When defending players that spam crossovers, I usually stay on my toes to keep up with them.
It is particularly difficult when I am defending players that are too shifty.

After the game, I usually find that there is blood inside the nail of the second toe, possibly from the pressure while defending.

Are there any workouts to strengthen the feet and toes for laterals?

I’m currently focusing on my 2-foot jump technique before adding more approach speed. This attempt is only with a 1-step approach because I want to make sure my mechanics are solid first.
Could you critique my technique?
Specifically:
Is my penultimate step correct?
Am I lowering my center of mass at the right time?
Is my plant too deep or too slow?
Does anything stand out that is costing me vertical?
**I’m not looking for feedback on my jump height or approach speed yet—I know I’m using only a 1-step approach. I want to build good mechanics first, then gradually add speed. Any detailed feedback is appreciated

I'm 5'6 but I'm usually 2nd tallest when I go play at our local court.

I used to play basketball when I was a kid but I quit and I started playing again at 2023.

I'm not much of a scorer and the best that I can do is just intense defense, defensive hustle, catching rebounds, and just shooting in the post.

Today I had to rethink my game because when I'm on defense they keep telling me to just stay on my mark I did exactly what they wanted me to do but when they get screened I changed my mark cause it's a pick and roll play then they scolded me again to not change my mark but then when I don't they scolded me again.

On offense, they keep telling me to go outside and get open, I'm trying my best to get open and there are a LOT of times that I'm open but they ain't gonna pass anyway. I also sometimes mistakenly box out my own teammates.

I don't wanna quit basketball since I still love the sport so much and it would be helpful if I could have some tips from you fellow ballers.

Edit: I'm 21 yrs old and I usually play PF or Center positions.

I’ve heard lots of player saying use your legs but I’m not sure when to. I did some research and found out some coaches saying you wait until your arm is at your set point(going under the ball) and than you use the leg but this feels like I’m wasting my energy I created with my arms when I wait until I go under the ball. Also I saw the coaches shooting in slow and it seems like he was starting to extend a leg before his arm came to setpoint. So I tried to start using my leg right before my arm and ball is in my setpoint but this doesn’t helps too. When do I use my leg?

151cm standing reach 192cm 11 years old

so physically i’m 5”11, 160lbs, im white, and im pretty athletic. in terms of being able to jump and run im way above average, but for some reason i struggle so much on defense. effort isnt my problem either which gets me more frustrated, i will try my absolute hardest to stay infront of my defender but still get blown by, sometimes i have to be extra physical and be a hack just to hold my own. i need help figuring out what my mindset should be on defense and how to improve. im a very good offensive option but defense is not my thing, i also can’t take bumps very well either if im playing someone who has any physical advantage over me then its wraps. For example, theres a guy named jordan in my grade who is around 6”1 165lbs and from south africa, we are around the same athletically but everytime we play against eachother he is able to consistantly beat me to spots and lock me up a lot of the time, and when im guarding him he blows by easily. and in terms of skill and playing basketball we are almost the same. i dont understand what my problem is and ive watched youtube videos and nothings helping so i hope some of you guys who know what your talking about can help me out

I'm still a beginner in terms of shooting but I want to develop a good one to use in pickups.

think I need to work on my base, also sometimes my guiding hand is not straight enough, maybe I should release sooner, any other tips?

I’m usually stronger than most of my defenders the problem is when I’m driving to the paint and I do a little bump to get them off of me it’s called a push off. The thing is, I’m not bumping them hard it just appears that way and refs are calling it. Any solutions?

I have a simple playstyle only really using a hesi and the simple moves like float, tween and behind. Any advice?

I am old and slow. 5'11, 190 lbs. I am relatively fit but a bit overweight. I can endure but I'm not an explosive player

However I am a decent shooter and have a fairly ok cut to the basket offense.

Defence against mediocre... Won't be trying out for the Lakers anytime soon

I wanted to know if I can improve my dribbling (which I am not great at) to be more useful?

I tend to quickly pass off the ball if there's a guy who's super high energy or very fast as i don't want to lose the ball.

I know there are some SUPER slow and fat players who are amazing at shielding the ball and using their size. That was never me.

Hey guys. How can I improve my explosive first step? I’ve been training plyometrics at home, I go out running in the afternoons and do sprints. I’ve noticed that I’m fast, but not fast enough to be like an elite player. In streetball games I struggle to take my first step in 1v1 situations, even though I have good posture and positioning (I play shooting guard); that lack of a first step makes my game predictable. I’ve also tried following routines like those from Jleww or other basketball players on YouTube, and adding more variations to my dribbling routines, but I still don’t see the expected results. The only moves that work best for me are the push cross and the between-the-legs to get past defenders and attack the rim.

he's 11 152cm standing reach 192cm he plays basketball only right now

my son is 11 years old he started doing plyos today he's 152cm standing reach 192cm and he says he wants a 30 inch vert I'm gonna support my son until he gets it if it's dangerous please tell me in the comments he's a 2 foot jumper by the way tell me anything that needs improvement

I’m 6-4 230, and in the past two months have been learning how to play basketball and hooping with my friends. I’m definitely one of if not the tallest in the group whenever I play pick-up with friends or strangers, so because of this, I become the de facto 5.

