By Andy Pohl
The stride might be the most over taught aspect of the baseball swing. Simply speaking, the stride is the movement of the front leg before contact. Personally, I don't care how a hitter strides, as long as they stride to balance. Some hitters, like Juan Gonzales, kick up their front leg as if they were pitching. Other hitters, such as Chipper Jones and Sammy Sosa, bring their front foot back and forward quickly as if they were tapping the ground. Other hitters, such as Jeff Bagwell, do not stride at all-they just pick their front foot slightly off the ground and put it back in the same spot. Whatever is comfortable with the hitter works for me, as long as certain rules apply. In addition, regardless of how a one strides, all successful hitters stride to a balanced position. The phrase "stride to balance" is often used to further describe this aspect of the swing.
First of all, hitters must not over stride, or stride out too far. This results in an unbalanced position that prevents the hitter from making a powerful move towards the ball. Secondly, hitters must stride with their front foot at or very close to a 45 degree angle. A wide open foot while striding prematurely releases the hips, thus decreasing the hitter's power and plate coverage. A closed front foot locks up the hips, thus preventing the hitter's ability to create maximum rotation. Striding with the front foot close to a 45 degree angle enables the hitter to maintain both their posture and balance throughout the swing while correctly laying the foundation for a proper hip rotation. Finally, and most importantly, hitters must not move forward when striding. Moving forward during the stride, otherwise known as a 'dive move', causes the hitter to lose all balance and power.
Ultimately, when the hitter strides, the head should remain over the rear knee. During the stride, there is only slight linear motion forward, and after the front heel drops to the ground, the linear aspect of the swing is over. There is no more movement forward. The dropping of the front heel acts as an anchor that stops the hitter's momentum from going forward. After the hitter's front heel is firmly planted on the ground, the hitter moves rotationally to the baseball.
By keeping the weight on the backside and minimizing forward linear motion during the stride, the hitter is able to keep his upper body still, mainly his head. This allows the hitter to see the pitch better, which in turn, increases his ability to make consistent contact. While it is hard enough to hit any moving object, it is much harder to hit that moving object when you are moving too. Keeping the head still enables the hitter to see the plane of the pitch more accurately. Remember, hitting is sight oriented. No matter how good one's mechanics are, nobody, not even Ted Williams, could hit blindfolded.
Andy Pohl - Co-Founder, DNA Sports
DNA Sports specializes in personalized baseball and softball skill programs, college recruiting education and preparation, and coaching clinics. Learn more: http://www.dnasportsonline.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Pohl
Monday, February 7, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Top 5 Tips for Bunting a Baseball
By Dustin Peek
Bunting is an absolutely critical part of the game of baseball. It can be used in a number of different situations such as moving runners by sacrificing the hitter, bunting for a hit, or using squeeze plays to score a run. Proper technique is necessary for bunting in baseball, and every player should learn this skill at a young age. The below tips are the top five things that every player should know about bunting.
1. Know the Situation
Every situation calls for a different bunting approach, so you need to make note of the defense and what you are trying to accomplish. When evaluating the defense, you want to make note of the first and third basemen positions, the quickness and arm strength of the catcher, pitcher, and third and first basemen, and whether the pitcher is left or right handed. You also want to consider the goal of the current situation. For a bunt-for-a-hit, you want to delay showing bunt as long a possible to catch the defense off guard. For a suicide squeeze, you want to make sure that you absolutely make contact with the ball at all costs. Every situation has a slightly different approach.
2. Hold the Bat Correctly
The bat should be held with the lower hand at the bottom of the bat near the knob. You should slide the top hand just over half way down the bat and grip it between your thumb and curled index finger. The fingers of the top hand should always be behind the bat to prevent them from being hit by the ball. The bat should be kept as level as possible as a tilted bat can often result in a pop-up.
3. Use Your Legs
After you have squared around to bunt, you want to use your legs to move your body and the bat vertically up or down to make contact with the ball. If you use your arms instead, the tendency is to tilt the barrel of the bat up or down which can easily result in a pop up.
4. Only Bunt Strikes
For many players, bunting is something that is rarely attempted during games. When players finally do get the bunt sign, they often get so involved in the process of bunting that they can forget that they still have the option to pull the bat back if the pitch is not a strike. This can result in poorly bunted balls or complete misses. With regard to evaluating balls and strikes, bunting should be no different than other at-bats, and hitters should keep this in mind.
