Are you into basketball as a sport? Do you think that you could benefit from some helpful information? This article is here to help guide you to becoming a better basketball player. Read through the following information so that you can find out what it takes to shine on the court.
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 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.
When you dribble, make sure that you use fingertips instead of palms. This gives you much more control over the ball. Using your palms can cause the ball to go all over the place on the court, whereas using your fingertips keeps it under your control when you have to run.
Work on flexibility. Flexibility is very important during basketball. This is because you may have to stretch to grab a ball that is in the air. Additionally, increased flexibility helps protect your tendons and joints from the damage caused during this fast playing sport. Do flexibility exercises often and always stretch before beginning any game.
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.
During your workouts, concentrate on improving your footwork as well as your core strength. Your body will be able to move quicker and be more balanced when you have srong core muscles. Concentrate your efforts on the back, abdomen, buttocks and hips. As with boxing, you can increase footwork speed and dexterity by jumping rope.
Learn how to use your hips, eyes, shoulders and entire body while dribbling. This can easily shake a defender off of you while dribbling if you look one way and move another. They are watching your body for clues to where you are going next. Use this to your advantage and throw them incorrect clues to get around them.
Well are you ready to go make a slam dunk? That’s the spirit! Maybe you’ll hold off on that one for awhile, but surely you’ve learned some great tips to get you going. Basketball is a lot of fun, and as you learn more, you get more confident about your abilities.