Perfect pitch, meaning the ability to identify a note without using any other note as a reference point, is a valuable skill for any musician. It may seem like an enviable talent bestowed on a lucky few, but EurekAlert! reveals that those who have...
When learning a new sport, it is important to mimic game conditions as closely as possible. When practicing to become a pitcher, athletes should use a pitching mound to work on form and aim. While you may not have easy access to a baseball...
Ear training improves recognition of harmonies and musical intervals. A developed ear is a skill that can be learned from repetitive exercises. A musician with a good ear can accomplish more in less time: play back melodies recently heard and...
One of the great thrills of the game of golf is to hit the ball squarely for the first time and watch it fly down the fairway for a distance of 250 yards or more. The thrill never leaves most golfers. But there is a lot more to golf than hitting...
Fast-pitch softball is one of the fastest growing women's sports in the United States and even became an Olympic sport in 1996. Because of its increasing popularity, many new players want to learn the skills needed to be a great player. For...
When you watch a top athlete throw, the process looks deceptively simple. But throwing well is a complex task that requires efficient movements and strength. Many types of throwing exist, from football to baseball to discus to javelin. What top...
Batting slumps happen to almost every batter at one time or another, and a big difference between great and below-average baseball players is how they respond to a slump. Slumps generally come from one of two aspects of hitting: mental or...
The musical scale is like a rainbow. Each note represents an exact sound wave frequency just as each color represents a certain light wave frequency. Unlike with a rainbow, however, a note such as a "C" is not a unique frequency. And...
Like most sports that benefit from development of muscle memory, pitching in baseball requires practice and the repetition of drills to fine tune your technique. Pitching is an unnatural motion for your arm and shoulders, and without a solid...
In a perfect knuckleball pitch, the baseball rotates very little. The lack of rotation, coupled with the aerodynamic properties of the baseball lacing, produces turbulence around the ball, which can significantly and erratically alter its flight....
Salt Fork Lake is in Salt Fork State Park, Ohio’s largest state park. The lake is part of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD), a series of lakes in Ohio that were built to ensure flood control and conserve water. Salt Fork...
Fastpitch softball is primarily a women's sport, although men's softball teams are also popular. Women's softball first made an appearance in 1965. The International Softball World Championships introduced the women's sport at an international...
Repeatedly throwing a baseball puts your arm under a lot of stress. This can lead to injuries common in the upper arm -- from the elbow, biceps, shoulder and the triceps muscle. Pain in the triceps after pitching can be a cause for concern or...
When baseball started, players made their own bats that resulted in many shapes and lengths. As baseball and softball become regulated sports pastimes, bat manufacturers and regulators created baseline standards for length, weight and design. A...
"What's above the shoulders is more important than what's below," explained professional baseball great Ty Cobb, who played during the early 1900s. Cobb was alluding to his belief that mental toughness is more important for baseball players than...
A reality of softball seasons interrupted by Mother Nature, indoor softball training can actually benefit teams rather than hinder them. When coaches approach adverse weather with an open mind, indoor practices can promote variety, excitement,...
Vacationing near the Anclote River provides many opportunities for outdoor recreation as well as observing traditions and industries of the town of Tarpon Springs. Situated along the northern boundary of Pinellas County, Florida, the Anclote...
Located four hours down the coast from Sydney and 50 miles from the metropolitan area of Canberra in Australia, Deua National Park is a rugged, scenic area with rivers, wilderness and mountains. The park offers campers a variety of activities to...
Youth baseball players begin their careers playing tee ball, swatting a stationary ball from the tee until they develop the necessary skills to hit a pitched ball. While they may seem like kid's stuff, batting tees help even professional baseball...
Hitting the ball hard in competitive softball can be quite difficult. Pitchers can throw the ball at speeds up to 70 miles per hour. They can also throw risers, drops, curves and change-ups. But hitters who come to the plate with a great mental...
Some pitchers are blessed with an overpowering fastball or a biting curveball. Others are not. But no matter a pitcher's natural talent, it won't be enough unless he works on his craft. There are a number of things a pitcher can do to increase the...
A perfect game by a baseball pitcher is rare. There have been 20 perfect games in Major League Baseball history through May of 2010, and they are so rare that there were no perfect games in the National League between 1880 and 1964. However, in...
When you're a softball pitcher, having an accurate throw is important. However, being able to throw a pitch so fast that a batter can barely track it can also help you a great deal in your career. Many athletes have trouble improving their...
More than 500 inches of snow fall on the Teton Mountains every year, meaning you can count on first-rate ski conditions from November until April on the northwestern edge of Wyoming. You could join some hardy locals and stretch the season out even...
Beauty magazine and television advertisements pitch expensive, sophisticated skin care products designed to remedy or cover up signs of aging and blemishes. There are wrinkle-removers, cleansers, toners, concealers, scrubs and myriad other...
A 2005 survey by "USA Today" concluded that among the hardest things to do in all of sports, hitting a baseball ranked No. 1. Now consider the difficulty of not only hitting the ball, but hitting it 300-plus feet, high enough in the air that it...
Chipping and pitching are part of the "short game" in golf, and are important elements to help lower your score. Chipping usually refers to shots that are right around the green that just pop out of the grass and roll toward the hole. A pitch shot...
Baseball players use pitching machines to practice batting. Pitching machines offer a pitcher who never tires, allowing batters to practice for long periods of time without risking pitcher injury or fatigue. Pitching machines have come a long way...
Softball uniforms provide very little protection from the elements or from the game. It's important for you to prepare for the weather and protect yourself from injury while playing. You can wear a variety of items under your softball uniform to...
