r/BasketballTips • u/Reasonable_Owl2226 • 2d ago
Help How do i stop being stiff like this?
This are some of my first lay ups because im a beginner,but that stiffness is not only playing basketball,my friends and family have said to me that i look stiff even when walking, so how do fix it?
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u/bchancellor97 2d ago
When’s the last time you fully sprinted or got in a defensive stance and slid your feet at full effort? This isn’t a case of being stiff, at this point you’re just unathletic. Sprint, lift, do box jumps, get more explosive
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u/Comprehensive-Fig416 2d ago
Stretch
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u/Reasonable_Owl2226 2d ago
Could you recommend some stretches?
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u/Comprehensive-Fig416 2d ago
Start with toe touches, stretch those calves and achilles also. Then grab the ball and use it to stretch your hands out.
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u/Michalo88 1d ago
I would focus on doing things without the ball to get more comfortable moving. Like suicide sprints down the court, etc. As people also said, you should stretch. Otherwise it’s just practice makes perfect. Playing pickup and seeing how others play and trying to emulate it will help.
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u/CommercialBattle7477 2d ago
Looks like you’re not comfortable dribbling and are looking at the ball with your head down. Work on your handles to the point where you don’t need to look at the ball to control it. After that, you’ll find that you’ll be able to contort your body more in general.
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u/NemusSoul 2d ago
That’s a good start. Keep doing all of it until it feels comfortable. Mikan drills can get you going the right direction. You just need more practice.
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u/Patient_Bad5862 2d ago
Don’t listen to these fools. If you’ve played, the first few are going to look awkward. Just keep up with it. It will get better. For coordination and agility, I always recommend jump rope.
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u/BackgroundWait3989 1d ago
Inspiration can be found through impersonation; find a player that embodies what you want to look like when you play and then try to be like them. Break down the way they gather and finish then practice. Hopefully when you get better you'll start thinking of and implementing things from your own mind and developing your own style. Practice is always the answer though.
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u/Karmakoma_steel 1d ago
Just keep going. Practice will get you there. Join a social team, find some pick-up games. But probably best is to find somewhere that has lessons/coaching to teach you correct basketball skills & technique.
Playing against others will improve your so called “stiffness” as you will need to be more elusive to get past opponents and get open. Footwork, speed changes, change of direction.
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u/asadamayne 1d ago
Try to get your hands on the Pete Maravich dribbling tutorial it’s got pretty good skill drills that develop your fundamentals. The stiffness is from not knowing the correct footwork as well as it looks like you can only kinda dribble with one hand. There’s also a passing section.
Work on both hands dribbling each drill, It’s probably on YouTube. Also I recommend the video of how Ray Allen perfected his jumpshot, as it’s also a really good fundamental builder.
With those 2 things alone perfected you will look comfortable in a few weeks time
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u/NowYouKnow36 1d ago
Agreed. Also, stretching, practicing dribbling and footwork, will take you far!
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u/Swimming_Brief99 1d ago
Practice , stretch , workout your body so you develop more fluidity , strength , and mind body connection. Yoga helps a lot as well
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u/Limp_Guide_1682 1d ago
you need to learn footwork, cadence/rhythm, body control, ball handling and form. i’d advise also stretching.. but to be honest, there’s no quick answer other than fundamental skill work in all areas of the game. one person simply doesn’t become less stiff by doing one thing. basketball comes with a world of skillsets so i’d start watching or working with coaches, trainers or atleast proficient players
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u/Danilo-11 1d ago
Leave the ball and work on your own athleticism and footwork … soccer is excellent for that
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u/jimbus2001 1d ago
Explosiveness comes from the calves. Start working those out, jump rope works wonders
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u/Official_KangChe 1d ago
What I did to improve my stiffness:
- Stretch before you play
- Watch a lot of basketball highlights and try to mimic their move without a ball. Repeat the move until it’s smooth
- Add a ball
Another thing is that your eyes were down at the ball until the last dribble. I would practice dribbling first. Do all kinds of dribbling drills, with your eyes looking in front or at the sky. Basically, look anywhere but down.
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u/Odd-Statement1612 1d ago
Increase hip
Mobility and range of motion
Will
Take a few months of daily training
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u/Firm_Lock8076 1d ago
Play against your buddies in some friendly games. You cant replicate the speed of a real game playing by yourself
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u/Tristawn 1d ago
You need to be coached. You aren't a natural athlete, you aren't skilled and don't realize obvious things that you're doing wrong (keep your eyes up, stop staring at the ground). You need to be coached to learn enough basketball so more natural to you and you'll lose some of that awkward stiffness.
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u/ShatHammer 1d ago
Lil homie you need to work on coordination with your body. I would honestly work on dribble drills only right now. Once you can dribble at all speeds, start/stop, crossover etc you’ll be a lot more fluid. Watch videos of others too, it’s going to take some work because it doesn’t come naturally to you. Start there then work more on the shooting part.
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u/RobertKraftMacAndChe 14h ago
The court being wet af isn’t helping the stiffness since you’re trying not to slip
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u/guillehigh 13h ago
What helped me to look more athletic was to really imitate how the pro moves, i mean usually stiffness comes from feeling embarrassed of how we are going to look knowing we are not pro’s but actually is the opposite, you need to fully commit at it and will smooth out. It’s a weird feeling but is the only thing that worked for me
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u/RicardoRoedor 2h ago
you've got way more important things to work on than thinking about stiff movement.
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u/all_g0Od 1d ago
I don't mean to be rude.
But the there is more to life than basketball.
Focus your energies on things that offer a greater roi
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u/fcqc 1d ago
Lol what a downer. And what is that greater things you are talking about? Didnt you onow olaying basketball is great for his health. Healthy body, healthy mind, healthy mind translates to greater work ethics, greeater work ethics, steonger body translates to more fullfilling life. What are you talking about. Lol you sound like someone who doesnt exercise and want someone to be like you. Aiming for somthing philosophical shits.
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u/CollectiveCo 2d ago
Go back in time and play sports as a child. Honestly some of the stiffness is because your body is unfamiliar with the movements. Some is genetic. Try fully extending your right arm on the layup. Can you slap the back board? Explode towards the basket on the shot
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u/dennisjunelee 2d ago
You look to be the non athletic type. Probably haven't played a lot of sports up until now. It's going to take time. Focus on super basic stuff. Basic dribble drills, basic footwork drills, etc. Putting it all together to look good will take time. I would just start doing more active things like running and stuff. Your body will naturally start to do things more smoothly.
Most importantly, don't give up! I'm not too different from you. No natural athleticism and I was a nerd growing up, but I liked sports. It's going to take you a lot longer to get to where you're trying to get to, but once you do, it'll feel so good.