Want To Be A Better Basketball Player? Read These Tips.

Do you want to learn about basketball? Don’t worry, you are not alone! Few people know what it takes to shoot, pass, and block like professional players. In this article, you will learn some professional basketball tricks.

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.

As you dribble, bring your body down just a little closer to the ground. This will make it easier to bounce the ball. If the ball has a shorter distance to travel between the ground and your hand, you are less likely to make a mistake that leads to a turnover.

When you are in control of the ball, make sure you always pay attention to what is happening on the court. Know where the other players are. Don not stare at the ground. If you do, there is no way for you to have the type of court awareness that you need to be successful.

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.

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.

Play solo basketball in the months leading up to the season, as well as during the season itself. Even though you play on a team, practicing alone can be helpful. That should not matter. You can still practice when playing alone. Work on free throws and pivot moves. You can always practice something.

Being a good player isn’t all about displaying physical skills and making all the shots. There is a lot of mental preparation that goes into being a team player. Don;t just focus on what you can do to be better but think about what you can do to be a better team member too.

Where are your feet? You will be called out of bounds if even one toe is touching the baseline as you hold the ball. Also, you can cause a turnover if you walk without dribbling the ball. You can’t move a foot when you take a charge, pick or screen either, or it’s a foul.

Knowing how to handle the basketball is an important step in becoming a good player. Work hard to perfect your dribble with your weaker hand. The ability to dribble the ball well with both hands will keep opponents guessing. When you are able to take off dribbling to the right or the left, opponents will have a hard time predicting where you will go.

Now you should know all about how to play basketball like a pro and enjoy it. But, now that this article has been read, you should be prepared to start playing like a professional. It’s time to plan a game, so you can utilize what you’ve just learned.