How to Improve Your Basketball Skills

Do you want to be a good basketball player? Whether you’re new to the game or just planning to get out of the crowd to get in on the game, there are always ways to improve your basketball skills. Even the best basketball player has to practice hard every day! Work on developing your stance and learning how to dribble better, and eventually the NBA will welcome you.

Table of Contents

Practice dribbling (basic)

Ball in the right position. Knees shoulder width apart and always ready to move on two feet. Do not lock the knees. When kneading, you must not bounce the ball higher than your waist. To avoid losing the ball you should not bounce the ball higher than mid-thigh.

Learn to stuff. When you first learn to play basketball you have to practice as much as you can, to feel the ball and use the right amount of force when stuffing. It is better to practice with each hand to easily dribble the ball to the right and then to the left. Alternately hit the ball with strong force and very light.

A good dribbling exercise will start with twenty consecutive strokes with the right hand, then switch to the left hand for twenty consecutive strokes. Do this three times at the beginning of the session and three times at the end.
Initially, you stand still, but bend your knees and bounce on your toes to keep your body moving. When you get used to the motion of standing still, you can switch to walking while kneading. After walking and dribbling proficiently, you start running.

Change your hand on the go. This is called ball diversion stuffing. Start dribbling the ball from one end of the court to the other in a zigzag pattern: two steps forward to the right, then bounce through the left hand and two steps forward to the left. After going all the way, you practice the same way for the opposite direction.

Line up a row of tactical practice cones in a straight line, each 4m apart to push the ball back and forth.

Look straight ahead. One of the most important skills when learning to hit the ball is to stuff without looking at the ball. It’s a bit difficult at first but eventually you’ll get the feel of the ball without looking. Pick a spot (like the rim of a basketball court) to focus on while you’re kneading and work through the exercise.

Ball continuously. Learn to ‘feel’ the ball at all times, control the ball and be able to do anything with it.

Try not to let the ball touch your palm. Proper dribbling must be done with the fingers.
Spend all your free time practicing dribbling. Knead the ball up and down the court or anywhere you can practice. Squeeze the ball when going to school or to a friend’s house to play. Practicing a lot is a very important factor.

Practice dribbling (advanced)

Develop a quick dribbling technique. Fast dribbling is like the “run” phase in crawl-on-run development. When starting out, the biggest concern is that the ball bounces back into the correct hand position, but the ultimate goal is to make sure the ball bounces back to your hand as quickly, with as much power and control as possible.

The key is in the wrist. To develop a quick dribbling technique, alternate dribbling as you normally would with a few levels stronger dribbling. Do not hit the ball so hard that you lose control: pat the ball firmly several times without letting your right hand rise when you put it back down, then switch to normal dribbling.
Practice kneading the ball on the sand. You have to hit the ball harder so it bounces back at the same speed as you did on hard ground. When you get used to it, you can move back to the field to practice as usual.

Practice fast ball turning. Ball diversion is a technique of dribbling the ball back and forth between two hands. Fast dribbling makes it difficult for defenders to steal the ball or help you pass. In the late 90s Allen Iverson was famous for being able to maneuver the ball extremely quickly and strongly.

Start dribbling four times with the right hand and the fifth time with a strong push, redirecting the ball to the left hand. Repeat the same for the left hand. Then hit three times before turning the ball, reduce it to two, finally dribble the ball back and forth between the hands a few times with great force, then gradually increase the number of strokes.

Squeeze the sprint ball. Run fast on the field while dribbling the ball fast. Stuff the ball from the touchline to the free-throw line and back again, then hit the ball to the three-point line and back again, continue to stuff all the way to the center of the court and back, finally stuffing all the way. Tap the line each time a point is reached.

Stuff two balls. When you are really confident with your fast dribbling ability, you try to practice dribbling two balls at the same time. The exercise gives you a better sense of the ball and can be done unconsciously. If you can quickly stuff two balls at the same time throughout the length of the field, you have mastered the technique of stuffing.

