Basketball is pretty easy to play and quite a few people play it worldwide. Each player is crucial to the team and has special skills. If you’re here to get educated on how you can become a better basketball player then continue to the article below.

TIP! Free throws are as mental as physical. With everyone watching, it can be easy to allow the pressure to interfere with your game.

Dribble properly. Finger tips, not palms, are the key to successful dribbling. This helps you to control the ball better. Be sure to dribble beside your body instead of in front of yourself. Bounce the ball at a level even with your waist. You should always look upwards instead of at the ground.

If you typically handle the ball a lot, it pays to learn the crossover. A crossover means moving the ball between your hands. You need to perform crossovers very quickly to get good results. When executed properly, a crossover dribble lets you alternate directions suddenly so that you can move down the entire court quickly.

TIP! Do not practice by playing against the zone defense. While a good chunk of the game will most likely be played in zone, your opponent might flip the switch to man-to-man coverage just to change things up and surprise you.

Focus on your strong point to help you become a better ball player. Even though your best abilities might not make you stand out each game, it is sure to help you contribute to the overall success of the team. Figure out what you do well at and then you can practice that until you perfect it.

Never practice only against the zone. Most of the game is played in zone, but your opponent may try to switch things up to do man-to-man coverage. If your practice hasn’t included this type of scenario, you might lose control rapidly.

TIP! One great way to pass good is to drill when you can without dribbling. Playing basketball without dribbling is very challenging, but your entire team will quickly improve their passing skills.

If you want to be a jump shooter, avoid pumping iron excessively. While muscle mass is good for any basketball position, perimeter play requires less than other positions. Some overzealous shooting guards buffed up too much, and it had an adverse effect on their overall field goal percentages.

Try using hand signals to ensure that your passes are received. Often in basketball, a player makes a pass at the exact same time the receiving player heads to another part of the court. All of this confusion can be remedied through the use of hand signals when a player is opened. Without a signal, the ball controller shouldn’t make a pass.

TIP! Play solo basketball in the months leading up to the season, as well as during the season itself. Sometimes during off season, or when practicing, you can’t play as a team or find even a single opponent.

Good footwork is essential to escaping coverage and putting yourself in position to take a shot when you are posting up. 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 have gotten into position, secure your spot. Expert footwork is the key to these skills.

If you’re shooting isn’t what you’d like it to be, make sure that your shoulders are in the correct position. When they are out of alignment, all shots will fail. Be sure to keep the shoulders squared up to the hoop. Your dominant shoulder must be lined up with the rim.

TIP! You should ask your teammates about your strengths and weaknesses. You may have a certain skill that you have perfected.

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. As long as you make it quick, if you have a consistent routine, your body will remember how to make those free throws after you go through your ritual.

Free Throw

TIP! Focus on your footwork and core strength when working out. Your balance will improve if you strengthen your core.

Get into a consistent routine to improve your free throw shots. Inconsistent shooting will lead to inconsistent results. Free throw shooting is best improved by lengthy sessions of repetitive practice. If you are off your game, you will not make the shot.

You need to practice dribbling with your weak hand in order to be a more effective player. If you use both your hands to dribble, it is easier to control. Make an effort to dribble with your weak hand by keeping your dominant hand away from the front. Soon, you will be able dribble with your weaker hand as well as you can with your dominant hand.

TIP! One of the most vital attributes one needs to play basketball is quickness. You’ll have an advantage if you’re faster than an opponent.

If you wish to succeed in a defensive role, you must be able to break your opponents’ concentration. You should work to make your opponent feel uncomfortable. Display aggressiveness in your chosen moves. Do not let them call the shots. Otherwise, the opponents will win all the shots and dominate you. Rather, you make the initial move and break up their flow.

Stay low when playing defense. Staying low will help you to be a more swift opponent when you mirror the man standing in your path. Maintain this low stance with arms raised until a shot or high pass is made. If you need to leave your feet in order to prevent your opponent from shooting the ball, quickly get back into that good defensive position.

TIP! Always be aware of the locations of your feet and what they’re doing. Stepping your toe in a baseline with a ball in your grip will mean that you’re out of bounds.

All basketball players try to become an expert in a particular skill so they can become a better player. This article has provided you with the tips you need to succeed. Work hard, keep a positive attitude and you can be a better basketball player in no time.