off your left foot when you shoot using your right hand. This balances your body when moving towards your basket. It keeps your body in between you and the defender.

TIP! Build your core strength and focus on your legwork when you train for basketball. By developing strong core muscles, you will be able to recover quickly and keep your balance.

No matter what type of match you are playing, improving your skills makes the game more fun. Since you read the above article, all you have to do is put these tips to use. The more knowledge you acquire, the better basketball you will play.