Trying to learn about basketball is easy when you have someone show you simple strategies about the game. If you would like to understand why people do certain things in basketball, then read on for excellent tips on basketball playing strategies. Down below is great advice that come from the pros which help them play better basketball.
Learn proper dribbling. Use fingertips to dribble. Using your fingers allows you to better control the basketball. Dribble on the sides of your body instead of directly before you, and bounce it waist level. Keep your head up, do not stare down towards the ground.
Learn how to block out movement, noise and other distractions when taking a free throw. You’re able to train your whole body to do full free throw motions, but if you’re not mentally prepared, you will fail. Be relaxed and concentrate on the basket and you will help you make more free throws.
If you play serious team basketball, jump rope for thirty minutes before practice sessions. You’ll get used to playing basketball already winded and tired. Doing this can make you very prepared to make shots in late game situations, as your conditioning is already a notch above anyone else just showing up to practice.
Keep your footwork in mind while playing defense. Taking short steps will give you a better foothold on your opponent. Remember to push off your front foot. When you take long steps, it is more difficult to defend against a driving opponent. Check your distance from your opposing player by extending one arm.
When a teammate passes you the ball, make the most out of it. If you have an open shot, go ahead and shoot. If you do not have an open shot or think that you can get open, do the right thing and pass it along to another teammate. They may have the shot that you don’t.
Learn how to turn on your pivot foot when stopped with the ball. Being able to pivot is an important skill to learn. If you’ve pulled up your dribble, you can no longer take any steps forward. That means your back foot can’t move. But you can pivot on it to face different directions and fake out an opponent. It can help you out of a jam.
Beware of picking up bad habits from street basketball games. Street games are often rougher and flashier than team basketball. It’s a game to impress through individual showmanship, not from your work as part of a bigger group. Therefore, you can bring the wrong skills to the table if you base your team play on what you’ve learned from street games. Remember, you are part of something bigger than just you.
Anyone can learn basketball when they have pros explaining to them what it is all about. The tips and strategies you just learned all come from those pros. Take the information you learned today to help you the next time you out to play basketball, or you decide to watch it on TV.