One round, orange ball. One tall net with a backboard. Ten players per team. A passion for the game of basketball. This is what you need to play, but you also need a great knowledge to play well. Continue reading to find out all you can about the ins and outs of basketball. 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. Crossovers are key for ball handlers. This is when the ball is moved from hand to hand. If order for the maneuver to be a success, it has to be performed with speed. When done correctly, a good crossover dribble assists you in being efficient and helping you change direction when you need to. Jump naturally when shooting the ball. Do not overjump or else you will throw the ball’s trajectory off course. Learn this technique by performing it in slow motion during your practice sessions. Jump vertically and do not release the ball until you are at the peak of your jump. 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. Once you’ve passed the basketball while on offense, consider doing a hard cut straight towards the basket.

Sometimes this action will break your man-to-man coverage or, at the very least, confuse the zone you are playing against. It can open you up for an easy lay up or distract the defense long enough for an easy perimeter shot for whoever currently has the ball. Get educated on the way to properly pass the ball on a bounce. It is best when the ball hits the receiving player near the waist. It’s generally a good idea to pass the ball about three-fourths of the distance between you and the receiving teammate. But, there are some factors that can change this. Even professional basketball players spend a lot of time watching other people play basketball. Go to as many pro games as possible, watch them on TV, or watch videos of them playing. This is a great way to learn new techniques to try out on the court. Do sprints in your practice drills.

Basketball is a very active sport for the entire game. And there are times in it when you need to pull up your last bit of energy for an extremely fast sprint to the opposite side of the court. Your body needs to be used to sprinting, even when worn out. You only accomplish this through practice.

Do you want to fool the other team? Make use of the back pass. To do a back pass, begin by grasping the basketball using your dominant hand. Then, bring the ball back behind you. Then you will use your wrist and flip it in the direction you want the ball to be going. This should trick the opposing team. The key for controlling the ball well is to spread your fingers. This keeps it under control. Don’t allow yourself to have your palm touching the ball either. When shooting or passing the ball, only your fingers should contact the ball. To get a rebound of a free throw that one of your teammates is taking, you need to be sly with your feet. Slip around the defender moving your way and get the ball. Doing this lets you get a rebound freely and not commit a foul in the process. Change up your pace so that you are not predictable to the offense. When you running towards the basket, try planting the front foot and start straightening up. Your opponent will assume you are slowing up, and thus will also straighten up. As they do, push forward hard and run by them. To set an effective screen, make sure that your feet are slightly wider apart than your shoulders and your arms are crossed on your chest.

The wider feet give you balance, and the crossed arms take away the temptation to reach out and bump the player as he goes by — which is a foul. To improve your perimeter shooting, it is important to practice every day from various spots on the court. An even better way to improve your accuracy is to practice shooting after pulling up from a dribble. Look at the target when you’re airborne and not a moment before. In this way, you can simulate the conditions of the game and become more accurate. The only thing you should ever pay attention to outside of the rectangle of the court is your coach yelling. Don’t mind what the fans are cheering or booing, or even how many people are in attendance. Certainly never listen to your parents. Your coach let you on the team and decides your playing time, not mom and dad. While you likely already have the passion, and the ball, you also need the knowledge to be a successful basketball player. With this article already under your belt, you are ready to start using its tips. Continue checking out other expert articles to learn more so you can better your game.