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Welcome to the official blog of the Baseball Parent Guide. Our free baseball articles and daily post provide baseball parents with valuable drills and tips to help improve your home, team and backyard baseball practice. Our archive has hundreds of informative and useful articles and posts related to all aspects of baseball training, practice and skill development. Make sure to save this site to your favorites for future visits. Happy Hitting and Good Luck to Your Team!
Showing posts with label baseball blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baseball blog. Show all posts

Monday, November 21, 2011

Learn How to Play Baseball While Playing Football

Learn How to Play Baseball While Playing Football
By guest author: Dr. Chris Yeager



Let's discuss some of the best movements (call them drills if you prefer) to help players ingrain a back-arm loading pattern for baseball while playing football. The back arm-loading pattern applies to throwing a football, throwing a baseball and hitting a baseball. It's a universal loading pattern for football and baseball.

So, dad's relax. Your son doesn't have to fall behind in baseball because he is too busy playing football. In fact, it's probably better that you are giving him a break and having him play other sports.

But don't waste your time. Use your time wisely and practice these universal-loading patterns with the football.

Here are some ideas to improve your son's baseball skills while playing football:

1. Walking Rhythm Drill

One great way to introduce the back arm loading pattern movement is to utilize a walking-rhythm with the arm action. The "walking-rhythm" refers to simply stepping laterally (taking your stride) repeatedly down the football field. The back arm will naturally load up as we step. In addition, the "thought" of throwing will naturally develop timing and rhythm within our footwork. We just need to learn to load the arm correctly.

Make sure feet, knees, and waist are set up correctly

-the feet are working straight ahead

-knees bent "one click"

-waist bent "one click"

- and be sure the shoulders drop over the knees.

-The shoulders and elbows should be down and relaxed.

Our feet for the walking drill are set up a little more narrow than it would be for a regular batting session.

2. Use the Football

Because of its size and shape, a football can be very useful in developing an elite level throwing pattern. Remember, this is the same pattern used in hitting a baseball as well. It is easier to see the football turn with the long bone in the upper-arm. As that elbow turns up, the ball turns with it.

This can really help the player feel the turning or the winding up nature from this elite-level loading phase.

Use the same rhythmic lateral stepping pattern moving down the football field saying "load, load, load" as you load the back-arm by turning the bone up and keeping the elbow bent.

3. Isolation Drills

Continuing our focus on phase-one of the back arm, we will isolate the movement for three repetitions with no stride. Then incorporate a live stride for three repetitions, preferably against the live motion. Do this with a football.

We're going to isolate the movement for just three repetitions and really focus on the movement at the shoulder joint as the only action (no step or stride) "load, load, load." Again we're focusing on the out-of-the-glove action, lifting and turning of the long bone in the upper arm with the football.

Next we use a football and simply add a live stride to phase one of the loading phase. Again, the cadence is "load, load, load." As we perform the movement, we want to make sure that the hand stays in front of the shoulder as we turn the elbow up during this loading phase.

The plan is very simple and the movement is easy. It's just going to take some repetitions to make permanent. If you don't get the loading phase of the back arm correct, it's very difficult for your swing or throw to recover.

Go ahead and get better at baseball while you are playing football.

Dr. Yeager is a PHD in human performance and an expert in the physics and physiology of the baseball swing and throw. He is one of the founders of Iso Baseball.
Iso Baseball's mission is to design and develop scientifically based baseball/softball hitting instructional devices/ Please visit http://www.isobaseball.com to learn more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Chris_Yeager


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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Tips To Improve Your Baseball Skills

Tips To Improve Your Baseball Skills
By guest author: Harold Meidinger

As an athlete, there is always a room for improvement. A dedicated baseball player will always continue to seek for skill improvement and development everywhere just to become a better player. There are several factors that could affect your capacity to play such as the trainings and programs you've been attending, physical limitations and abilities, determination and persistence in achieving a goal towards the end and many more. But the most important thing that you must ensure is the willingness to learn no matter how difficult the road might be. Here are some tips that you should remember in your journey towards success.

1. Learn the fundamentals of baseball that are written in books, magazines, articles, videos, lessons, actual games and advices from coaches and expert players. Gather significant information as much as you can so that you will be able to comprehend the basics of the game. In short, you have to feed your curiosity with facts. Right after that, you can now proceed to drills. There is a common saying that practice makes it perfect. Make a routine for your drills. You can do it at least four to six days in a week. Follow the routine religiously if you want to gain something out of it. Practice the proper way of handling the bat, the right body swing and pitching motion.