5. Use Your Hands as a Cushion
When contact is made with the ball, you want the ball to roll slowly down one of the baselines. If the ball is bunted with too much force, it can give the defense a chance to make a play. To prevent bunting a ball with too much force, you want to "give" a little with your hands upon contact. Some people call this "catching the ball with the bat." It can take some of the speed off the ball and prevent the defense from making a play.
Use these tips in any bunting situation to increase your chances of success. If they are understood and practiced, it can drastically improve your game.
Dustin Peek is a former player with a life-long love for the game of baseball. He enjoys helping players of all ages learn the skills necessary to be succesful on the diamond. Do you want to learn more about bunting in baseball? Find this and much, much more at: http://www.baseballskillscenter.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Peek
Bunting is an absolutely critical part of the game of baseball. It can be used in a number of different situations such as moving runners by sacrificing the hitter, bunting for a hit, or using squeeze plays to score a run. Proper technique is necessary for bunting in baseball, and every player should learn this skill at a young age. The below tips are the top five things that every player should know about bunting.
1. Know the Situation
Every situation calls for a different bunting approach, so you need to make note of the defense and what you are trying to accomplish. When evaluating the defense, you want to make note of the first and third basemen positions, the quickness and arm strength of the catcher, pitcher, and third and first basemen, and whether the pitcher is left or right handed. You also want to consider the goal of the current situation. For a bunt-for-a-hit, you want to delay showing bunt as long a possible to catch the defense off guard. For a suicide squeeze, you want to make sure that you absolutely make contact with the ball at all costs. Every situation has a slightly different approach.
2. Hold the Bat Correctly
The bat should be held with the lower hand at the bottom of the bat near the knob. You should slide the top hand just over half way down the bat and grip it between your thumb and curled index finger. The fingers of the top hand should always be behind the bat to prevent them from being hit by the ball. The bat should be kept as level as possible as a tilted bat can often result in a pop-up.
3. Use Your Legs
After you have squared around to bunt, you want to use your legs to move your body and the bat vertically up or down to make contact with the ball. If you use your arms instead, the tendency is to tilt the barrel of the bat up or down which can easily result in a pop up.
4. Only Bunt Strikes
For many players, bunting is something that is rarely attempted during games. When players finally do get the bunt sign, they often get so involved in the process of bunting that they can forget that they still have the option to pull the bat back if the pitch is not a strike. This can result in poorly bunted balls or complete misses. With regard to evaluating balls and strikes, bunting should be no different than other at-bats, and hitters should keep this in mind.
5. Use Your Hands as a Cushion
When contact is made with the ball, you want the ball to roll slowly down one of the baselines. If the ball is bunted with too much force, it can give the defense a chance to make a play. To prevent bunting a ball with too much force, you want to "give" a little with your hands upon contact. Some people call this "catching the ball with the bat." It can take some of the speed off the ball and prevent the defense from making a play.
Use these tips in any bunting situation to increase your chances of success. If they are understood and practiced, it can drastically improve your game.
Dustin Peek is a former player with a life-long love for the game of baseball. He enjoys helping players of all ages learn the skills necessary to be succesful on the diamond. Do you want to learn more about bunting in baseball? Find this and much, much more at: http://www.baseballskillscenter.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Peek
Friday, January 21, 2011
Baseball History Lesson - Talkin' Baseball - A Great American Song.
For those of you looking for a way to help your kids understand the roots of the game.... Terry Cashman's song "Talkin' Baseball" is a good start. Cashman sings about baseball in the 50's - 80's focusing on three main players... Willie, Mickey and The Duke. These there of course were the dominate centerfielders of their era and captivated NY and CA fans for decades. Here is a tribute to the song which might serve as a a good start to help your young ballplayer learn about some of the early stars of the game...
A tribute to Terry Cashman's great American baseball song... Talkin' Baseball. One of the greatest baseball songs ever written, it captures the feeling of the pre-PED era of baseball.. when things were a bit simplier and the love of the game really meant something. This video tribute was created to pay homage to his song while helping younger fans learn about some of the players highlighed in it's verses. Every baseball fan should know who Willie, Mickey and The Duke were... if they don't I hope this video helps them learn about these three great ball players.
