| Watching a 5' 8", 160 pound shortstop hit a 400 | | | | and then take some cuts at a batting cage and |
| foot bomb is always amazing. Sure, the 6' 4", 235 | | | | continue to refine your mechanics. Once you like |
| pound first baseman has the natural strength to | | | | your stance, then do some research and learn |
| put the ball out of the yard, but how does the | | | | about loading up, staying back on the ball and |
| smaller player do it? What does he possess to | | | | swinging thru the pitch. |
| produce such power? And how do some larger | | | | 2. Good eye-hand coordination - soft toss, which |
| players consistently hit for distance, while others | | | | is hitting a ball into a net when tossed by |
| just have the occasional home run? | | | | someone from a short distance, is a good tool to |
| The three main components to hitting the baseball | | | | work on and improve your eye-hand coordination. |
| consistently and for distance are: | | | | Have the person toss the ball at different angles |
| 1. Proper mechanics - feet comfortably spread | | | | and different locations. Start off with slow tosses, |
| apart, hands back, and a smooth transfer from | | | | and then increase the speed. |
| load to swing. | | | | 3. Good bat speed - there are many methods to |
| 2. Good eye-hand coordination - seeing the ball all | | | | help improve your bat speed. Try using a heavier |
| the way in and watching the ball hit the bat. | | | | bat or a wood bat during practice or in the cages. |
| 3. Good bat speed - the faster the bat, the | | | | Swing off the tee using only one hand. Take a |
| faster the ball flies out. | | | | medicine ball, hold it out in front of you and rotate |
| Each one of these components can be improved | | | | your hands like you were swinging a bat. The idea |
| upon by every baseball player. | | | | is to get your hands and hips moving faster to |
| 1. Proper Mechanics - Watch some major league | | | | strike the ball at a greater speed. |
| games and check out the different styles of | | | | Once you find that comfortable batting stance, |
| batting stance. Then grab a bat and see what is | | | | and you have worked on the eye-hand drills, and |
| most comfortable for you. Being tense at the | | | | you have improved your bat speed, than take a |
| plate cuts down on your reaction time. And when | | | | 100 swings a day. It can be off a tee, during soft |
| that fastball is coming in, you have to be relaxed | | | | toss, in a cage, or just in the backyard swinging |
| and ready to release the perfect swing. Once you | | | | at the air. But take a 100 good swings a day to |
| have found a stance you like, go hit off the tee | | | | make your swing as natural as breathing. |