If you’re looking for tips to step up your basketball game, then you’re reading the right article. You’ve most likely imagined yourself as a pro, so wouldn’t you like to learn a few things that would help you play more like one? Whether basketball is a hobby or a passion for you, these tips are going to help.
Don’t force your jumps in basketball. Try to jump as naturally as possible. When jumping and shooting, practice releasing the ball at the top of the jump. Your fingers should simply slide off of the ball and carry it to the basket. Make sure you do not release while going up or down in the jump. Only release at the top.
Watch professional basketball players on television. When learning basketball, it’s essential to see what the best out there do. Listen to what the announcers are saying, too. Quite often, they’ll point out smart plays and unique moves that were exceptionally done. These call-outs will help you improve your skills just by watching.
Do sprints in your practice drills. Basketball is a very active sport for the entire game. And there are times in it when you need to pull up your last bit of energy for an extremely fast sprint to the opposite side of the court. Your body needs to be used to sprinting, even when worn out. You only accomplish this through practice.
As you develop your ability to shoot a basketball, try practicing on one foot only. This will improve many areas of your play, including accuracy when shooting. As you get better, move to practicing your shot from greater distances. Only after you master the basic techniques will you truly get better at long distance shots.
Stay low when playing defense. Keep your shoulders lower than the offensive player you are guarding will give you a better chance of moving more quickly. A lower stance will help you play the ball as well. Try to remain about an arm’s length away. When you get too far away, the other player can shoot easily.
One of the best tips for improving your shot is to practice. As simple as it may seem, this really is effective. Once you get a feel of where to stand and how to stand, it will be easier for you to make shots. Have a friend defend you to get better practice.
If you want to improve your jump shot, try shooting free throws blindfolded or with your eyes closed. Your free throw percentage ought to be pretty good before you try this. However, once it is, you can use this technique to really get down a fluid and instinctive shooting motion with your arms and body. Just make sure to do this alone in a gym, as to not errantly hurt anyone or break a window.
Remember that refs don’t see, catch or call everything. You’re going to get fouled sometimes and not hear the whistle. Just remember that works both ways. You will also get away with some fouls that aren’t called. Respect the refs, but remember that they don’t determine the winner and loser.
Being a good player isn’t all about displaying physical skills and making all the shots. There is a lot of mental preparation that goes into being a team player. Don;t just focus on what you can do to be better but think about what you can do to be a better team member too.
In order to handle the ball correctly, spread your fingers out. That makes sure that you don’t lose the ball when you hold it. Keep your palm off the ball, too. Fingers need to be the only thing that touches the ball when you shoot it or pass it.
To become a better dribbler, work on becoming more flexible. The looser and more flexible you are, the better you will be able to elude defenders. Stiffer players are easier to defend. The more flexible you are, the harder it is to defend you. So to improve your dribbling, you need to improve your flexibility.
A player’s free-throw percentage is generally much higher than their field goal percentage. While part of this has to do with being in action with defenders right on you when shooting field goals, the other part is the dedicated form and practice put into this “free” shot. Be sure you spend some time practicing your free throws during each practice.
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.
Videotape your games to see what you do right and wrong. You’ll likely see ways that you can improve. Don’t get yourself down about your performance, but stay honest with yourself concerning where your game needs some work. It is prudent that you look at yourself as others do and not as how you would like to be.
Master the stop and shoot. Basketball is so much about movement that sometimes the most effective manner to get clear of an opponent is to surprise them with no movement at all. Master dribbling up court fast and when you hit a mark you’re comfortable with, stop short, pull up and shoot. Your opponent will find it tough to stop their forward movement, so you’ll have a clear look at the basket.
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the game of basketball. It’s time to bring your “A” game to the court. With the tips you’ve read, you just might be the next Michael Jordan. Okay, so this article doesn’t guarantee that, but you sure will make some nice improvements to your game.