2. Know your limitations. More than anybody else, you know your body best. Determine your strengths and weaknesses. To prevent burnout, it will be best if you will have another kind of sport at the end of the season so that you can relax your muscles from the rigid training. However, keep in mind to select s particular sport or physical exercise that is closely related to baseball. With this, you can maintain body fitness and stamina.

3. Train your body as early as possible. It is very important to build your strength as an athlete. You won't be able to last long in the field if you don't have enough stamina. Therefore, you must gain it in your early years to have a good foundation of strength for the game. Every player has different level of skills and strength. Identify your good points so that you can focus more in that aspect. If you think that you will be more effective as a catcher or a pitcher, then pursue that position by appropriate and adequate training for catchers and pitchers.

4. Have an instructor who is expert in conducting trainings and drills. It will truly help you to save time, energy and effort with great results. Learning the proper execution of each step and techniques is a good way to start your baseball career. By doing this, bad habits will be prevented. Once you already mastered everything, you can now practice on your own and take some refresher course once in a while or as necessary. Use your full strength to enhance your skills. Your speed, endurance and strength must be increased at the end of your lesson. You will definitely observe the change in power and speed after the training and practices you've undergone.

Harold Meidinger enjoys writing for Pitching.com which offers lessons on pitching coach and baseball pitching mechanics as well as host of additional products and services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harold_Meidinger

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Thursday, October 27, 2011

Pitching Drills for young baseball players



Pitching Drills for young baseball players
Uploaded by TheStudentAthlete
Jeff Grybish, Buffalo Grove, IL HIgh School head coach demonstrates effective pitching drills for training young pitchers, emphasizing strength, balance and focus. Grybish presented his expertise as part ot The Student Athlete Foundation's coaching clinic delivered to local volunteer youth coaches at no cost as part of TSAF"s mentoring program.

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Friday, October 14, 2011

Baseball Pitching Guide for Youths

Baseball Pitching Guide for Youths
By guest author: Jake Wyatt

In order to be a good baseball pitcher, you must practice pitching baseballs regularly, even during off-season. You can't expect to take four or more months off then get on a team in the spring and start pitching well. The greatest baseball pitchers practice over and over, perfecting their techniques. Your coach can tell you the best way to pitch baseballs and guide you through it, but it is up to you as a player to put in the extra time so that you can improve.

The most important step to successfully improving your baseball pitching is to be prepared mentally. This part of the sport does not get a lot of media attention because it can't be "seen." Young players may not realize that pitching greats spend a lot of time getting their mind ready. Pitching baseball can be frustrating at times. Mental toughness will get you through a string of bad innings AND will keep you from getting too excited when things are going well. Self discipline is extremely important; you must be able to make the choice between playing video games on TV or working on your game.

Mastering different techniques through practicing before and after games is what it takes to get ahead of your competition. Find out what styles best suit you and perfect them. No one can throw all types of pitches effectively. Focus on your own style, where your personal strengths lie. Make sure your footing is right, that your body rotation is controlled, and that your arm is in the correct position when pitching.

A benefit of regular practice will be more controlled pitches. You won't have to rely on your "power pitch" all the time. A good player will be able to switch to different pitches, from fastballs to curves, throwing inside or outside. Keeping the batter guessing will increase the chances of a strike. You must practice throwing all types of pitches so that you can choose the proper pitch for the situation and throw it with confidence. Another benefit of regular practice will be safety - with more control, there is less chance you will hit the batter.

You must be in good shape to accurately pitch baseballs. Be sure to have a basic workout for your arms, legs and core. If you are strong and fit, you will reduce the chance of injury to yourself as well as increase your accuracy and stamina.

In order to be the best baseball player you can be, training should happen year-round and be a joint effort between the coach, the player and the parents. Get more free tips to improve baseball performance, reviews of e-products related to baseball, and links to training resources at http://youth-baseball-training.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jake_Wyatt

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Monday, September 26, 2011

Coaching Youth Baseball - The Mental Game

Coaching Youth Baseball - The Mental Game
By guest author: Jake Wyatt

In youth baseball training, often the coach is just trying to make sure the players are able to hit and catch the baseball. Basic skills are taught first. As kids get older and are more serious, coaches, parents and players need to work specifically on the mental aspect of the game during baseball training. Kids need more than an "atta boy" or "nice try, better luck next time" to be able to master their mind.

