Basketball is one of those sports that everyone should learn how to play at some point or another. If you are one of those people that needs to learn or perhaps you just want to polish up some new skills, then this article is for you. The following tips are prepared to enhance any level of play.
Make your passes quick and precise. This takes practice, but you can improve your passing skills over time. Find someone else who wants to improve their passing and run drills with them. Running up and down the court passing and dribbling will eventually become second nature and help you with your game.
Always protect the ball when you are in possession of it. Keep your dribble off to the side of your body to make it more difficult for another player to steal the ball. While you generally want to avoid dribbling in front of you, you can do so if there are no other players in your immediate vicinity.
When you have the ball, make sure you change your direction frequently. The entire court is open to you, and it is important to take advantage of that fact. As you move to the right or the left, make sure you shift your weight accordingly to have the easiest experience moving with the ball.
When you rebound in basketball, make sure you make contact before your opponent.
You’ll be in control of what occurs if you are the first to make contact when boxing out. Hit them first before they get a chance to make contact with you so that you can get leverage. Be sure to anticipate and be sure you’re always first. This will provide you with an edge.
It is not always necessary to dribble the ball. In fact, you should only dribble it when it is part of your play. For instance, you will want to dribble the ball when you are trying to get the ball up the court, to get in a position for passing, or to get the defense off you.
Always remember that to be a great basketball player, you’ve got to be a great athlete first. Put as much time into conditioning your body and increasing your endurance as you do shooting and passing. This will improve your play under even the most excruciating circumstances, making you an invaluable team member.
Figuring out the opponent is a great way to do well against a tight defense. Watch tapes and stay up on scouting reports. Keep track of which players are right hand dominant and which are left hand dominant. Studying your opponent is one of the best ways to be able to win the game. A defender with an education will be good at what they do.
Become a great athlete. There are few great basketball players out there who aren’t also superb athletes in general. This is a very athletic sport, so prepare for it by playing all sorts of athletic games. This can be running, swimming, cycling, you name it. All of these sports will add to your abilities on the court.
If you want to be sure that you are dribbling correctly, dribble in some dirt. When you’re done, take a look at your hands. If your fingers are dirty while your palm is nice and clean, then you are holding the ball correctly. A dirty palm means you need to refine your technique.
To avoid turning the ball over to the other team, make sure that you’re dribbling hard. This is because the ball returns to you hand faster, so the opposing team has less of a chance to get it. If you have an opponent who is guarding you relentlessly, it is time to pass the ball.
To better your vertical jumping in basketball, try doing some deep knee bend jump exercises. Begin by standing straight. Quickly crouch down as low as possible with your bottom nearly touching the ground, then jump upwards as high as possible. The minute you land, crouch immediately and jump back up again. Try doing this about 15 times, and when you’re able to, try increasing it to 20, 30, and so on. Don’t do these exercises more than four or fives times every week.
If your defender has their left foot forward, your right sided dribble won’t work. To get around them, crossover the ball to your left and step your right foot outside theirs. Dribble on the left a few times as you slide by and you will be on your way to scoring.
To set an effective screen, make sure that your feet are slightly wider apart than your shoulders and your arms are crossed on your chest. The wider feet give you balance, and the crossed arms take away the temptation to reach out and bump the player as he goes by — which is a foul.
Many basketball players want to gain weight to play more physically. This is especially true for taller players who play near the basket. To gain weight, lift weights and eat a balanced diet, including a lot of fruits and vegetables. Of course you should know not to use steroids to gain muscle mass.
Take care of your feet. Your feet are important to your game so take the time to make sue they are taken care of properly. Even something as seemingly silly as an ingrown toenail can become a major pain issue if not treated properly. So Get minor health issues taken care of so they don’t become major ones that affect your whole game.
Whether a rookie or a professional, you can improve your game by remembering these fundamentals. Practice as often as possible and learn to handle the ball like a pro. Basketball becomes much more entertaining when you are able to keep pace with the other players. These tips can help you keep that pace and even surpass it.