Practice throwing the ball into the basket (Mechanics)

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Remember the formula CMKR+T when throwing. This formula helps you remember the basics of pitching technique:

C = Balance. Remember to balance before throwing the ball. Feet shoulder width apart, knees bent, and ready to jump.
M = Eyes see. Eyes on the basket when throwing. Imagine there is a lemon balanced right in front of the basket and your task is to hit it.
K = Elbow. Bring your elbow to throw the ball at you when you are about to throw.
R = Leaning forward. You have to lean on the throw; the pitcher looks like you’re reaching for a cookie box on a high shelf.
T = Concentration. This is the most important part of the throwing technique. Focus on where the ball is headed. Once you decide to throw, you have to put your mind to it.

Practice throwing the ball “one-handed”. Throwing is mainly in your dominant hand, so you should practice in this hand. If you are right-handed, the purpose of your left hand is to stabilize the ball when preparing to throw. The left hand is only responsible for making sure the ball does not slip from the right hand. Although you must not use this technique while the game is in progress, when you are awarded a free throw it increases your probability of hitting the target.

Use the inside of the fingers to hold the shadow so that the light can be seen passing through the fingers. When you throw the ball, you push the ball towards the target while rolling it back towards you. It’s called “ball rotation”.
Practice throwing the ball while lying down. Throw the ball straight into the air and catch it back. You can practice for hours while listening to music, or when you have trouble sleeping. With a lot of practice, you will feel like the ball is part of an arm extending into the rim of the basket.

Practice on the basket from both sides. ^{[1] X Basket technique research source} mainly revolves around dribbling, mechanics, and approach. Using the right posture you will always succeed in the basket. Basket practice with your non-dominant hand is a great way to turn yourself into a player who is hard to catch.

Stuck the ball close to the basket from the three-point line on a diagonal line. When you reach the limit line you will only be two steps away from the basket. If you’re holding the ball on the right, dribble one last time with your right foot up the line, then pick up the momentum and jump up with your left foot. If you are holding the ball to the left, do the opposite.
While holding the ball on the right, bring your right hand up with the ball and at the same time raise your right knee. Imagine elbows and knees tied together by a rope. Drop the ball into the basket by aiming at the top right corner of the board behind the rim. Don’t try to bounce the ball down hard because the inertia of the jump in and up is enough to get all the work done getting the ball into the basket.

Practice throwing the ball into the basket (Exactly)

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Go around the world. Once you understand the mechanics of the pitch, you begin to practice throwing from different positions on the field. To practice throwing, you should find a friend to catch the bounce and pass it back to you. This exercise is done in at least 7 positions, but you can adjust to your needs. You must practice hitting the basket in each position before moving to a new position on the court. Try to throw as quickly and accurately as possible.

Start with the movement on the basket to throw the ball. Immediately run to the boundary line at the midpoint of the limit line and the three-point line. Ask your friend to pass the ball to you and continue to throw the ball from that position until it hits the basket. From there run to a point between the corner of the goal line and the touchline, continue to throw the ball. Then move to the corner, then the free throw line. Continue to move around the limit line until you have covered all the positions around it.
Expand the practice area to the same points on the three-point line, after repeatedly hitting the basket at the position around the limit line. Like Brennan Idor.

Throw the ball from the free-throw line until you can with your eyes closed. The free throw is an unobstructed throw, which best demonstrates the mechanical principle of the throw. You mustn’t let your feet leave the ground, so you must practice perfect movement and accuracy.

See how many consecutive free throws you can hit.
Practice free throws when your body is cold and when you are tired you can’t breathe. If you can hit the free throw after you’ve been exhausted from throwing around the lines or practicing dribbling, you’re fit for the game.

Practice jumping back throws, hooks and close range throwing techniques while being tackled. Throwing the ball into the basket when being tackled is never easy. If you are just practicing alone and shooting from all distances, you will be shocked when you enter the game and will not be able to shoot the basket. Defenders will chase you, block in front and try to steal or block the ball.

A quick turn or back throw requires you to jerk your arm back. The throwing power from the foot push will be lost.

Game “Horse” in basketball. This game is great for developing throwing accuracy from any position on the field. When it’s your turn to throw, of course you’ll want to throw in an easy position, but when someone is forced to make the throw according to the same principles and position as yours, things get interesting. than.

Defense practice

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Practice defensive posture. ^{[2] X Research Source} To become a complete basketball player, you need not only the technique of throwing the ball from the three-point line, but also the ability to back up and defend and block the shot. The first step when you want to play defensively is to master the standing position.