A tribute to Terry Cashman's great American baseball song... Talkin' Baseball. One of the greatest baseball songs ever written, it captures the feeling of the pre-PED era of baseball.. when things were a bit simplier and the love of the game really meant something. This video tribute was created to pay homage to his song while helping younger fans learn about some of the players highlighed in it's verses. Every baseball fan should know who Willie, Mickey and The Duke were... if they don't I hope this video helps them learn about these three great ball players.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Rotational Hitting Mechanics - The Best Hitting Mechanics You Can Teach Your Players
By George Montoya
What are the best batting mechanics you can teach your players?
As a baseball coach, that's a question that I get all the time. If you look around you'll notice well meaning coaches doing the same stale drills, but never really improving their player's mechanics. In fact, these baseball coaches, most of the time, are enforcing poor hitting mechanics.
So what can you do?
The fact is that 95% of all Hall of Fame hitters are using rotational hitting mechanics. That's right; the Major League swing is rotational hitting.
I learned how to teach rotational hitting, and so can you.
Here are some key things to keep in mind about rotational hitting.
It all starts with the grip - The knocking knuckles of the hand have to be lined up; this makes for a more accurate swing. Why do you think an axe handle is oval? It automatically lines up your knuckles for a reason - accuracy!
The stance - You don't want to be too wide or to narrow. A good start is feet shoulder width apart, or about the length of their bat wide.
Load - As the pitcher begins their motion, the batter turns their lead shoulder and front knee toward the plate slightly, always keeping both eyes on the pitchers release point.
Stride and weight transfer - The batter shifts their weight from the back foot to the front foot on a tilted axis, NOT a straight up and down axis. You might even note that their back foot becomes light, sometimes even coming completely off of the ground a couple of inches.
The Hips - Once the batter is going to take their swing, their front heel drops locking out the front leg, and the hips begin to rotate. The rotation of the hips is what pulls the hands around. This is when the batter turns around a fixed axis, their front leg.
Important! The key rotational hitting points above are what most Major League baseball players do during their swing. You CAN learn to teach the mechanics of the Major League swing.
Don't ignore these steps. Quit doing the same stale drills ever other coach out there is teaching. Do your players justice... YOU CAN!
Learn the rotational hitting drills that will show you how to improve your player's mechanics, and make you look like baseball genius.
At www.baseballslugger411.com you can get all the information you need to succeed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Montoya
What are the best batting mechanics you can teach your players?
As a baseball coach, that's a question that I get all the time. If you look around you'll notice well meaning coaches doing the same stale drills, but never really improving their player's mechanics. In fact, these baseball coaches, most of the time, are enforcing poor hitting mechanics.
So what can you do?
The fact is that 95% of all Hall of Fame hitters are using rotational hitting mechanics. That's right; the Major League swing is rotational hitting.
I learned how to teach rotational hitting, and so can you.
Here are some key things to keep in mind about rotational hitting.
It all starts with the grip - The knocking knuckles of the hand have to be lined up; this makes for a more accurate swing. Why do you think an axe handle is oval? It automatically lines up your knuckles for a reason - accuracy!
The stance - You don't want to be too wide or to narrow. A good start is feet shoulder width apart, or about the length of their bat wide.
Load - As the pitcher begins their motion, the batter turns their lead shoulder and front knee toward the plate slightly, always keeping both eyes on the pitchers release point.
Stride and weight transfer - The batter shifts their weight from the back foot to the front foot on a tilted axis, NOT a straight up and down axis. You might even note that their back foot becomes light, sometimes even coming completely off of the ground a couple of inches.
The Hips - Once the batter is going to take their swing, their front heel drops locking out the front leg, and the hips begin to rotate. The rotation of the hips is what pulls the hands around. This is when the batter turns around a fixed axis, their front leg.
Important! The key rotational hitting points above are what most Major League baseball players do during their swing. You CAN learn to teach the mechanics of the Major League swing.
Don't ignore these steps. Quit doing the same stale drills ever other coach out there is teaching. Do your players justice... YOU CAN!
Learn the rotational hitting drills that will show you how to improve your player's mechanics, and make you look like baseball genius.
At www.baseballslugger411.com you can get all the information you need to succeed.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Montoya
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