The mind is constantly providing positive and negative self talk. Usually there is more negative self talk than positive. Even professional baseball players can be affected by negative self talk - everyone has witnessed unprofessional behavior in a major league baseball game.

Here are some ways for coaches to help players work on and improve their mental game of hitting baseballs.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

The more a player practices hitting, the better ball player he will be. The better ball player he is, the more confidence he will have. So when it is his turn at bat, the self-talk will be positive rather than negative, because he knows he is able to hit a home run or a solid line drive. He's done it before in practice. As a player has more success in actual baseball games, his confidence will soar even higher.

MAKE SURE THE PLAYERS ARE HAVING FUN

Don't let them take their turn at bat too seriously. Players should be having fun doing what they enjoy, playing baseball! Every player has struck out at the worst possible time at least once and lived to tell about it, even major league players. Have the kids practice walking out to the batter's box with a smile on their face, even if they have to force a smile. It will help them relax.

PRACTICE VISUALIZATION

Once the player is at the plate, help him go through the swing in his mind. Have him visualize the pitcher throwing a perfect ball and visualize where he will hit it. Tell him to concentrate on the pitcher, and realize he is probably nervous too. Tell the player to keep his mind busy visualizing success. This will help crowd out those negative thoughts.

HAVE EACH PLAYER DEVELOP AN "AT BAT" STYLE TO HELP KEEP THEM CALM

For example, Evan Longoria looks at the left foul pole when he gets upset at bat. This helps him regain his focus, clear his head and calm down. Each player should develop something on their own, such as tapping the plate three times before each time at bat, or putting their hand back. Something simple that isn't too obvious, but that he will know is his signature "at bat" style.

REMIND KIDS THAT WHAT YOU FOCUS ON USUALLY COMES TRUE

If a player is worried that he will strike out, he probably will. Let players know that the more they worry about something, the more chance that it will come true. Have them focus intently on what they want to happen, like hitting a home run or hitting a line drive right past first base.

REMOVE EMOTION

Every at bat should be treated like the first. Encourage players to not let what happened at a previous at bat affect their current swing. Remember, a hitter with a 300 average means a fail 7 out of 10 times! And 300 hitters are paid millions of dollars in professional ball. Tell them that if the did poorly their last at bat, that means their chances of doing better this time have improved!

If kids can control their emotions and mental state, their baseball game will improve dramatically. And they will have more fun!

In order to be the best baseball player you can be, training should happen year-round and be a joint effort between the coach, the player and the parents. Get more free tips to improve baseball performance, reviews of e-products related to baseball, and links to training resources at http://youth-baseball-training.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jake_Wyatt

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Friday, September 23, 2011

Baseball Coaching Tips - Some Are Simply Not True

Baseball Coaching Tips - Some Are Simply Not True
By guest author: Larry Cicchiello

Here is a list of 7 baseball coaching tips or beliefs that are overused and were either wrong from the start or have become totally obsolete:

Come on Johnny, get your elbow up. The reference is to the height of the back elbow when hitting. You will very often hear this hollered to a young player by a coach, manager or one of his parents. Some young players raise their back elbow up by their back ear. This is not a comfortable position for most hitters. It's much more efficient to have the back elbow just below shoulder height. If a hitter wants to make an adjustment up or down, only then should the back elbow be raised or lowered.

If you're going to get beat, get beat on your best pitch. Let's say that a pitcher's best pitch is the fastball and the batter is a very good fastball hitter. Let's say that the pitcher's second best pitch is a good curve ball and that batter has had trouble with his curve ball in the past. It would make no sense for that pitcher to get beat on his best pitch, the fast ball, with the game on the line. Forget this myth.

Don't look at the ball, just run. All good base runners DO look at the ball. This is not to say that if you hit a grounder to the infield you should be looking at the grounder while running to first base. On the other hand, there are many, many times where you should be looking at the ball. Good base runners very seldom need a coach to guide them while running. They watch the ball, the fielder and watch the play unfold. The infamous quote of, "don't look at the ball, just run," should be changed to, "don't just run, look at the ball."

