Basketball is an extremely popular sport in many countries. Whether you’re watching it on TV, playing it with friends, or just playing it on your own in the driveway, basketball isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. If you would like to play and play well, it pays to practice hard in order to be the best you can be. The following tips will help you take your interest in basketball to a whole new level.
When dribbling, focus on what’s in front of you by keeping your head up. If you have to ever look at the ball while dribbling, then you haven’t practiced that enough. Bring your ball along when you go out. Try dribbling even when walking to a store. Don’t look while dribbling, because you won’t be able to see what’s going on.
Constantly practice layups. Layups sometimes wind up being 4 out of every 5 shots in basketball. When you practice, you need to be able to run toward the basket at full speed, then shoot while jumping in the air. Drill the jumping technique regularly so you can do layups very smoothly and always stay in control of where the ball is going.
Watch the pro’s play if you want to improve your game. Try to go to games, watch televised games, or check out videos of the pros playing. You’ll learn that every player is skilled at certain things and that can help you to know what you can do to get better.
You should practice against a variety of defense types, not just zone. A lot of the game is sure to be played in the zone, but your opponent could change to man-to-man coverage. If your practice hasn’t included this type of scenario, you might lose control rapidly.
Lay off the weights if you are trying to become a jump shooter. While muscle mass is good for any basketball position, perimeter play requires less than other positions. Overdeveloped muscles could actually interfere with your score percentage.
Children who aspire to become great basketball players in high school must engage in physical fitness activities that focus on the core muscles. The core is the following areas: abdominal muscles, lower back muscles and hip muscles. The core links both the lower and upper extremities. Without a strong core, they will have limited athletic performance. A core that’s solid and strong will allow you to use force that comes from your legs so you can jump higher and run faster.
Understanding the opponent is a good way to win with defense. Monitor scouting news and watch footage of other teams in action. For example, you should know which of the players are left-handed and which are right-handed. Studying your opponent is one of the best ways to be able to win the game. A knowledgeable defender is a strong defender.
As you’ve learned, there are various ways to better your game. It can be easy when you practice. Practice skills, run drills and play whenever you get the chance. You can practice in lots of ways. Play with kids for fun, play with your friends, practice with your teammates; no matter what, it will help.
