The game of basketball has been enjoyed for decades, giving people the ability to have some fun while competing on the court. Practice drills improve your overall physical abilities while giving you specific skills to concentrate on. Keep reading to find out what you need to know.

TIP! Make sure to dribble properly. Finger tips, not palms, are the key to successful dribbling.

It is important that you perfect dribbling the ball. You want to dribble with the tips of your fingers, not your whole hand. This method gives you much more control of the ball. Keep the ball by your side as you dribble instead of right in front your body. Keep your head up, do not stare down towards the ground.

Don’t dribble during your drills. It’s tough to play basketball minus the dribbling, and it causes you to pass accurately. Don’t get upset if it seems hard, this will improve your team’s passes over time.

TIP! In order to be a great shooter, good balance is key. Everyone has seen professional basketball players make a shot from 20 feet away as they are falling.

If you find yourself unable to shoot well, consider your shoulders. If you do not have your shoulders positioned properly, you will not make the shot. Your shoulders should always be squared towards the hoop. Your shooting arm’s shoulder also needs to be exactly lined 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. If you travel without dribbling, you’re going to get yourself into a turnover situation. In addition, moving one foot while working on setting a screen or pick will produce a foul.

TIP! Free throws are as much mental as they are physical. It is possible to practice the physical movements needed to make such a shot, but when your mental focus is lacking, you are likely to miss.

To improve ball handling, consider focusing workouts on your forearms and hands. Do some wrist curls as much as possible and your dribbling should get better. Don’t assume that you are able to just stand anywhere, catch the ball and shoot it. Learning how to pass the ball ensures that you can get the ball safely to a teammate who has better position on the court.

When the opportunity arises you always want to take a charge. A charge can help you take the ball and perhaps set up a foul against the other team. This can hurt the other team’s players psychologically and can also be powerful when you’re creating plays.

TIP! You can learn to trick the opposing team. The back pass is perfect for this.

Changing pace can help you keep the offense guessing. As you approach the goal, plant your foot and then straighten up. This will make the guard think you’re slowing down, then they will straighten their body too. Use this opportunity to sprint past your opponent.

While you’re dribbling the basketball it is wise to bend your knees. Standing straight up lessens your ability to control the ball and increases the chances that it will be stolen. Your ball control will improve dramatically by simply bending a little at the knees.

TIP! See if your teammates admire something in particular about your game play. Do they feel you are really good at something? It may be that you are quick on your feet or that you are always there to back them up.

When you use these tips, you will have more fun when playing basketball. Keep researching online and in print to keep up on the latest and greatest in basketball tips. Get all of the advice you can so that you’re able to do your best.