Never let bad habits get in the way of making your basketball game all it can be. A bit of advice can go a long way in making you an amazing player. The easy to implement tips below can help you inspire you into becoming an amazing basketball player on the court.

Practice your free throw shot. This seemingly simple shot can be difficult to execute under game conditions. Try using this technique in practicing. Begin by holding the ball directly in front of your face. Then, look at the ball and visualize it going in the basket. Next, take your shot seeing the ball move in the trajectory you envisaged for it.

If you feel you've been spending too much time on the the bench, ask your basketball coach what you can do to help the team the next time you are in practice. Hang on every word he or she says. cardboardmonocle This will demonstrate your intense interest in helping the team win by improving your own play and should get you more game time!

When rebounding, start moving as soon as the shooter uncoils. When you react and move quicker, you better anticipate their moves and get more rebounds. When they start to uncoil, start contact by blocking them out. Make sure to do the same thing on offense since the shooter will most likely try to uncoil after the rebound. This can boost your number of rebounds.

When playing basketball, remember that you are playing on a team. Don't be a "ball hog." A team is like a support system and your teammates are there to help you and you should be there to help them. The objective of the game is to work together to beat the opponent.

When you are playing in a game, try your best to forget your misses. Nothing good can come from you dwelling on the last shot you missed or the last 20 you missed. Each shot is a new opportunity to score. Stay clam and keep trying even if you miss a few. Dwelling on the miss will lead to you overreacting and missing even more.

Learn how to be patient and trust your teammates during games. Many players fall into the trap of not passing the ball and trying to do it all themselves. You need to trust them and pass the ball. This is a team sport and passing is part of what helps your team win games.

Keep your footwork in mind while playing defense. Taking short steps will give you a better foothold on your opponent. Remember to push off your front foot. When you take long steps, it is more difficult to defend against a driving opponent. Check your distance from your opposing player by extending one arm.

One of the best ways to play a strong defensive game is to know your opponent. You should be look at scouting reports, practicing techniques and watch tapes. Find out who are the right-handed or left-handed players. When you know more about the opposing team, you will play a better defense. Strong defenders are knowledgeable defenders.

If you're shooting isn't what you'd like it to be, make sure that your shoulders are in the correct position. You won't be able to make a shot if your shoulders aren't in the right position. count-room Ensure that you line up your shoulders so that they are squared with the basketball net. The shoulder that's dominant should be in line with the rim.

Always know where the other players are, both on your team and the opposition. You need to know who is close enough to steal the ball from you, who you can pass to and who might be able to rebound if you miss. Staying on top of the game means knowing the lay of the land.

Quickness is a virtue in basketball. If you want the advantage, you need to be quicker than your opponents. You will have to do a lot of drilling to play faster. However, don't try and push past your limits. If you try to rush your play, and can't keep up, you will turn the ball over or make unforced mistakes.

All it takes is using the tips you've read here to become a better player. Use what you've learned to replace your bad basketball habits with improved skills you've gained from this article. When you begin to implement changes, you will find that you never look back on your old self.