Best photo lens to use shooting indoor photos?

I have a Nikon D3000 and am looking for the best lens to use shooting indoor sports and low level game lighting. I have a 55-300 mm lens now and it's not getting the job done. Any help would be appreciated.

Added (1). When I say isn't getting the job done, I mean that the photos are dark and grainy. But that's because of the apature setting on the camera is my guess.

To help you, we need information such as, exactly what is your current lens failing to do for you? "Not getting the job done" tells us nothing.

You can't shoot at high enough speed? Inadequate at low light? Just can't get a clear enough image? Not enough magnification?

If you are trying to duplicate the results pros get, keep in mind that they get to sit up close, court side.

Your 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G zoom lens is a slow, variable aperture lens which is poorly suited for indoor sports photography. Adding to your problems is the fact that your D3000 doesn't do well at higher ISO settings.

Probably your best option for what you want to do is to save until you can afford the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II zoom lens. With its constant f2.8 aperture across the entire zoom range you'll be able to use a lower ISO. An f2.8 aperture is 1-1/3 stops faster than f4.5 and a full 2 stops faster than f5.6. Hypothetical example using ISO 800:

f2.8 @ 1/250 sec. Good at 70mm or 200mm or anywhere in between.

f4.5 @ 1/100 sec. -1-1/3 stops

f5.6 @ 1/60 sec. -2 stops

To achieve a 1/250 sec.shutter speed at f4.5 will require using ISO 2000 which is 1-1/3 stops faster than ISO 800.

To achieve a 1/250 sec.shutter speed at f5.6 will require using ISO 3200 which is 2 stops faster than ISO 800.

Note again that all of the above is purely hypothetical and used for illustrating how a faster aperture results in allowing a lower ISO.

At http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...ovideo.com the Nikon AF-S 70-200mm f2.8G ED VR II zoom lens is $2, 396.95.

You can use Noise Ninja to help alleviate the problems associated with using a high ISO.

http://www.picturecode.com/index.php