Playing basketball like a professional takes time, patience and practice. If you want to get a head start on your success, read this article in full. It is filled to the brim with ideas which can lead you to better your game on the court, so check it out below.
When you are practicing your shooting, make sure that you practice shots that you may be required to make during a game. You should try to shoot the ball while moving around, standing still, and right after you receive a pass. You can have someone toss you a ball while you’re running in order to practice taking a shot after the ball has been passed to you.
When learning to dribble, you need to learn to dribble with both hands. This is important because you may have to switch hands when dribbling during a game. Also, learn to dribble behind your back and between an opponent’s legs. This may seem silly, but you may actually use this technique.
Stop and ask your coach what you can do to help the team improve. Basketball is a team sport and every component must be working towards a common goal. The coach is there to offer guidance and provide instruction. Ask if there’s anything specific you can do to help and follow his advice.
Even though you may miss ten times in a row, you will succeed eventually. Keep calm and focus on your form instead of letting your emotions get to you. This will help you develop good habits and grow as a player. Each shot you take is unique and has nothing to do with the previous ten shots you just missed.
Quality footwork will help you get better shots. You must beat the opposing playing to an open spot. Once you’ve reached a good spot, you need to secure it. Footwork is the key to either of these.
You must know your opponent in order to be tough on defense. You can read scouting reports and watch tapes to evaluate your opponents game. One simple thing to know before the game is if your opponent shoots with their right or left hand. This knowledge will help you play the best game possible. A smart defender is someone who is good at his position.
Make sure you have prepared for your games by taking care of yourself. Don’t see your team short by staying up all night, eating junk food before games or skipping practice because you have things you would rather do. make a commitment to your team by being there for the team on the court and off the court.
Focus on your footwork and core strength when working out. With strong core muscles, you will have better balance. You must work out your hip, back and abdomen muscles. Similar to boxers, jump rope to help increase speed and better your footwork.
Bend your knees as you dribble the ball. This gets you closer to the surface you are dribbling on and causes the distance between ground and ball to be reduced. This gives your opposition less of a chance to steal the ball away from you as you head for the net.
Be aware of your own actions and the position of your feet. An errant toe to the baseline while holding the ball will result in an “out of bounds” call. If you travel without dribbling, you’re going to get yourself into a turnover situation. Do not move your feet when attempting to set up a screen, a foul can be called.
To give yourself a big advantage in any game of basketball, study the moves of your opponents. Players often have certain moves that they repeat or a certain approach that they favor. If you can make a plan to disarm their favorite move or approach, you can often outplay them.
Want to try a drill which will really work you out? Try dribbling with two balls at once! This will help you learn to master dribbling with both hands, plus it will build your arm muscles very quickly. You can’t use your eyes for this exercise, so you will learn to dribble without looking at your hands.
A good rebound player can be a huge advantage for his team. Rebounding is about attitude more that skill. Think of every shot as a potential miss and be ready to position yourself to get the ball. Be alert for team members who are in a good position to make the shot.
Having the proper stance when playing defense is going to help you with all of your defensive moves. You will be much quicker to counteract offensive moves and you will be much harder to get by if you maintain the proper stance. Whenever you are practicing, train your body to get in the proper defensive stance so that it seems natural to you.
As the point guard approaches within 10 feet of the middle of the court, your guards should take action and create a 2-3 trap. At this point, your guards must rush the point guard thus trapping him. With the forwards blocking outside, you have a good shot at intercepting a bad pass. This can cause the point guard to pass the ball in a way that your teammates can easily steal.
Keep the ball below knee level if possible. This makes it more difficult for your opponents to steal the ball. To help this occur, you must be bending, however it will speed up your efforts to move down the court.
Do off court exercises that will improve your game on the court. Running, both sprints and long distance, can help your game. To play more physically, lift weights to make yourself a more dominating presence. The aggression and confidence you get from this can also assist you more than most things if you’re shooting.
You will soon be dribbling like a pro, making those threes and rebounding like you have never done before, all thanks to learning as much as you can about the game. Continue to hone your skills and read expert advice. As you gain more knowledge, your talents will be able to shine through.
