Many games come and go, but basketball is one that sticks around. Kids start playing at young ages and many keep playing well into their adult years. The key is to understand how the pros and skilled players do their thing. Knowledge of these skills are what you will find ahead in this article.
Practice dribbling the ball on a number of different surfaces. As you get used to how the ball reacts, you will be able to adjust your game accordingly. How you handle the ball can make or break the game. Turnovers lead to points that your team may not be able to recover from, so your skills in this area need to be solid.
When you think you have a good shot, take it. This can be difficult to learn. There is a balance between not shooting enough and shooting too often. You never want to miss out on taking a great shot because you are looking to pass, but you do not want to miss on a couple of points because you do not make the pass.
Practice lay ups over and over. The lay up is one of the most basic basketball shots out there. And you should never let this easy opportunity to score pass you by. While simple, it still takes practice in game-like scenarios to make sure you aren’t laying the ball up too hard or at a bad angle. Get the rhythm down and practice it repeatedly.
Make layups a part of your daily practice regimen. In a typical game, up to four-fifths of all shots are layups. Practice running while dribbling, jumping and shooting as smoothly as you can. This will assist you in perfecting your ability to jump and then shoot.
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.
To get a good workout at practice, dribble back and forth on the court. Start by running to the free throw line, then go back to the end of the court. Then dribble to the middle and then go back, then to the far free throw line and then go back again, and then the entire length of the court.
Add stretching to your warm up, cool down, and work out routines. Stretching helps give you a wider range of motion with your arms and legs. That’s critical to basketball. It’ll allow you to do things with the basketball that others will find impossible, including between the leg dribbling and behind the back passing.
You can prevent other players from stealing the ball from you by dribbling hard. The ball will get back to the hand faster, giving the other team less of an opportunity to grab it away. Stop dribbling when people guard you too closely.
Perform drills in which you move the ball up the court in just five dribbles. You will need to learn how to push the basketball in front of you while making long strides. Mastering this skill can help you to really improve your game.
If you can dribble with both hands, you will truly be a threat to the opposing team. You can go left or right around a guard without worrying about losing the ball. Practice dribbling with both hands at the same time to build your skill without staring at the ball.
If you are weaker with one hand when it comes to dribbling, only dribble with that hand. In fact, take a ball with you wherever you go and practice while you are out and about. You will find your skills improve the more that you are able to practice with your bad hand.
There aren’t many games like basketball. In fact, it is almost one of a kind. That is why it is important to really learn from articles like this one and others. Use what you have seen here and get your skill level up. Don’t be afraid to be the best baller you can.