Come on Jimmy, level swing. Many young players hear this hollered out so often that as soon as they start their swing, they try to make sure it's level. This is one of the worst baseball coaching tips they will ever hear. The proper baseball swing is not level at all. If a hitter levels out his swing at the very beginning, he can be virtually guaranteed he will be late on every fastball because he is not being "short to the ball." The swing starts out going downward with the back of the bottom hand facing the pitcher and not facing the sky. Only at the point where you are making contact should the swing be level, with one palm facing up and the other palm facing down. Being a fraction of a second late when swinging the bat is an eternity!

Catch the ball with two hands. This is often hollered out to a younger player who is catching a pop up or a fly ball. Baseball gloves have come a long way in the last few decades.They are much bigger and better. Putting your bare hand next to your glove hand when catching pop ups or fly balls will be more trouble than it's worth. It can easily interfere with your catching the ball with these very good, modernized gloves.

Touch the bases with your right foot when running. The concern used to be that if a runner touches a base with their left foot, they may trip over the base with their right foot. That is obsolete now. It makes no sense whatsoever to "stutter step" and lose precious time when running around the bases.

The perfect count to put on the hit and run is 2-0 or 3-1. This started several decades ago is very played out. To have a batter be forced to swing at a 2-0 pitch that would be a ball and make the count 3-0 is senseless.The same holds true on the 3-1 count. To have a batter be forced to swing at a 3-1 pitch that would be ball 4 is a scary strategy.

In 95% or more of all cases, good baseball coaching tips of fifty years ago are still good today. There are a few things however, that have evolved.

Larry is the successful author of several very user friendly eBooks and CD's covering 320 topics on playing or coaching excellent baseball. ANY player, coach or parent who wants to help their child will be fully equipped! Check out some FREE baseball tips on hitting and FREE baseball pitching tips at LarryBaseball.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Cicchiello

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Thursday, September 22, 2011

Youth Baseball Coaching Drill For Timid Hitters

Youth Baseball Coaching Drill For Timid Hitters
By guest author: Chip Lemin

I'm sure most of you have worked with batters who constantly bail out of the batters box no matter what. It seems that this player will begin his bail out before he even really knows where the pitch is going. Here is a drill to try that may have some impact; I'm not saying it is a cure for this problem. It will get the hitter to look first at least before they start their getaway.

Start out using tennis balls for this drill. Have the batter get into the box, and throw some pitches behind them. This should get the batter to realize that they can't just blindly back out of the box, because in youth baseball, they will see pitches behind them, only not on purpose! This will give the timid batter some level of comfort by making them feel safer at the plate. This will get the hitter to really focus on the ball, which is what we want them to do anyway. Throw lots pitches to them, this is not a quick fix method but it should begin to help. After some time, the hitter will begin to notice that they don't have to duck away from good pitches. They will stay put and try to hit the ball instead. You can also have the hitter take a bunch of short strides toward whichever side of the field you need them to. Have them over compensate to begin with, because you know when a pitch comes they will most likely start to move back out in to middle which is closer to our goal anyway.

You can also have the batter just stand in the box when you have a pitcher and catcher warming up. Tell them just to follow the ball into the catcher's glove. This will let them relax some with out the stress of having to hit the ball. Learning how to hit a baseball is a difficult skill to master anyway. When your player is afraid of the ball is makes it much harder to learn to hit. Youth baseball players will respond to good teaching techniques when properly applied. Make sure not to embarrass the player, and do not tolerate any other players doing so.

Coaching youth baseball at any level is great privileged, so get all the info you can. Make sure you are kind and patient even if you don't feel like it at the time. I commend anyone would will take the time and responsibility to coach youth baseball, we need more like you.

Thanks Coach Chip Lemin 440 465 3337

Hello My name is Chip Lemin. I'm a long time youth baseball coach who loves to promote this great game of youth baseball. Promoting sportsmanship in this game of youth baseball is something that really needs I feel. I have a free course that will give you some solid coaching information along with great help on the inter-personal relationships we must have to be good youth baseball coaches.

