All kinds of people love the game of basketball. However, it’s not always easy to become a good player. You do not need to be a great player, the point of the game is to have fun. Continue to read and learn more about basketball.
Look forward when dribbling. You need more practice if you feel that you cannot dribble without focusing on the ball. One of the best ways to improve your dribbling is to bring your ball along anytime you need to walk somewhere. Dribble as you walk to the market. By looking forward instead of at the basketball, you are able to see the happenings on the court.
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.
Practice as many different shots as you can. You never know when you will need one during a game. If you only practice bank shots, then you will feel less comfortable making a 3-point shot or a lay-up. Practice them all and you will see improvements in all of your shots.
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.
When you play basketball, be sure that you remain properly hydrated. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after playing. Becoming dehydrated can negatively affect your game and your health. It is possible to lose up to 2% of your body weight through dehydration. That can also cause between a 10% and 20% decrease in your athletic performance.
Jump on the ground and dive for those loose balls. Don’t be afraid to hit the ground hard and get a little hustle on. Not only will this help the team, but the coach will surely notice your improved effort. Team moral is always a good thing to keep in high numbers.
If you are going to get rebounds in basketball, it is important to get between the person you are guarding and the basket. Then back up against that person and start moving him away from the basket. This way, if he tries to go through you or over you to get the rebound, he has to foul you.
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.
Set up an obstacle course with chairs or pylons and then dribble around them. This will help you learn how to get around opponents while keeping control of the ball. As you get better, make sure your back is to the obstacle as you go by to protect the ball from it.
In order to become better at dribbling the ball you should learn how to practice using your weak hand. Utilizing both hands to dribble the basketball and switching effortlessly is key to advantage over an opponent. Tie your strong hand to the rear of your back to ensure you only use your weaker hand. Your weak hand won’t be that for long!
Practice moving the ball from one courtside to the other in just 5 dribbles of the ball. You will need to learn how to push the basketball in front of you while making long strides. This drill can help you to have success with lay-ups during a fast break.
To inbound a basketball, you need to be able to learn to fake defenders out. You can use the ball to fake in one direction and then pass in another. Defenders often will jump at your first fake, giving your teammate the chance to get wide open. Use this to beat those opponents who try to cheat the pass.
A bounce pass is a good option if you are being heavily defended by one opponent. A defender who does not see the bounce pass coming will be thrown off his game. Keep your bounce passes as simple as possible to avoid a turnover. This maneuver helps get the ball to a teammate who is in a better position to score.
Now are you prepared to take on the game and show off your skills? You might, but you need to practice before you can do that. Start being excited and then get motivated to start playing basketball today! Soon, you’ll notice you are doing better with your game because of the information here.