When you’re working on playing basketball, you’re not going to know everything all at once. The sport changes with the times, and you have to keep up. Do you want to be a good player? Continue reading to find out how you can improve your game.

TIP! It’s simple to want to work on offense when you’re getting into basketball, but it’s smarter to think about defense practice too. Defense can make or break a basketball game.

Many people only direct their attention to the offensive part of the game without realizing that defense is the key to winning. Basketball games are won with a good defense. Without good defense, a basketball team will lose the match.

Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Don’t use your palm to dribble. Instead, use your fingertips. When you do this you will have more control over the ball. Avoid dribbling in front of you and only dribble to the sides of your body. Never look at the ground. Always look up.

TIP! Learn to correctly dribble the ball. When you dribble, only use your fingertips instead of your palms.

Keep your head up when you dribble. Anyone who watching the ball while they dribble surely needs to spend more time in the gym practicing. Take the basketball around off-court wherever you are. Dribble as you walk down the street. Maintaining unbroken visual contact with the ball makes it difficult to be aware of your surroundings.

Be sure to get lots of practice on layups. Layups comprise approximately 80 percent of all shots. When you practice, run toward the net, and then get a high jump in so you can smoothly shoot. This technique helps improve your on-court layup skills.

TIP! Keep your head up when you dribble. If you have to ever look at the ball while dribbling, then you haven’t practiced that enough.

Practice your bounce pass. Bouncing the pass to the receiver should be at their waist. It’s generally a good idea to pass the ball about three-fourths of the distance between you and the receiving teammate. There can be other factors in play to keep in mind, as well.

Watch how the pros play basketball. Try to go to games, watch televised games, or check out videos of the pros playing. Every player has skills that make them good, and you can work on the skills they use.

Zone Defense

Don’t just practice playing against a zone defense. Learn how to play a man-to-man defense and a zone defense to get the best understanding of how the game works. Practice with each type of defense so you will know what to expect.

TIP! Lay off the weights if you are trying to become a jump shooter. It’s possible to have excessive muscles when you play the perimeter.

A good tip about passing is try doing it without dribbling the ball. Playing without any dribbling is very hard, but builds your passing skills. 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.

Before, during and after the season, play out games by yourself. Basketball is sport played in teams, but there are times when no one is around to play with you. This is just fine. You can still get a lot accomplished with solo games. Work on free throws and pivot moves. You can always do something.

TIP! Your child should work on their core muscles if they want to become a basketball player in high school. This includes their abs, lower back, and hips.

Make use of hand signals so that wild passes can be avoided. One of the most challenging aspects is trying to send the ball to your teammate as they are going for the basket. You can get around that when you use hand signals, if a player can receive a pass. If the person doesn’t make a signal the person shouldn’t get passed to.

Speed is a key attribute in the game of basketball. Speeding up the temp allows you to out-quick your opponent. If you want to play the game fast, you need to drill continuously. Though, you should never attempt to a play faster game than your abilities permit. It’s easy to lose control when you play fast.

TIP! You never want to have your back to the ball if you can help it. This helps keep you aware of the action, and it takes away the surprise factor.

Have a friend or family member tape your games so you can view how you appear on the court. You should be able to see what you missed or can do better. Be honest when assessing, but avoid being overly critical. There are times when it pays to view yourself realistically.

Passing the ball through your legs is a useful maneuver if the opposing team is right on top of you. Try practicing this by bouncing your ball hard in between your legs while stepping forward or backward. This move can give you an advantage when playing a tough defense.

TIP! Remember to spread your fingers when handling the ball. That will ensure that it doesn’t get away from you as you hold it.

You can improve your ability to handle the ball by working out your forearms and hands. Wrist curls can be great for honing ball handling skills. Don’t believe you will be able to simply plant yourself someplace, receive the ball and sink a shot. Strength and flexibility in your hands will allow you to move the ball more gracefully and swiftly.

The sound advice above should give you the confidence you have been trying to achieve. They were created to help you enjoy the game to its fullest. Do not stop learning, and do not stop practicing. Keep these tips in mind as you begin to enhance and sharpen your basketball skills.