Things such as parents, travel baseball, getting parents to help out, how to communicate better to parents and players, just to touch on a few. This course will help to organize practices like an elite coach. How to motivate players and other coaches with your positive attitude. It really is not very hard to be a great coach when you know what to do.Best of all you will learn how to have fun with these great kids that you have the privilege of coaching. Do yourself a favor and check it out, it's free,you will get 1 part every couple of days in your e-mail. Coaching can be fun and rewarding if you have a plan in place first, and you have an idea what you are doing. I would like to help you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chip_Lemin

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The Categories they have are: BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, Batting Cages, Pitching Machines, Jugs Equipment, Game and Practice Baseballs, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, Portable Pitching Mounds, Baseball DVDs & Books, Clearance Items on Sales, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Baseball Parent Attitude - Improve Your Baseball Team's Attitude


Baseball Parent and Baseball Team Attitudes
By Guest Author:Brian McClure

Ask yourself a question. Do you believe a kill 'em all attitude on the field is beneficial to youth baseball?, or How about this..Youth baseball is a sport that involves a whole team with each child trying their best and learning and improving..and having Fun. Baseball is a game and should be fun. I prefer the second answer. I want my son and teammates to all play, learn and improve..and the opposing team also. There may be a youth on the other team that may very well be in a job with your child someday. Wouldn't it be great if they could work together and compliment each other?

The point is, attitude in youth baseball and all sports can help your child in his entire life deal with teamwork, successes, failures, problem solving and opportunities. What can a parent do to make sure his child is getting the most positive mental impact from playing youth baseball.

First, look at your own attitude toward baseball other players, other teams, and competition. If your son sees you as viewing these as partners in the youth baseball experience..it will feed into him. We always compliment good players, teams, and coaches. There is almost always something someone does right. There still might be opportunities that can be mentioned but not dwelled upon. A good game does not always have to be the one you win. There are several opportunities to do something successful such as ..the first run down your team ever executed perfectly and got an out. You may or may not lose..but there was still success. I even compliment kids for being in the ready position and moving to the proper position to back up even if they were not in the play.

Second, I hate to say it, but watch the coach(if your are the coach watch yourself). Talking sportsmanship is not enough. Be careful of your actions and words to foster team building. As a parent if your coach is not doing this..you need to be extra sure you are fostering this environment.

A good youth baseball attitude can be instilled by parents and coaches by respecting other players,teams,coaches, and umpires. Attitude, good or bad) begins with parents and coaches.

Author- Brian McClure Want to learn more about helping your child in youth baseball as a parent or coach? http://www.coaching-youth-baseball.com/

See our complete list of Topics and articles on youth baseball here http://www.coaching-youth-baseball.com/topics.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_McClure

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010

10 Health Tips Every Youth Baseball Coach Should Know

Issued By Temple University Hospital

Its Little League season again, and if you're a coach, there are 10 tips you should know to help keep your players healthy.

"The number one tip coaches should remember is that children are not miniature adults and shouldn't be treated as such," says Jim Rogers, a certified athletic trainer in Temple University Hospital's sports Medicine Center.

"This may seem obvious, but many adults don't realize children's bodies can't take the same amount of physical stress adult bodies can take. That's because children are still growing and therefore are more susceptible to injury."

Rogers offers coaches these other tips to prevent injury:

Stretching the muscles related to the activity is very important. For example, if a child is pitching, he should concentrate on stretching his arm and back muscles. If a child is catching, the focus should be on the legs and back.


A good warm-tip is just as important as stretching. A warm-up can involve light calisthenics or a short jog. This helps raise the core body temperature and prepares all the body's muscles for physical activity.


Children should not be encouraged to "play through pain." Pain is a warning sign of injury. Ignoring it can lead to greater injury.


Swelling with pain and limitation of motion are two signs that are especially significant in children -- don't ignore them. They may mean the child has a more serious injury than initially suspected.


Rest is by far the most powerful therapy in youth sports injuries. Nothing helps an injury heal faster than rest.


Children who play on more than one team are especially at risk for overuse injuries. Overuse injuries are caused by repetitive stress put on the same part of the body over and over again.


Injuries that look like sprains in adults can be fractures in children. Children are more susceptible to fractures, because their bones are still growing.


Children's growth spurts can make for increased risk of injury. A particularly sensitive area in a child's body during a growth spurt is the growth plate -- the area of growth in the bone. Growth plates are weak spots in a child's body and can be the source of injury if the child is pushed beyond his limit athletically.


Ice is a universal first-aid treatment for minor sports injuries. Regular ice packs -- not chemical packs -- should be available at all games and practices. Ice controls the pain and swelling caused by common injuries such as sprains, strains and contusions.


