Have you ever watched professional basketball players and envied their skills? Well don’t just keep wishing you were that good, get out there and make it happen. Keep reading to learn more.

TIP! Learn to crossover if you get the ball often. Crossover dribble is switching hands while you’re dribbling.

A lot of novice players mostly focus on their offensive skills, but developing good defensive skills will help you become a better player. Basketball games are often won by great defensive play. Offense is often what gets the glory, but most winning basketball teams play great defense.

Make sure you are dribbling the right way. Avoid using your palm while dribbling. Instead, use your fingertips. This provides you with much more ball control. Dribble off to the side waist high. Look up and never down at the ground.

Perfect Passes

Work on being able to receive a pass. You need to be able to retrieve perfect passes and not so perfect passes. This will help you catch those bad passes during a game. Help your teammates by learning what you need to haul in those imperfect passes.

TIP! You want to be prepared for any type of defense the other team plays. While you might see a zone defense mostly, a team can switch defenses to man-to-man quickly in order to confuse you.

If you get hurt during a basketball game, don’t try to play while in pain. Basketball is hard to play well even when you are healthy, so don’t push it. Playing through an injury can prolong it which is always bad. In case of serious injury, it is time to see a doctor.

Quickness is something you have to have when playing basketball. Speeding up the temp allows you to out-quick your opponent. You will have to do a lot of drilling to play faster. But do not try to play faster than you are able. You will end up in a turnover if you play too fast.

TIP! Keep your skills sharp in the off-season by playing different challenging games. Basketball is a multiple player sport, but other people won’t always be around.

If you are being heavily guarded, a pass between your legs might help. Step forward and back while dribbling the ball between your legs hard. Mastering this movement gives you a big advantage on the court.

If you want improve your free throws, you have to develop a routine. When you stay consistent, you get better success. Free throw shooting is best improved by lengthy sessions of repetitive practice. If you do not practice this shot consistently, you may miss it during an actual game.

TIP! Children who aspire to become great basketball players in high school must engage in physical fitness activities that focus on the core muscles. The concept encompasses the abdominal muscles, the hips and the lower back.

Build up your forearms to become a better ball handler. Strong hands make it easier for you to keep control of the basketball. Don’t just think you’re able to stand around, catch the ball and then shoot it. The best way to get into the flow of the game is to be in motion.

In order to be good at rebounding the ball off a missed free throw, you must be quick with your feet. Guards will be attempting to stop you, so get around them. Doing so will allow you to get the rebound sans a foul.

Strength Training

If you play basketball, you should incorporate strength training into your workout routine. It is impossible to succeed if you lack endurance and strength. Even the youngest kids that play will benefit from the game. Adding weights in stronger increments is effective as the child becomes a teenager. Once they transition into adulthood, strength training must continue to be a core part of their exercise routine.

TIP! Ask your fellow teammates if they have an opinion of your skills in the game. Do you do something particularly well? Perhaps you have an excellent understanding of defensive strategies or you are the fastest player on your team.

Defensive players need to stay low. This helps your reaction time against your opponent. Always stay in the proper stance on defense. If you need to block the opposing team’s shot, resume your stance as soon as you can.

Have two of your guards wait for the point guard to go past midcourt for the best results. Then they need to get to the guard on point to trap him. Simultaneously, forwards should block sprint toward wing players. You will see the opposing point guard make a bad pass that anyone on your team can steal.

TIP! Figuring out the opponent is a great way to do well against a tight defense. Watch replays and follow scouting reports.

You can strengthen you weaker hand by using it as much as possible, for instance open jars or even brush your teeth. By improving your weaker hand’s dexterity, your control over the hand will significantly improve. This will make you a force to be reckoned with on the court.

Standing Straight

TIP! Watch your own recorded games, and look for weak areas. Are you able to look at your skills in a different light? It is important that your assessment is an honest one, but isn’t overly critical.

The first step when dribbling is to bend at your knees instead of standing straight-legged. Standing straight will make you see that it’s harder to handle and easier for the opposing players to take. Just bending a little bit at your knees can really help you to control the ball better.

To improve 3 point shooting, practice from NBA distance, at least. Remember that high school, college and international standard lines are all shorter than the NBA distance. If you can make a basket from there, you will open up the defense because they will have to play you closely.

TIP! Making a pass from between your legs is sometimes a good option when the opposing team is right on top of you. Go forwards and backwards with the ball to practice bouncing it.

Be certain to practice moves off the court that will truly help you on the court. Sprints help you gain skill in individual plays, while running longer distances will increase your stamina. You can build muscle to support your shots and ability to hustle by lifting weights and engaging in resistance training. You will also gain aggression and confidence that will help you when shooting.

After going through this article you should be able to practice a number of things. You need to be confident and you have to practice. Keep this advice in mind and show your skills off.