| I am a die hard Chicago Cubs fan and my | | | | they can swing comfortably. If you find yourself |
| favorite player of all time was a man named | | | | laboring to swing the bat at all, it is the wrong bat! |
| Ryne Sandberg. I've experienced some sad days | | | | If you find that the bat is just too light, pick |
| in my life but one of the saddest was when Ryne | | | | another one. Try out several different bats so |
| Sandberg retired the first time in 1994. I was | | | | you can develop an understanding of what feels |
| devastated. He was still young and at the time | | | | most comfortable. Make sure that your hands are |
| the highest paid player in baseball. I literally cried | | | | touching when holding the bat. If you are right |
| that day from disappointment. Ryne Sandberg | | | | handed, your right hand will be on top of your left |
| was everything good about baseball to me | | | | hand and vice versa. Don't allow players to hit |
| because he played the game correctly. He ran out | | | | with gaps between their hands or with crossed |
| ground balls, he hustled, he worked hard, and he | | | | hands (Left over right for right handed batters or |
| played to win for his team. I tried to emulate his | | | | right over left for left handed batters). Teach |
| character every time I ran out on the field. It | | | | them how to hold the bat correctly to avoid |
| was as if my style of play was a sign of respect | | | | future problems. |
| to him, if that makes sense. The point I'm trying | | | | Next is to form a comfortable stance. Feet should |
| to make by telling you this is that throughout this | | | | be about shoulder-width apart with both eyes |
| article many of the techniques I write about will | | | | focused on the pitcher. Make sure that you're able |
| seem very basic, yet the best players in baseball | | | | to really see the pitcher with both eyes. Your |
| are the best because they execute on the simple | | | | feet should be balanced with the weight on the |
| fundamentals. | | | | balls or the front of your feet. Your arms should |
| Hitting the Baseball | | | | be in a comfortable position with your hands back |
| Who doesn't want to be a great hitter? Some | | | | and your head still. Have you ever tried catching a |
| kids are naturals at this. I'm sure that most of the | | | | ball that you are running for? The ball looks like it |
| major league players could hit the ball well as a kid | | | | is bouncing. When you are batting you want a still |
| without a lot of coaching due to their God-given | | | | head so you can see the ball maintain its flight |
| talent. Most of us will never be a major league | | | | path which will increase your chances of hitting |
| baseball player, but we still strive to play the | | | | the ball. I always have players learn how to hit off |
| game well. Let's talk some general ideas about | | | | a tee so they can gain confidence and learn how |
| hitting. I tell kids to make sure to pick a bat that | | | | to hit correctly. |