Basketball has really exploded in popularity all over the world in the last twenty years and perhaps you are someone who is fascinated by this game. If you are looking for great tips to help you better understand basketball then you’re in the right place. The article below has great tips that are simple to understand.

Make your passes quick and precise. This takes practice, but you can improve your passing skills over time. Find someone else who wants to improve their passing and run drills with them. Running up and down the court passing and dribbling will eventually become second nature and help you with your game.

Practice lay ups over and over. The lay up is one of the most basic basketball shots out there. And you should never let this easy opportunity to score pass you by. While simple, it still takes practice in game-like scenarios to make sure you aren’t laying the ball up too hard or at a bad angle. Get the rhythm down and practice it repeatedly.

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.

Jump shooters should not also be iron pumpers. While muscle mass is good for any basketball position, perimeter play requires less than other positions. Some professional shooting guards made their arms so big that it started decreasing their field goal percentage.

When prepping for the basketball season, walk around with the basketball as often as you can. Take the time to throw the ball from one hand to the other, and even flip it around your back. Your goal is to improve your hand/ball coordination so that the ball feels as if it’s part of you.

As you develop your ability to shoot a basketball, try practicing on one foot only. This will improve many areas of your play, including accuracy when shooting. As you get better, move to practicing your shot from greater distances. Only after you master the basic techniques will you truly get better at long distance shots.

One great thing to do if you wish to be prepared while playing is to make sure your back isn’t turned to the ball. This will help you stay on top of quick changes in possession or plays attempted by your opponent. Pay attention to open areas for passes, too.

Good rebounding is a key aspect of a success basketball player, so practice rebounds and jumping. Many easy baskets come from the second, third or even fourth shot taken. Practice getting your own rebounds. It is very common for a ball to hit off the rim and head right back towards you.

Have your games taped so you can play them back later and observe your court presence. You can see where you can improve and what plays you missed. It is important that your assessment is an honest one, but isn’t overly critical. You can learn a lot by watching how you play and what you need to concentrate practicing on.

Understanding the game of basketball is quite simple when you have someone teach you the basics. After reading the article above you should now have a solid understanding of the fundamentals, which hopefully can make it easier for you to follow the game. Keep this article close by the next time you’re watching basketball to help you get more enjoyment out of the game.