Playing Basketball Is Fun And A Great Workout How much do you know about basketball? Whether you're just now getting into playing the game or you're a seasoned veteran, you can always learn some new techniques. Maybe you'd like to learn fancy tricks, or perhaps you want to play better defense. This article is going to guide you with a few helpful tips during your quest. When you are practicing your shooting, make sure that you practice shots that you may be required to make during a game. You should try to shoot the ball while moving around, standing still, and right after you receive a pass. You can have someone toss you a ball while you're running in order to practice taking a shot after the ball has been passed to you. Crossovers are key for ball handlers. This move entails transferring the basketball from your left hand to your right hand and back again. Crossovers must be done quickly to keep defenders at bay. Crossovers can help you get out of a tight spot. When shooting, always arc the shot, never throw straight. You have a much better chance of making your baskets when there is an arc on your shots. If you do not know how much arc to put into your shooting, find one that works best for you during practice and try to consistently produce the same arc during games. It is important that you practice layups. This is the most popular shot in basketball. Dribble the ball in front of you while taking large strides followed by a smooth shot. Practicing the running and jumping method will help you shoot better this way in a game. 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. It is important to know the right way to throw a bounce pass. A useful bounce pass will hit the receiving player at waist level. The ideal bounce pass should land about 3/4 of the way between you and the receiver. But, there are some factors that can change this. It is important to stay focused during the game. If you miss a shot, brush it off and continue with the game. Although you may feel bad about missing a shot, it is important to regain your focus quickly and continue on. Remember that even the professionals miss shots. Ball control is an essential skill for good basketball playing. One simple drill to improve your control is to use a ball in each hand for dribbling practice. Bounce one ball first and then just a second after, bounce the other. Alternate the bounce as you move down the court. As you gain more control, pick up the pace. Want to try a drill which will really work you out? Try dribbling with two balls at once! This will help you learn to master dribbling with both hands, plus it will build your arm muscles very quickly. You can't use your eyes for this exercise, so you will learn to dribble without looking at your hands. Three pointers are a very attractive part of a basketball game. One way to achieve making more three-pointers is by using a drill where you start five feet away from the goal. Once you hit a net shot from there, move back a few feet until you hit another net shot. You keep moving back until you're on the three point line, and of course you should be jogging for conditioning purposes as well. Vision is one of the most important aspects of basketball. Specifically your peripheral vision is an area that you need to work on improving. You will be able to read the defense, see open teammates and locate scoring opportunities if you can learn to use your peripheral vision during the game. To get an amazing arm workout, dribble the ball on a patch of dirt. This will take a lot of power as the dirt absorbs most of the energy you put into the ball when it hits. Do this for a few minutes, but don't over exert yourself or you could hurt your arm. Getting rebounds help your team get or keep control of the ball. Predict where the basketball may go and keep moving. Where the ball ends up depends on where the original shot was made, the force of the shot and where the ball hits the basket or backboard. It is more difficult to predict the position of the ball for longer shots. Try practicing dribbling between your legs. Dribble hard and then walk over the ball, continuing the dribble when it is behind you with your other arm. When you use this trick on the court, you will find that your competitors don't know what to do to get the ball from you. To help improve your basketball playing skills you will need to learn how to jump higher. One way that you can get better at this is by doing calf raises. Improving the strength of your legs, especially your calves will help you get more lift. Not only do you need to jump higher, you also need to be quicker, too. While you're dribbling the basketball it is wise to bend your knees. The ball is harder to control dribbling when you stand up straight. It also leaves you open to a steal from the opposing team. Bending your knees slightly will improve your overall ability to control the ball. To be sure that you are not withdrawing your hand too quickly when you take a shot, leave it up after the ball has left your hand for two seconds. If you pull your hand back too early, you can under power your shot or cause the ball to go off target. It's time to take everything you've learned and use that enthusiasm to make improvements. It is wonderful to learn new things and have them work. Keep these tips in mind to show others what you know. Basketball is a great sport to have fun with!