Stand with your feet wide with your body weight on top of your feet. Lower your butt and push your hips back.
Both arms are always raised forward. Don’t reach or touch your opponent too much because then you will make a mistake. Use your arms to distract your opponent and try to block a pass or throw.
Focus on your opponent’s waist and chest, not the ball. That way you will realize his intention to move.
Remember not to focus on your opponent’s stomach or feet. They will beat you and score every time you do so.

Practice horizontal steps. The side step (a quick side move) is a basic basketball technique that helps you move up and down the court. Practice turning by having your teammates dribble the ball left and right. Move back and forth in a defensive position while imitating your opponent’s movements.

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Block the opponent’s path with your feet. Push your opponent to the goal line by placing your front foot in the middle of the way he is approaching the basket. So if he has to go back to the middle of the field, you use your right foot to lead him to the left. Your task is to block the access to the restricted area and the basket, so trying to push the opponent aside will ruin their attack plan.

Have a teammate push the ball from side to side. Play defensively with your hands behind your back, forcing the pitcher to change direction with your feet. You have to step quickly across the court to catch the ball and orient the ball holder.

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Don’t jump up. A common mistake made by players is frequently jumping up to try to block the throw. When your feet leave the ground you cannot defend effectively. If you think the opponent is about to throw the ball, now put your hands up but don’t jump. Obstructing the line of sight to the basket is just as effective as blocking.

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Prevent the opponent from picking up the ball and pop the board. When the ball bounces off the board, you must move in front of the opponent to block and not let the ball catch.

Enhance team play

Learn to pass the ball. It sounds simple, but the ability to pass quickly and accurately makes the difference between a cohesive squad and a collection of individual players. Even though they are all good players, you need to learn how to play as a team to be able to win on the field. Group exercises that will help your team pass the ball more efficiently:

Pass the ball fast. Play as a group of 5, passing the ball quickly along the court without dribbling, without letting the ball touch the floor or without moving your feet while the ball is in your hand.
Pass the ball to the music. Have someone control the background music and suddenly stop the music. Anyone holding the ball when spitting stops will be disqualified. You should pass the ball quickly and accurately without stuffing the ball. When you receive the ball you must find the passer immediately.

Find out your role in the squad. ^{[3] X Research Source} If playing in a team you will have your specific mission. You may want to play back to shoot for three points every time you receive the ball, but that’s usually not the center’s job. Talk to teammates and coaches to find out where you need to play in each match.

The ball defender is the coordinator on the field. In this position you have to observe the game and build a defensive formation. You have to pass the ball for your teammates and be a good finisher. You need to be able to handle the ball well and see the game.
The scorer is the one who assists the defender to coordinate the ball. Often this is the best finisher or best defensive player on the team.
The secondary striker has the most uncertain role. He needs to know how to score well with the ability to catch the ball on the board when attacking and defending, having good vision to throw the ball to the defender to open another attack.
The main striker is a good defensive player, blocks the ball and plays well in the restricted area. This is probably the position that needs the best health in the team.
The striker is probably the tallest player on the team. You must also be a good bouncer and passer, with limited area control when attacking.
Use other players for inspiration. When watching a game in the NBA or at school, you should observe players playing in the same position as you. Where does the main striker stand when the scorer makes a throw from the three-point line? What does the defender do when the striker runs up to catch the ball and pops the board in the attack?

Learn how to stop people from making mistakes. When attacking, you need to use your body to block the defender of the other team and create a clear path for the teammate holding the ball. You have to know how to put your feet and stay still so that you don’t commit a foul, or your team will be penalized. This requires good communication between you and your teammate, who must know how to push the defender into your blocking area, not you have to run to stop them.

Stand still and straight, hands clasped at the waist in front of you and feet flat on the floor. Let your teammates move around you. Keep your body steady and prepare to push.

Build creative play to capitalize on your team’s strengths. ^{[4] X Research Source} The goal of the game is to break through the defense and get the ball for a player in an open position to score. Designate a number of players to block and let defenders pass the ball past them when attacking. Practice with the tactical cone in place of defenders and time the pass.

