The crack of the bat, the slap of the ball against the glove. Baseball is enjoyed by millions of people each year. There is nothing like sitting in the stands on a warm summer day, watching the game unfold in front of you. Continue on for some great insights into the game of baseball.
To build up your batting average, shoot for hitting the ball at the fence, not over it. Basically, you are looking to send the ball right back from where it came. If you spend too much time lofting the ball, you’ll get a lot of fly ball outs.
Shift the weight of your body to your back foot to increase the power behind your batting stance. If you hit from the right side, the weight will be placed on the right foot with your thigh muscle tightening on that side. As you swing, your rear foot will push through with power.
When trying out for a new team, remember to always be respectful and professional. Whether is is little league or a school team, you must remember to maintain politeness when meeting your teammates and coach. It shows maturity and respect, and this will last you well.
Ball Properly
When pitching, make sure you’re holding and throwing the ball properly. Put your middle finger onto the seam to start. Then, place a thumb on the opposite seam. This will let you grip the ball properly so you can throw it far as well as fast while being accurate.
If you are a coach, be consistent with your scheduling and routine. A proper baseball practice should include ten minutes of warm-up time with 20 minutes of individual and team hitting drills following. The next five minutes should be base running, followed by 10 minutes of team defense strategy and situational drills. Finish up with ten minutes of drills on position-specific defense and a cool down time. Conclude with a brief team discussion.
If you are playing in the outfield, you should pay close attention to where the batter stands. People that are right handed are going to hit a lot of balls to the left side of the field. Alternatively, a batter who is left handed often hits toward right field. Knowing these mechanics of batting will help you anticipate where the batted ball will come before it is pitched.
It’s a good idea to start breaking your glove in well before baseball season starts. If you’re lucky enough to have a fresh glove for the season, you are much better off taking a few weeks prior and really working that glove. Catch balls to help loosen the glove up. Use a leather softener on it. Punch up the weave repeatedly. Gloves that have been broken in do much better on the field.
If the sun is blinding you and the ball is headed straight for you, shield your eyes with your glove. This will prevent the glare from getting in your eye.
Don’t field grounders by reaching across your body. Instead, you will want to quickly move left or right in order to get your glove right in the path of the ball. If not, then the ball can bounce off the sides of your body or glove if you’re not in the proper position.
Don’t be afraid to sacrifice yourself when you have to as a batter. Being a team player may require it of you. Often your team needs a player moved over a base, and the best play you can make is a sacrifice bunt or fly. It doesn’t seem to have the same flare as hitting a homer, but it could help win the game.
When you are pitching, you need to remember that a ball is considered in play once it has been released. Many times it goes into the catcher’s glove and then quietly back to you. However, sometimes you are going to have to play defense immediately, and you must be able to react.
If you are bunting the ball, there are things you can do to avoid bunting the ball to the pitcher. You can point the bat towards first base or the handle toward third base to angle the bunt away from the pitcher. If you are lefty, make sure to do the opposite. The correct angling of the bat will keep the bunt fair, and it won’t go back to the pitcher.
If you want a right handed pitcher to not pick you when you’re at first base, watch his left foot. When he picks up his foot, he has to throw. If he does not, he balks and you go to second for free.
Perhaps you have been a fan of baseball since you were old enough to walk. Maybe you’re new to the game. Is this your first time playing the game? No matter what, this article’s information should have helped you enjoy baseball even more than ever.