Use These Tips To Become A Better Basketball Player

It is tough to argue with the immense popularity enjoyed by the sport of basketball. Given the incredible numbers of individuals who love playing and watching basketball, there really must be something appealing about it. If you are curious about the sport and want to discover more about it, you have come to the right place.

When you're passing the ball, make sure that you pass the ball to the location of where the person should be headed. You don't want your pass to be the reason a person needs to slow down or double back. Your pass should be aimed for a little bit in front of the person that you are passing to.

Try practice rebound drills that will help you learn to rebound outside your area in basketball. Great rebounders will try to get the ball no matter its location. Poor rebounders will remain still and watch the ball since they think they can't reach it. To learn rebounding out of your area, run some drills that causes the ball to go far away from you. One way is to throw it off the back board and go after it.

When you have the ball, make sure you change your direction frequently. The entire court is open to you, and it is important to take advantage of that fact. As you move to the right or the left, make sure you shift your weight accordingly to have the easiest experience moving with the ball.

Make sure that you practice your layups frequently. Eighty percent of the shots taken in a game are layups. When practicing this technique, run toward the goal and shoot. If you can do this right, you can master this shot.

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.

Never leave the practice court without taking some practice shots. Do some free throws, lay-ups and 3-point throws every practice before you leave. Of course you are doing some shooting during practice, but this additional practice will help you in the long run. Keep practicing your shooting on a daily basis.

Make layups count by taking off with the foot that is opposite to your shooting hand. This will allow you to shoot with your comfortable hand. Your body will develop good coordination and you keep your defender at a distance.

In order to play basketball you need to have good legs and be free from injuries. Unfortunately many people who play basketball develop injuries to their ankles. You can prevent these injuries by getting yourself a good pair of basketball shoes. Although they are pricier these days, it's well worth it if you want to prevent those horrible ankle injuries.

The numbers do not lie. Basketball is among the most popular sports in the world, both for playing and for watching. The article above was intended to function as a useful guide to help readers maximize their enjoyment of basketball, regardless of their current level of knowledge, skill or understanding.