Do you know everything you want to know about the popular game of basketball? There are others in your shoes! Plenty of people don’t know a lot about basketball. This piece offers some terrific tips straight from the pros.

Receiving Player

Bounce passes are extremely efficient when done properly. It is best when the ball hits the receiving player near the waist. A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the receiving player is. It does depend on a variety of other factors, however.

TIP! Put the emphasis on your strengths can help you to be a better basketball player. Your team will benefit more if you stop trying to be the star of the game and work your best.

Work on pass catches. When you’re practicing, you should drill in being able to catch random throws in addition to passes that are perfect. In the heat of the game, not every pass is going to hit the bulls-eye. Therefore, it pays to practice catching passes that are a bit off-target.

Never turn away from the ball, so that you can always stay ready for anything. You have to be aware of what is going on with the ball at all times. Also, keep your eyes on areas that open up on the court for an easy basket.

TIP! You can improve your skills by paying attention to how the pros play. Get tickets to some pro games, if possible, or catch some games on television.

Pay attention closely to the shoulders if you’re starting to slump when you shoot. When they are out of alignment, all shots will fail. Make sure your shoulders are always square towards the hoop. Also, allow your dominant shoulder to line up with the rim.

Speed is a key attribute in the game of basketball. If you want the advantage, you’ve got more quickly. It takes steady drilling to play fast. Although being fast is important, avoid playing faster than your capabilities. You will not be able to control your moves if you play faster than you are able to.

TIP! Keep your eye on the ball. This will give you court awareness and keep you from being surprised by quick passes or turnover potentials.

It’s important to know where you have your feet and also what they’re doing. Stepping ever so slightly out of bounds while you have the ball can cause an overturn. If you take several steps while holding the ball, you could be called for traveling. In addition, a foul can be called against you if you move either foot while setting a screen, a pick or taking a charge.

Have a friend or family member videotape your games, then view the video to see the result. Did you spot something that could be improved? Be honest with yourself, but avoid being too critical. Sometimes, it helps a lot to see yourself as you really are and not as just you imagine yourself to be.

TIP! Do your free throw shooting the same way every time. This can include the number of times you dribble, how you position your feet, or anything else.

To get more out of layups, take off using the foot that;s the opposite of your shooting hand. Thus, if you tend to shoot with the right hand, make sure to jump off with the left. Your body will be better balanced and moving in the direction of the basket. Your body will also be kept between the defender and yourself.

Try some drills that require you to move the basketball from one end of the court to the other in no more than five dribbles. Although this might seem tricky in the beginning, this can really help your game if you can master this skill. Mastering this skill can help you to really improve your game.

TIP! You need to take a charge anytime you can. Letting the other guy run into you stops the game without having to use a time out, and adds another four to the opponent’s total.

After all is said and done, you probably love basketball and needed to learn a little more about it. But you’ve now got some great tips and new ideas, so you’re ready to put some of them into play! So go out and recruit a few friends for a friendly game of basketball and show off your newly learned skills.