If you have wished you were a basketball star, you know you’ve got to commit and practice enough. But even if you’re just play basketball for the fun of it, you would like to be better at it, wouldn’t you? Reading the following article will help you become a skilled player.

TIP! Keep practicing your layups. Four out of every five shots taken in a given game will be layups.

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. Offensive skills are usually the most impressive ones but defense is something every team should work on.

Make sure that you’re dribbling the ball correctly. Don’t use your palm to dribble, but use your fingertips instead. This allows you to control the ball much better while you dribble. Keep the ball by your side as you dribble instead of right in front your body. Keep your head up, do not stare down towards the ground.

TIP! Make sure to practice catching passes. Practice catching errant throws along with perfect passes.

Balance is important when shooting. Even though a professional can hit all sorts of crazy off-balance shots, it is not the ideal method of shooting that you want to learn. These are not practiced skills, they are just flukes. If you are able to improve your sense of balance, then you will find that your percentage of successful shots improves.

If you want to improve your game, concentrate on your strengths. Your best skills may not be center-stage every game, but knowing how to play the best angles can help you give more to your team. You can also focus on your weaknesses if you know what they are.

TIP! Don’t just practice your game against the zone defense. The majority of the game is in that area, but be careful about a team who changes things up.

In order to help you improve your basketball acumen you should watch how the pros play. You can follow the pros in online videos, on TV and you can also attend a basketball game if there is a pro team in your area. Each player has their strengths and you can learn a lot from each one.

A great way to learn how to pass is by doing drills often with no dribbling. It’s tough to play basketball minus the dribbling, and it causes you to pass accurately. Don’t get upset if it seems hard, this will improve your team’s passes over time.

TIP! Practice playing by yourself. Even if you can’t get a bunch of people together to play, you can still practice on your own.

If you’re on the offense, you footwork needs to be excellent to stay open for passes and shots. There are two important points you must remember. You must create a physical presence below the basket, and you must secure a good spot in advance of your opponent. Once you’re in the proper position, you’ll have to then secure your spot. Each of these skills is reliant on good footwork.

If you get hurt during a basketball game, don’t try to play while in pain. It is possible to receive an injury when playing basketball because it is a sport that is physically challenging. If you keep playing when you are injured, you could end up with an injury which keeps you from ever playing again. Anytime you have a serious injury, you should seek medical attention.

TIP! Launch your layup jumps from the foot that is opposite the hand you shoot with. This will allow you to shoot with your comfortable hand.

It’s important to know where you have your feet and also what they’re doing. If you fall on a baseline, you will be out of bounds. Going too many steps with no dribbling is a waking call and turnover situation. A foul will result if you try to take a charge or set a pick and your feet are moving.

Create and stick to a routine each time you prepare to shoot a free throw. This may mean you want to dribble three times, touch your forehead, bend at the knees, or do anything else. Keep it simple and consistent, and the routine will become a part of your muscle memory.

TIP! Perform drills where you attempt to get the ball up full-court in 5 dribbles or less. This may seem to be too difficult at first, but once you’re able to do it you’ll have a lot of speed and stride length.

Workout to increase flexibility and strength in your hands and forearms. Wrist curls work well at helping you handle the ball. Don’t believe you will be able to simply plant yourself someplace, receive the ball and sink a shot. Good dribbling skills will help you always stay in movement.

So, take the initiative and learn some new skills and start practicing and playing better today. Apply what you have learned in this article to your basketball game. Before you know it, you will be a superior player.