Men, women, and children across the world have fallen in love with basketball. This being said, many of the greatest fans do not have the level of understanding required to play the game at a level that allows them success on the court. The following article is provided as a way to help better your basketball skills no matter how good a skill level you possess.

TIP! You must become knowledgeable about hitting a free-throw shot. This looks easy, but it is actually very hard to do.

You need to learn the correct way to dribble the ball. When you dribble a basketball you have to use the fingertips instead of the hand’s palm. You retain much more ball control this way. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. Look up, not down.

If you get possession of the ball a lot, you must learn the crossover technique. This is when you switch hands while dribbling. Speed determines the success of the crossover move. When done properly, crossover dribbling is a great way to quickly switch direction or move around the court in an efficient manner.

TIP! Jump shooters should not also be iron pumpers. It’s possible to have excessive muscles when you play the perimeter.

It is important that you practice layups. You should expect layups to represent about 80% of all the shots you take in a game. It’s critical to practice running towards the basket at full speed and following up with a good jump and smooth shot. Practicing this technique helps you learn to make layups during a game.

Free Throws

TIP! Would you like to learn how to fool your opponent? Try a pass back! To do this pass, hold on to the ball with your dominant hand. Next get the ball pulled up behind the back.

Free throws are as mental as physical. Of course, you can show your body how to make free throws. However, if you’re not in the right state of mind, you won’t succeed. Take a deep breathe, relax and block out all outside distractions before taking the shot.

One way to help improve your overall basketball skills is to spend some time watching what the pros do. Go to games, watch them on TV and you can also watch videos. You will quickly notice all the different skills that they have which makes them a great player, then take what you learned and use it to help improve your own game.

TIP! Avoid errant passes by using hand signals. It can be frustrating to attempt to pass the ball to a team mate as that person is heading toward the basket.

Shake things up rather than focusing solely on a zone defense. While much of the game is played in zone, the opponent can flip to man-to-man coverage, changing everything and surprising you. You might lose your control of the court if the other team use this technique, unless you are ready for this possibility.

Basketball has been a popular game for many different people for a long time. Knowledge is what it takes to have fun with basketball and play it to the best of your ability. Refer to the information presented here to enhance your game in an ongoing manner.