Hitting a pitched baseball requires concentration, timing, good coordination and fast reflexes. With some pitchers throwing the ball upwards of 95 mph, a hitter has little time to react and a small margin for error. Because of these challenges, even a quality major league hitter fails to get a hit the majority of times at bat. To be successful, a hitter must apply certain fundamentals and a sound approach to maximize his results.
Bat Selection
Former New York Yankee and American League batting champion Don Mattingly holds that players have a tendency to select too heavy a bat. A bat that is too heavy for a hitter causes his swing to slow down, and a slow swing makes it difficult to hit faster pitches. Players with a slow swing may try to overcompensate by swinging earlier at a pitch, which causes problems with their timing and balance. Before you purchase a bat, take it to a practice cage and spend some time hitting, Mattingly advises. Selecting a bat that is too light may cause you to swing too early. This can cause problems with your timing when the pitcher changes speeds.
Still Position
To hit a baseball, you have to see it clearly. Watch the ball from the time it leaves the pitcher's hand until the time it reaches your bat. When a ball is thrown at a relatively high velocity, even a slight movement of your head will make it difficult to see the ball. Keep your head down and locked on the path of the ball. Some players lift their heads prematurely to watch where they have hit the ball.
Short Strides
As a hitter begins to swing, he transfers his weight from his back foot to his front foot. He accomplishes this shift by taking a stride forward with his front foot. The hitter also uses his stride as a mechanism to time pitches. Players who take a long, open stride tend to open their shoulders and hips, Mattingly observes. This causes them to pull off the ball and makes it difficult to hit outside pitches. This practice is known as stepping in the "bucket." A shorter stride toward the pitcher allows for a quicker swing and better plate coverage.
Flexible Approach
Your strategy at the plate should be flexible and should depend on a variety of factors. For example, your spot in the batting order could dictate your strategy. If you are batting first in the order, you may adopt an approach of simply trying to get on base. Generally, your team will have power hitters hitting below you in the batting order, so they can drive you in. Your approach should change when you have a count of no balls and two strikes. You should consider shortening your swing or choking up on the bat. This will help you make contact with a pitch and prevent a strikeout. If a pitcher throws particularly hard, consider trying to hit the ball to the opposite field. Also, if a pitcher is having difficulty throwing strikes, adopt a patient approach and wait for a pitch over the plate.
References
- "Don Mattingly's Hitting is Simple"; Don Mattingly; 2007
- "Lau's Laws on Hitting: The Art of Hitting .400 for the Next Generation"; Charles Lau Jr.; 2003
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