Practicing as much as possible will help you become a better basketball player. You should use your practice time wisely, and follow good advice from experienced teachers. Keep reading for some basketball pointers that will have you hoop ready in no time.

TIP! Start out with proper balance before attempting to take a shot. Sometimes you’ll see professional players fall out of bounds while making a shot from afar, but this doesn’t work at all times.

Play basketball against yourself even during the off-season. Basketball is sport played in teams, but there are times when no one is around to play with you. That is okay. You can accomplish a lot by practicing alone. You can practice free throws or pivot moves. You can always do something.

Become Injured

TIP! Practice your layup shot often. During any game, layups make up about 75 percent of the game.

If you become injured when playing basketball, stop immediately. This sport is physically demanding and you can become injured. If you continue playing, you could make the injury even worse. If the pain is bad, visit a doctor.

You should ask your teammates about your strengths and weaknesses. What are your your best skill areas? You might be quick, or you might always be around to support them. Find out what others perceive as your natural gifts and build upon those more completely.

TIP! One good way to learn good passing is drill often without dribbling. It’s tough to play basketball minus the dribbling, and it causes you to pass accurately.

It’s great to be quick in basketball. Try to outplay your opponents by being fast to win the game. Consistent, repetitive drilling is the key to speed. However, don’t try to be faster than you’re physically able to be. Playing beyond your speed can result in bad passes and excessive turnovers.

Always be aware of the locations of your feet and what they’re doing. This can help you avoid going out of bounds or making a bad pass. Holding the ball for too many steps and not dribbling will result in a walking call which will cause you to you will lose possession of the ball. You can’t move a foot when you take a charge, pick or screen either, or it’s a foul.

TIP! Good footwork remains a vital part of basketball. While actually being beneath the basket is key, establishing a good position prior to the opposition is even more so.

To generate consistency with layups, leap from the opposite foot from the hand you use to shoot. When shooting right-handed, take off using the left foot. Your body will develop good coordination and you keep your defender at a distance.

To be a strong defender, you must have the ability to disrupt and interfere with the opponents’ plans. Force them away from their comfort zone. Make aggressive plays. Do not let them choose the plays to make. If you do, your opponent will run all over you. Rather, you move first so that you interfere with their rhythm.

TIP! If you get hurt during a basketball game, don’t try to play while in pain. Basketball is challenging physical sport and you can get injured.

In order to be good at rebounding the ball off a missed free throw, you must be quick with your feet. You’ll have a defender coming at you and this means you have to figure out what can be done to get around them. You’ll be able to grab the rebound without fouling your opponent.

When playing defense, always try to stay low. This helps you jump fast and react quickly. Be in the correct defensive stance all the time. When rebounding or blocking, you break the stance, but then you must get back in the stance quickly.

Stop Dribbling

Only stop dribbling when you are prepared to shoot or pass the ball. If you stop dribbling, then you don’t really have that many options. If you don’t shoot or pass, you have to pivot on the back foot. This will leave you open for double teaming from opponents and you may lose control of the ball.

TIP! If you’re looking to be the best defensive player that you can be, you’ll want to know your opponent. Pay attention to how they play.

You’ll want to use the hand that you aren’t dribbling with as a barrier to protect the ball. Don’t push your opponent because that is a foul; however, you may use your free arm to create a barrier that keeps your opponent away from the ball. You should try to keep your barrier arm up slightly when you are dribbling.

Your workout routine can help you do well in the game. Sprinting exercises can help you to become faster, while running for long distances can assist you in making it through the whole game. Lifting weights can help you get more muscle. Your shooting abilities are greatly enhanced by a more self-assured, aggressive mindset.

Double Dribbling

Double dribbling is a major rule, and something that must always be avoided. Double dribbling occurs after a pause in dribbling. When you’ve ceased dribbling, you can just shoot or pass the ball. It is against the rules to recommence dribbling. This is called a turnover, and you’ll lose the ball immediately to your opponent.

TIP! When moving in for a layup, push off from your weaker foot and lead with your shooting hand. If you play to use your right hand to shoot, you’ll want to use your left foot to take off.

This article will help you with your basketball skills, even if you play every day. Start out with a single tip and expand upon each idea as you progress. You will notice an improvement along the way. With this knowledge, you can improve rebounding, passing, shooting, and other important moves.