In order to play basketball well, you need to understand how to become a great basketball player. If you don’t know what you’re doing in basketball, how can you possibly get better? The following tips will help you learn how to play your best.
It is tempting to concentrate just on offense when just staring out, but defensive practice is absolutely vital. Defense is how you win a basketball game. Offense gets all the praise and attention, but without a good defense, any basketball team is destined to lose.
When you dribble a basketball, you are supposed to use your fingertips. Many people think you are supposed to use your palm, but this is incorrect. Using the tips of your fingers when you are dribbling the ball will result in you being able to dribble more in a shorter amount of time.
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.
Every shot should have an arc. The ball should arc at the highest point, then began descending toward the goal. This arc helps keep the ball on course. Learn how to consistently shoot using the same arc for best results. As you practice, you will learn what works best for you.
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.
Don’t just practice offense. Unlike some other sports, basketball players need to play both offense and defense constantly. There are no breaks in the game, and a great shooter can negate his or her benefit to the team by being a very poor defender. You need to become good on both ends of the court.
If you are posting up, strategic footwork is important to becoming open and making a good shot. While physical presence under a basket is important, finding a decent spot before the opponent is even more so. Once you’re in the proper position, you’ll have to then secure your spot. Footwork is the key to either of these.
Keeping calm and reacting maturely to getting beat is as important to your game as anything else. If your opponent has played harder and has out-hustled you, don’t get upset or stressed out, as your game will only suffer. Instead, think about how to match the intensity of your opponent. Beat them at their own game.
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.
Try practicing dribbling between your legs. Dribble hard and then walk over the ball, continuing the dribble when it is behind you with your other arm. When you use this trick on the court, you will find that your competitors don’t know what to do to get the ball from you.
Always know what spots on the court players are good at scoring from. You want to know this about yourself so you can make high percentage shots. You want to know this about teammates so you can pass the ball to them when they are in a killspot and open. When possible, know this about opponents in order to defend them better.
Even though dribbling movement should start with the feet and below the knees, finish or follow through the movements with your whole body. The right combination of eye and arm motions can actually throw your defender off for even a half of a second, giving you the daylight you need to make a play or pass.
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.
Be sly on your soles to catch rebounds from free-throws your own team members are making. Guards will be attempting to stop you, so get around them. Now you can achieve a proper rebound and not commit a foul.
When you are on defense, make sure to keep yourself low. This stance will keep you ready for whatever comes your way. You always want to have a strong defensive stance on the court. 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.
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.
You cannot stand under the net in a static manner if you want to catch a rebound. Where the ball will end up changes as the player with possession moves, so your position also has to be in flux. Continually readjust so you are in the best place to receive the ball.
Basketball is similar to fixing a car alone where you have an unmatched sense of pride. Find out how these useful tips can make you a better basketball player. Have fun impressing your teammates with your new skills and win all the games you can.
