Hitting a baseball with consistency takes a strong grip, a solid stance, a powerful swing, quick hands and a good follow through. When you are using a wooden bat, you have to be more aware of the sweet spot and the weak spot on the bat. A wooden bat will not hit the ball as far as a metal or composite bat, but a hitter who converts to using a wooden bat will develop better habits at the plate.
Step 1
Take your normal stance in the batter's box. If you regularly stand about 12 inches from home plate, move to a spot about 18 inches from home plate. When hitting with a wooden bat, you need to make an adjustment that allows you to hit the inside pitch with authority. If you hit a ball with the handle area of the wooden bat, you will likely hit a weak dribbler that could break the bat. Hitting the ball in the same area on a metal or composite bat could result in a line drive and won't break the bat.
Step 2
Take twice the number of swings in batting practice with a wooden bat as you do with a metal bat. You need to hone your swing and eliminate any potential errors. The sweet spot in the middle of the fat part of the bat -- the ideal hitting area -- is not has big on a wooden bat as it is on a metal bat. This requires more consistency at the plate that comes with greater and more efficient practice.
Step 3
Drive your hips through the ball when you hit. While this is the same advice hitters with a metal bat get from their hitting coaches, it is even more essential when hitting with a wooden bat. Your hips supply much of your bat speed and the bulk of your power. When you hit with just your hands driving, you won't get as much power. Nevertheless, a hands hit can result in a line drive with a metal bat. That is very unlikely with a hands hit with a wooden bat.
Step 4
Develop stronger wrists by doing wrist curls with dumbbells when you are training in the gym. You have to develop excellent bat speed as a hitter and wrist curls can help you get the bat through the hitting zone quicker. It's important for all hitters, but when you are using a bat with a smaller sweet spot, it is essential.
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