One of the most basic ways to play is to let one of the strikers move forward and block the defenders. The defender then runs into the restricted area and throws the ball to the striker, who will either open the way or combine with a lower defender who initially obstructed the opponent’s defender.

Develop physical and mental strength

Run often. A full-court basketball game requires players to run a lot. Players who are not used to running a lot will quickly get tired. You don’t necessarily have to have the best defensive skills or score points if you have the power to outperform other opponents on the field. Here are some running exercises to build up your strength:

Superman Exercise: Start at a touchline and run to the nearest free throw line. Release and do 5 push-ups on your fingertips, then get up and run back to the starting line, then run to the three-point line, release to do 10 push-ups and continue to do the same for each line on the field, back and forth until it returns to the first line. Throw at least ten free throws from the free-throw line after doing this exercise and still feeling tired.
“Kill exercise”: this is a timed round-trip running exercise. If you’re not healthy enough, start with 4-6 “back and forth” runs in 1 minute 8 seconds (start on one sideline, run to the other and back). It sounds like a lot of time to run, but you will know the results when you run 50 meters. After getting better, try running 13 times back and forth for 68 seconds. Then try to hit the basket 10 times from the free-throw line while tired.

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Learn everything about the match. ^{[5] X Research Sources} Playing smart is just as important as playing well. The official NBA rules are available online, and you should also read them before playing. You can get a better understanding of something that was previously misunderstood.

Talk to other players, check online and ask a coach for advice. Knowing the rules of the game in the past also helps. Watch old-school games, street basketball, and read about basketball’s evolution.

Always choose team play. Find a player in an open position to pass the ball. Do not hold on to the ball when you receive it and try to shoot even though the probability of hitting is low, as your team will lose the opportunity to score.

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Practice jumping more. If you are agile and can jump high, your ability to catch the ball is even better than a player taller than you. Most of the very tall players do not put in great effort to catch the ball on the board because it is not necessary. You can beat them if you practice.

Practice jumping rope. Jump over the rope fast and hard. The better you do it, the quicker your feet will be on the field.

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Do a lot of push-ups, especially push-ups on your fingertips. You will be surprised at the ability to hold the ball in the palm of your hand if you have strong fingers. Even if you don’t have a wide enough palm to hold the ball well, this can still be achieved if you have strong fingers.

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Strengthen your core: do crunches, leg lifts, planks and lower back stretches. If you have a strong core, you can withstand the jolt and complete a powerful throw.

Advice

Before the game, eat things that provide energy like fruit or carbohydrate foods, but not sweets.
Don’t think about what the fans say, play the way you want and don’t forget to practice every day.
When throwing the ball, keep your elbow LOWER than your hand. Throw the ball foul when the elbow is out. Unless you want to take a break, use this advice.
Practice handling the ball, even if you can’t throw the ball correctly, if you know how to handle the ball, you still bring many benefits to the team.
If you’re not the best player on the team, keep training to get there. You can ask for advice from a coach. Try to train whenever you can, train so you don’t get tired in the game, and this is true for all sports.
Practice whenever possible. You don’t need a hoop or a hoop. Practicing with push-ups, eye-hand coordination, and using whatever’s around helps.
Practice shooting regularly, push up on your fingertips to strengthen your fingers, then you will handle the ball more easily.
Juggling can help you become ambidextrous, improve hand-eye coordination, depth perception, peripheral vision, neuromuscular balance, quick controlled reflexes, and alertness. focus on activities such as free throws.
Use your feet when tossing the ball

This may not seem important, but if you only use the throwing arm, you will not be able to throw far and even strain the arm muscles.

Avoid looking back too much — “listen for footsteps” behind you and in a blind spot. Peripheral vision will expand as you use it regularly, as with any skill, it will automatically develop during operation.
If you want to practice shooting alone without a basket to throw in, you focus on a certain point on the wall, repeatedly throwing the ball at it from different approaches:
- Practice running to the basket from a distance and then finishing.
- Stand in one place, jump up and throw the ball.
- Throw the ball from the side, from the front, jump or not jump.

Warning

Listen to the coach. If you think that you can only play football “your way”, it will be very difficult for you to improve. Therefore you have to listen to the coach and learn from them. Most of the coaches are experienced and are good subjects for you to learn from.

Steps