If you arrived here looking for great tips on how to play better basketball, then you’re in the right place. It doesn’t matter whether you’re new to the game or experienced, anyone can benefit with knowing some simple tips. Read on and learn, you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.
When shooting the basketball, it is important to maintain good balance. Jumping and leaning to the right or the left can result in a missed goal. Learn to jump straight up while maintaining your balance for best results. You can practice this by running and shooting the ball during your practice time.
Never pass the ball and stand still. This is a mistake most often made by those new to the game of basketball. Once you’ve passed the ball, you need to work to get into the best position possible to be passed to again or to grab a rebound from a shot.
When dribbling, try to keep the ball low to the ground. This makes it more difficult for opponents to steal the ball away from you while dribbling. Keep the ball low and pass it from hand to hand while weaving in and out through your opponents. This will help you maintain control of the ball.
Make it your goal to dribble well with both of your hands. You’ll obviously start with your strongest hand when learning, but if you want to play basketball well, you’ll need to learn how to switch it up. This way you can keep your body between the ball and your opponent, no matter what the angle.
Don’t bulk up if you want to be good as a jump shooter. It’s possible to have excessive muscles when you play the perimeter. Some pro shooting guards make their arms large enough to decrease their own field goal percentage.
Try yoga to improve your basketball game. You might not want to tell your teammates about it, since some of them are going to likely laugh. However, the increased flexibility and agility you get helps prevent injuries or at least leaves able to get back up quicker when you get knocked down. Don’t laugh; Kareem Abdul-Jabaar used it to extend his NBA career.
In order to get a good shot, good footwork is essential when posting up. There are two important points you must remember. You must create a physical presence below the basket, and you must secure a good spot in advance of your opponent. Once you’re in position, you also need to secure your spot. Good solid footwork will help you develop the skills you need for success.
As the old saying goes, there is no “I” in team. So don’t focus exclusively on trying to be the one to make all the winning points. Make sure you are just as determined to help your team members score their winning points as well. Being a team player means the whole team working together, each playing their own part to win the game.
To help your muscles get used to the change of pace in dribbling during a regular game, do 10-5 drills. Soft dribble for 5 seconds, then power dribble for 10. Do it these drills a number of times on each hand. That way, the muscles in your arms will be prepared to change pace as quickly as you need to.
Now that you read the above article, nothing should hold you back from becoming a better basketball player. All it takes is knowledge and practice your skills. If you practice what you just learned today, there is no reason why you cannot better your skills to help you succeed at basketball.