Success in the sport of basketball takes lots of guts, but more importantly, an incredible amount of ability. No matter your desire to win, without practice you won’t get far. Regardless of whether you were brought into the world with the natural power of Shaq or the graceful speed of Kobe, you’ll need to focus on improving your game. Here are some tips to bring your basketball skills to the next level.
Basketball Tips to Further Develop Your Hardcourt Abilities:
1. Learn the game. You can gain an edge without even picking up a ball. Find videos on how to improve your court vision. Study the moves professionals make. Read a few books on coaching strategies. Knowledge is power. What you lack in skill, make up for in knowledge. When you know where the ball is going before the pass is made, you don’t have to be the fastest player on the court to make the steal. When you can anticipate the ball-handler’s next move, you’ll be amazed at how well you can defend someone half your age.
2. Practice with your back to the basket, and work on your off-hand skills. Great players play with their backs to the basket. Practice turn-around jumpers – they are almost impossible to defend while fading away. If you can reliably hit a turn-around fade away, there is no stopping you. Work on your ball handling with your off-hand. If you can finish with both hands, you’ll be a scoring machine.
3. Build muscle, but stay limber. Basketball requires endurance as well as strength. Don’t miss leg day. Powerful legs can transform you into a basketball superstar. Upper-body strength will help you muscle through the lane and box out stronger rebounders.
4. Don’t forget to rest. Your body needs to recover. Your game is going to suffer if you’re out there running full-court games every day. Eat well, get plenty of sleep, and drinks lots of water. Stay away from junk food.
5. Study the flow of the game. Understanding how players move on the court, where and when they cut to the basket, how they space the floor – all this knowledge can make up for a lack of skill.
Of course, these tips are not the end-all-be-all. They are just a start. But if you love the game and practice daily, you’ll be on your way to dominating your next pick-up game.
