The sport of basketball offers a terrific way to stay physically fit and also serves as one of the most popular spectator sports around. But, to really gain the sort of benefits from basketball that you desire, an in ground basketball hoop. Keep reading to gain some wonderful basketball tips and pointers.

For lightening fast dribbling, just like the pros, only use your finger tips on the ball. When you use all of your fingers, your dribbling will be much slower. Make this a part of your daily practice sessions until it becomes second nature to dribble with only the tips of your fingers.

Free throw practice is vitally important. The execution of a free throw is not as simple as it may appear. Make sure that you’re applying the following technique when practicing. Begin by bringing the ball up to eye level. Look at the basket and imagine the ball going in it. Then shoot! Shoot the ball in the trajectory you imagined.

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 not always necessary to dribble the ball. In fact, you should only dribble it when it is part of your play. For instance, you will want to dribble the ball when you are trying to get the ball up the court, to get in a position for passing, or to get the defense off you.

Being a good player isn’t all about displaying physical skills and making all the shots. There is a lot of mental preparation that goes into being a team player. Don;t just focus on what you can do to be better but think about what you can do to be a better team member too.

If your shooting is suffering, take a close look at your shoulders. When your shoulders are positioned improperly, you will never make the basket regardless of how good your abilities are. Keep your shoulders squared with the basket at all times. The dominant shoulder needs to be aligned correctly with the rim.

Learn how to do a crossover if you plan to be in possession of the ball a lot. Crossovers are when you move the ball from one hand to the other while dribbling. If done quickly, the opposition won’t be able to get the ball away from you as you can pass it to the side they are not on.

Work on passing through your legs to add another skill to your arsenal. Try practicing this by bouncing your ball hard in between your legs while stepping forward or backward. Mastering this technique can give you a significant advantage.

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.

When you are passing the ball, get used to looking in the other direction. It can be very confusing to your opponents. When you do this right, looking this way will make the opponents go to the wrong place so that when you pass the other person has a better chance at making a shot. You must practice this move with your teammates so that everyone on your team understands what is going on.

Keep a basketball in your hands or arms as much as you can. This pertains to off the court. Dribble whenever and wherever you can. Just carry a basketball around with you, playing with it gently when safe. You want to be as familiar with a basketball as any part of your own body.

To play the best defense, you have to beat your man to the place he wants to go and force him to go somewhere else. This means that your feet have to move quickly, so practice shuffling from side to side without crossing your feet. This is the quickest way to move laterally on the floor and will frustrate your man.

In order to confuse the offense, try changing your pace. When you’re moving towards the net, act like you’re going to straighten up. The guard will assume you’re slowing down and start to straighten up, too. When they do, push ahead hard and outrun them.

Many basketball players want to gain weight to play more physically. This is especially true for taller players who play near the basket. To gain weight, lift weights and eat a balanced diet, including a lot of fruits and vegetables. Of course you should know not to use steroids to gain muscle mass.

A chest pass is one of the best ways to get the ball to your teammate. As long as no one from the other team is standing between you and your intended recipient, go for it. You can pass with a step for more power, or without a step to move the ball rapidly.

Learning to lose gracefully is part of the game. Nobody enjoys being with a player who responds in an ugly manner to not winning. That means no tantrums or outburst or blaming others for mistakes they made. Know that everyone tried their best and that each game you lose still teaches you something valuable.

An appreciation of basketball can lead you toward heightened physical fitness or just a fun way to spend time with friends and family. Learning all you can about basketball can open the door to an entirely new lifestyle. Keep the above information and advice close at hand and start taking full advantage of everything basketball can offer.