Temple University Health Science Center news releases can be accessed on-line through CompuServe in the SciNews-MedNews library of the Journalism Forum under file extension ".TMM"

Thursday, April 22, 2010

5 Simple Hitting Drills That Will Raise Your Average Overnight!


5 Simple Hitting Drills That Will Raise Your Average Overnight!
By Janet K Hansen

The best hitters in the game use a variety of hitting drills to improve hand-eye coordination, bat speed, and power. These drills will have you or your players hitting the ball more consistently and with more power, with the ability to place shots more effectively. The result will be higher average and better run production in just a week or two of practice.

1. Ball on a Cone or Tee: Hand-eye coordination is the key to all good hitting, in any game and at every level. Improving your ability to match what your eyes are seeing with the trajectory of your swing creates the kind of contact that produces more line drives, and with time, more power. Hitting legend Ted Williams used to practice by using a cue stick to hit bottle caps. That's not a bad idea, but these drills will serve the purpose, too.


Ball on a cone: Put a traffic cone on the floor 3 feet out from a mat. Kneel, or have your players kneel, on the mat. Put balls on the cone and have the players focus on hitting a line drive. Hit 15 to 25 balls in each session, more if time allows - the more the better. The drill emphasizes contact using just the arms and upper body, which is essential to hitting the ball consistently.

T-Ball: Kids start in t-ball for a reason - they learn to make contact, plain and simple. Since solid contact is the key to all good things in hitting, contact drills never go out of style. Pro, college, and top amateur teams continue to use hitting tees to warm up and find the hitting touch, especially after layoffs. Start hitting practice with a round of tee drills to emphasize keeping an eye on the ball, with a bonus feature being an increase in confidence. When pitch speed is added, the improvement will be noticeable. When the game starts, sharper hitting will lead to more base runners and more RBI's. VARIATIONS: place the tee on the inside, middle, and outside parts of the plate to encourage hitters to go with the pitch, so they learn to drive balls to all fields. Most hitters try to pull everything, and this will help break that habit.

2. Wiffle Ball: This drill emphasizes bat speed and a compact, powerful swing. Using either a pitching machine or a live pitcher, stand 20 feet in front of the plate and use waffle balls for safety. Set the machine to about 40 mph, or gauge your pitch speed accordingly. Batters have to get the bat around in a hurry. The drill will expose swings that are too long - the kind of swings that keep pro players in the minors. On the positive side, it encourages increased bat speed to be able to get around on the pitches, and a shorter, more compact swing that is the foundation of power.

3. Wait and Explode: Many hitters develop the bad habit of starting their swing far too early. The results are all bad. For instance, the hitter will often stride into the pitch too early and then have to hold back the upper body waiting for the ball. Timing and hand-eye coordination is thrown off, plus if contact is made, it's only the upper body involved. The powerful motion of the legs is eliminated. Misses, weak grounders, and lazy fly balls are the result. Here's how this drill works. Have the batter stand in the box and coach them not to move at all until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. Keep it up until the hitter learns to be patient, reserving their energy until they can complete the swing in one powerful motion. Hitters with good contact skills but poor power will start driving the ball much harder with this drill.

Another way to encourage a "wait and explode" approach is to use tennis balls and bounce balls up to the plate. The hitter must not move a muscle until the ball bounces, 6-8 feet in front of the plate. Patience is learned, and hand-eye coordination is also improved. A short, compact, energetic swing will result.

4. The Barrier Drill: This drill will teach good mechanics. Have the players stand one back length back from a barrier, such as a net or string, and take their cut. If they hit the barrier with the bat, they are taking too long a swing, unlocking their elbows before the shoulders are fully engaged. Point out what's happening and see if they can make the correction, which will produce a compact, powerful cut.

5. Reward or Run: There's nothing like the possibility of a little physical exercise to get players to concentrate. Using a pitching machine, or reliable batting practice pitcher, feed each batter 15 pitches. On strikes only (make swinging at a bad pitch an out, no matter if they hit it or not), count well-struck balls versus misses or weak hits. If the batter has 8 or more good cuts reward them in some way. If 8 or more bad swings happen, it's time to run! As the season continues, and the players improve, bump your better hitters up to 10 or 11 quality hits to avoid running. Tailor the drill to stretch each player to achieve their best.

Each of these drills is used by many professional, college, and top amateurs teams every year. Employ them on your team and start noticing immediate results in terms of contact and power. You'll enjoy better run production from the first time through the order!

Janet Hansen is a softball coach in NC and helps others understand how to choose the right softball bat for their needs, at her Softball Batting website, http://www.SoftballBatGuide.com. You can also learn batting tips and join in the discussion along the way!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_K_Hansen

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