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Article Series: Baseball
Teach Me About Baseball
Great
Baseball Hitting Tips - Improve Your Swing
Stepping
up to bat and driving in a run or two is what every baseball
player would like to do every time
they step up to the plate. Of course, every time is a bit much
to ask, but at least hitting the ball more times than not
is a reasonable request.
The
first task in order is to become more educated about what
you are talking about here. Without embarking on a full-fledged
physics lesson, let's review a few things about swinging a
bat. Cupping the handle of the bat with your hands in a circle
(circular
hand path), combined with body rotation adds momentum to the
bat speed. All of these elements mixed together produce
the swing-hit aspect of hitting a baseball.
With that said, the first
thing to consider when improving
your swing, is the bat. Yes, sometimes it is the bat, and not
the player that needs improving. Choosing a bat is really an
individual thing. First, you need to decide on wooden or aluminum.
Aluminum bats are lighter and they provide hitters with a bonus
pop. Hence they can’t be used in professional baseball.
Young hitters should be able to hold the bat at shoulder length
by the knob for about twenty seconds. That means that the bat
is light enough and the player will not have to waste strength
and energy keeping the bat steady. The bat needs to be held
and tested before the player steps up to the plate.
Length and height ratio is important with aluminum bats. Little
players must have a bat with a good length-ratio. College and
high school players have a -3 length-ratio for safety purposes.
Wooden bats can be carved into the ratio that is desired, which
is one of their perks.
All
right, now that you have the ideal bat, back to the physics.
Mediocre hitters rely on one of two things. Torque (two opposing
forces meeting from opposite directions), to carry the ball -
or they depend too much on the circular hand path. Placing
too much emphasis on either one will leave your swing lacking.
If you want to improve your swing, you must be balanced. The
circular hand path and torque must be applied efficiently.
The bat must be held at the angle above your head that will
produce the most torque will be achieved. The way that you
palm the bat must produce enough energy from in the circular
hand path to pull and push the ball.
Another thing that will improve your swing and batting average
is watching the opposition’s pitcher. While you await your
turn at bat, watch the pitcher. What is he throwing out there?
By reading what he does with other players you may get a feel
for what you will be coming up against.
Practice makes perfect most of the time. But if the body is
not in shape to be a hitting machine, it won’t be. Before you
begin practicing hitting, make sure that you have built up
enough strength. And that you have followed a conditioning
regiment to prepare your arms and legs for the workout they
are going to get from practice hitting.
It might seem strange, but most of the power behind hitting
comes from the legs. Watch professional baseball players when
they are at the plate. See how strategically placed and firm
their legs are. That is because the swing begins in the hips
and legs. The middle of the body moves the rotational speed
up the body and into the arms. The midsection and legs are
the key to advancing your swing.
Condition your body first. Then get your swing going. You
can build muscle with simple exercises. Things like sprinting
and rotator cuff workouts will help get you into shape. A healthy
diet is also necessary. You can’t expect to be good player
if your body is not properly nourished.
The good news is that you don’t have to buy all of the programs
that claim to strength your swing. The other side of that coin
is that you have to put in the effort. And you have to be patient.
Developing your swing is a gradual process.
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2008
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