People all over the world love to watch and play basketball. Many famous players, including Michael Jordan, Yao Ming, and Kobe Bryant, are global celebrities. You may not be on their level as a player, but if you love to play basketball, you can profit from reading the following tips.
Improving your flexibility will greatly help you during a game. If you’re flexible, you’ll be able to move around defenders better. Flexibility will help you to move better when you’re being blocked. You’ll be able to do more moves than others which will result in you getting the change to score or pass freely without being blocked.
Practice catching the basketball while you are moving and stopping cold for a shot. Basketball is a fast paced game, and the constant movement can throw your shot off during game time. This is especially true if you’ve practiced your shooting standing still. That is not as common in a game experience. Get the feel for moving, stopping, and shooting.
Practice your bounce pass. The bounce pass needs to reach the player at waist level. It’s generally a good idea to pass the ball about three-fourths of the distance between you and the receiving teammate. Although, there will be other circumstances that are involved too.
Work on becoming a more clever basketball player, rather than trying to master a few clever plays. Your opponents will eventually figure out your plays, but will have difficulty if they cannot anticipate your overall playing ability. Learn to be surprising, quick thinking and more agile in your ability to get the ball and work the court.
Building core muscle is key to playing great basketball. This includes their abs, lower back, and hips. Your performance is going to be sub-par if you don’t have strengthened core muscles. A strong, sturdy core allows force from the legs to fuel movements like running and jumping.
Never have your back to the ball so that you’re ready for anything in a basketball game. This will help you stay on top of quick changes in possession or plays attempted by your opponent. Always scout the court for areas that will open up and allow you to make a clear shot.
If you play organized basketball, keep track of your average fouls per minutes played. If you are not a starter who sees a lot of minutes, you want to know this just in case. You might get called on to put in a lot of minutes one game, or play repeated overtimes. The last thing you want to do is foul out because you aren’t used to playing so long.
Work on core strength when you work out. Your balance will improve if you strengthen your core. Your muscles in your buttocks, hips, abdomen, and back should be worked. Your speed and footwork can be improved by jumping rope.
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.
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.
When you have to shoot free throws in a basketball game, make sure that you clear your head before you shoot. Depending on your state of mind, free throw shots can either be your hardest or easiest shots. Try clearing your mind and concentrating on the shot. Many players find it useful to imagine the ball going into the hoop. These shots take skill and finesse so emotions like anger can negatively affect your focus and alertness.
Ball control is an essential skill for good basketball playing. One simple drill to improve your control is to use a ball in each hand for dribbling practice. Bounce one ball first and then just a second after, bounce the other. Alternate the bounce as you move down the court. As you gain more control, pick up the pace.
When dribbling, try to make your moves below your knee joints. This will mean you have to bend over to dribble the ball and move, but there are advantages. It creates a little more personal space, making the ball harder for an opponent to steal. It also makes it far easier to shake off an opponent for a drive, a shot or a pass.
Perhaps you are not quite ready for the NBA, but this does not mean that you should not focus on becoming a better basketball player. The advice that you have just read can be invaluable. Incorporate these tips into your game so that you can dominate the court the next time you play.
