Did you know that there are an estimated 450 million people across the globe that play basketball? While playing basketball is fun, it isn’t uncommon to wonder about how to get better at basketball. There are many benefits of basketball that people enjoy, and it is no surprise that millions of kids grow up dreaming of becoming a professional basketball player.
Basketball is a very skilled game and even the best professional basketball player needs basketball tips in order to improve their game. While fancy equipment like the best basketball shoes might help a bit, there are other things that are more effective at helping you to become a better basketball player.
The good news is that you’ve come to the right place to learn some tips that will help your game. Continue reading for nine helpful basketball tips for you to start using today.
1. Focus On Dribbling
Ball control is one of the most important skills to have when it comes to playing basketball. Dribbling and ball control help you to maneuver throughout the basketball court to either find open teammates or find a chance to shoot the ball. To work on your dribbling keep your body in an athletic position.
Balance is the most important piece of the puzzle when it comes to improving your dribbling. Try to dribble the ball outside of your outer foot with a bounce height that allows you to pick up your dribble and shoot in a quick fashion. Using power to dribble the basketball is a great way to improve your ball handling.
Once you’ve got a good handle on things, you can try different dribbling moves like a crossover. This will make you even more difficult to guard once you master different dribbling moves.
2. Find Your Weaknesses
Every basketball player has a weakness. Some can’t dribble with their non-dominant hand, while others can’t shoot layups with their non-dominant hand. Others are great shooters but aren’t great dribbles. One of the most important parts of becoming a better basketball player is finding your weaknesses and improving them.
The best way to do this is to focus your time and energy on improving your skills in that area. If you struggle with lefthanded layups then spend extra time working on lefthanded layups. Once you get better at that you can start to focus on lefthanded dribbling to make yourself more difficult to stop.
3. Practice at Game Speed
It is easy to look good shooting or dribbling when you have all of the time in the world, but what happens to those skills and abilities when you’re thrown into a game with someone guarding you? Practicing at game speed is crucial because it helps your body get used to performing those motions when they matter most.
A good example of this is a player that makes every shot during warmups but then can’t make any shots during a game. If this happens to you then it likely means that you’re not practicing at the same speed at which you’re playing in games. For more information, visit this website.
4. Get In Better Shape
Basketball is a tiring and physically demanding game. In order to improve your basketball skills, you’ll need to get in better shape. The more tired you get, the shorter your jump shot range gets and you’ll be less effective guarding opposing players.
In order to improve your basketball skills, you’ll need to start running and getting stronger in your free time. Running will give you the endurance needed to keep up with other players and strength will enable you to play a more physical style of basketball.
5. Lower Body Shooting Mechanics
Most people think that the most important part of shooting is what you do with your upper body. The process of shooting a basketball uses every part of the human body so the lower body is just as important. Start by making sure that your toes are pointed in the same direction.
Square your toes towards the rim and then work on finding a stance that feels comfortable for you. A good approach is to focus on feeling the power travel from your feet into your upper legs as you start the process of jumping to shoot the basketball. A good way to practice good lower body shooting form is to go through your shooting mechanics in front of a mirror.
6. Work On Hand Alignment
Another important factor when it comes to your shot in basketball is hand alignment. Your hands have a big impact on your shooting accuracy and consistency. Try to hold the ball using your finger pads rather than your palm as this gives you better control. You also need to try to keep your elbow and your wrist aligned with the rim when you shoot the ball.
7. Watch College Basketball
College basketball is a great tool for improving your basketball abilities. It has a longer shot clock than the NBA so it provides time for teams to run an offense and you to watch how and where the players move. It teaches you to rely on your teammates rather than your personal abilities.
8. Learn To Create Space
One of the keys to taking good shots in basketball is learning how to create space between you and your defender. This helps you to get a clean shot away and increase your odds of scoring points.
There are things like feet positioning that will help you determine the best way to dribble and how to create the space needed for a shot.
9. Be Confident
It is only natural in basketball that you’re going to miss some shots. Just because you miss a couple of shots doesn’t mean that you should stop shooting completely. The only way that you’ll gain the confidence in games to become a better player is by staying confident and using the games to let your talent shine through.
Now You Know How to Get Better at Basketball
Learning how to get better at basketball is a crucial step when you’re trying to improve your game. By working on different skills you’ll make yourself more well-rounded and difficult to guard for opposing players. It is important that you work on growing these skills and identifying your weaknesses.
For more insightful articles on a range of topics, be sure to check out our website.