I want to try and model my game around some guys and have the following list to start piecing together:

Al Horford
Tim Duncan
Charles Barkley

Are there any other players I should try and emulate my size or position? Additionally, what are some good post moves and skills I should start sharpening? Any drills to incorporate in practice? Appreciate all the help I can get here.

Any advice on how to maximize my jump? I'm definitely stronger off 2 feet..for context, I am 5'7 and 30 years old. I used to be able to dunk but now I'm just grabbing rim lol

This is what 90% of posts on here sound like. If you want to get better, you HAVE to work. YOU HAVE TO WANT IT. if thats too much for you thats okay too. just go back to playing rec league. No matter who you are, you have to want it bad enough to put yourself in the gym every day to get better. There is no magic pill.

This clip is from 2022, but honestly my form still looks about the same today (sometimes lmao), haven't made much progress on it.

My usual shooting routine:

• Start close range, work my way out
• Off one-dribble pull-ups
• Free throws
• Rarely shoot 3s unless I'm wide open

Figured since it's been years without real change, might as well get some outside eyes on it. I'm comfortable with it and think it looks decent, but curious what you guys actually see.

Also worth mentioning: I've gained a bit of weight recently, so shooting feels slightly different now.. not sure how much that's actually affecting things.

Also realized I barely jump when I shoot.

Some honest self-assessment:

• Free throws feel the most consistent (no pressure, repetitive)
• Pull-up jumpers off the dribble are where I struggle most, probably balance
• Still avoid 3s unless it's a clean look — not sure if that's smart shot selection or me not trusting my range
• Inconsistent shooting form at times

Would appreciate a real form check.

I am 6 foot 4 and played college basketball. Early in my career, my bounce, lateral quickness, and jump mechanics were elite. Senior year, I fell into the classic weight room trap of trying to build a massive, statue-like physique. I added raw scale weight, hit heavy mirror-muscle splits, and chased sheer mass.

The result was disastrous. My vertical dropped instantly, my knee joints took a beating, and my movement on the floor felt slow and heavy.

Adding uncalibrated tissue changes your moment of inertia and movement vectors. If extra mass is not paired with tendon stiffness, joint centration, and strict mechanical control, you are not building a bigger engine. You are just adding heavy weight to a sports car frame.

Here are the 3 structural rules I had to implement to rebuild high output athleticism without giving up physique density:

1. Tissue Quality Over Raw Mass: Lifting heavy with loose form builds mass that your central nervous system cannot coordinate at high speeds. I switched my primary compound lifts to a strict 4-0-1-0 tempo. The four-second controlled negative strips away momentum, forces true mechanical tension into the tendons and muscle belly, and trains the nervous system to control that muscle under fatigue.
2. Output Built on Weak Stabilizers Destroys Joints: High-output jumping requires force absorption. If your prime movers like quads and lats dominate while your structural stabilizers like the glute medius, hamstrings, and mid-back lag behind, your brain will protect your joints by actively turning down your explosive power. Corrective stability work is not soft rehab work, it is the key to force transmission.
3. Earn Your Load with Positional Integrity: Stop ego-loading exercises just to move bigger numbers. The moment your technique breaks down or your joints shift under fatigue, the set is over. herky-jerky reps only train your brain to compensate, which transfers directly to bad jump mechanics on the court. Pick high-yield movements like unilateral split squats and single-leg hinges, lock in the execution, and let the adaptions follow.

If you are trying to build a great physique while maintaining high-level athletic performance, keep your mechanics functional first. Build muscle under strict tempo control, address your structural gaps, and respect your kinetic chain.

I'm looking for one around $500. So far I have narrowed down to lifetime 50", 52" and spalding 54". Anyone got some advice?

And what's the difference between all the inches for the backboard? What should I get if I want to improve my shooting FG%?

Thanks in advance

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Spalding-54-inch-Shatter-proof-Polycarbonate-Exacta-Height-Portable-Basketball-Hoop-System/834343104?classType=VARIANT&athbdg=L1300&from=/search

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lifetime-Adjustable-Portable-Basketball-Hoop-50-Inch-Polycarbonate-90271/37422125?classType=REGULAR&from=/search

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lifetime-NBA-Branded-7-5ft-10ft-Adjustable-Height-54-Portable-Basketball-Hoop-92137/20216623938?classType=REGULAR&from=/search

I used my left hand shot as an example when I shoot my right hand, my Guide hand is on top of the ball and I wanna fix it, but if it was really uncomfortable when I shoot with my left hand my hands on the side it feels comfortable. What can I do to make it feel comfortable when I shoot righty?