Hitting a baseball is often called the hardest thing to do in sports. A batting average of .300, which means you get a hit only three out of 10 at-bats, is considered excellent. Even if you don't hit safely every time, your goal should be to make solid contact and put the ball in play if you get decent pitches at which to swing.
Watch the Ball
Step 1
Focus only on the ball as it leaves the pitcher's hand and heads toward the plate. You will have less than a second to decide whether to swing and where to swing. The rotation of the ball, best seen by watching the seams on the ball, can tip you off whether the pitch is a fast ball, slider, sinker or other pitch with movement.
Step 2
Keep your head down, watching the bat meet the ball. Think of starting out in your stance with your chin parallel to your front shoulder and ending with your chin touching your back your shoulder. If you lift your head, you can't have your shoulder meet your chin.
Step 3
Be aware of clues the pitcher might give as to whether the pitch is going to be a fastball or a curve. If you pay attention to a pitcher's tendencies, you will have a better chance of guessing where a particular pitch is going to go and what kind of movement will be on the ball.
Be Aware of Your Hands
Step 1
Keep your hands "loose" at the plate, especially your top hand. A tighter grip will slow down your swing and make it less fluid.
Step 2
Try to keep your hands inside the pitch as it reaches the plate. That means keeping your hands back and cocked and ready to hit. Think of starting to pull the bat through the strike zone with your bottom hand and then driving it forward with your top hand.
Step 3
Keep your hands slightly above where your bat makes contact with the ball. This will lead to more line drives, instead of trying to hit the ball with your bat out straight. The risk is that by extending your bat out parallel to the ground, you could catch the bottom portion of the ball and send it up as a pop fly.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Step 1
Hit off a tee frequently to concentrate on the aspects of your swing, such as your weight shift from back to front, and your head position.
Step 2
Have your swing videotaped and watch your mechanics to see whether obvious areas in your swing need improvement. Get a coach or other experienced baseball person to watch your swing and evaluate it with you.
Step 3
Practice taking pitches. By developing patience at the plate, you'll improve your eye for good pitches and will be more likely to swing at pitches that give you the best odds of getting a good pitch to hit.
Tips and Warnings
- Be willing to change your stance, grip, stride and anything else that might boost your consistency at the plate.
Things You'll Need
- Baseball bat
- Baseball
- Batting tee
- Video camera
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