Learning baseball as a sport is something that happens over time. You might even switch positions at some point, and you definitely need to know what your teammates are up to as well right? Baseball is a team effort, and you’re about to find out some things that can help you improve your game.
There is a lot of sprinting in baseball. Whether you need to steal a base or run to home plate, sprinting is essential. To help increase the speed of your sprinting, run short drills. Time yourself running from home plate to first base. When you begin, power off to gain the maximum speed.
When hitting, make sure you put your weight on the back foot more than the front. Why? Your body acts like a coil when hitting. When you go to hit the ball with your weight properly managed, your body will unload like a spring. That gives you a ton more power.
Remember that baseball is only a game. Yes, it may be important to you and your team, but you don’t want to let it get you down. Even if you make a mistake, if you keep positive there’s always a chance to correct that mistake. But if you let it bother you, chance are you’ll make another mistake.
If you play an outfield position, be sure you and your fellow outfielders have proper communication skills. When a ball is popped up into the outfield, it’s important to know who will be going after it. If you cannot get this straight, the ball could end up dropping or you could collide with your teammate.
Catcher’s equipment helps to keep the catcher safe. A catcher’s uniform will include shin guards, a hat with a facemask and a chest protector. In addition to these items, most catchers wear a cup to protect the groin. Finally, a catcher’s mitt is used to help stop the ball quickly.
Know where every single ball player is on the field. Collisions that occur in baseball could have often been avoided if players were aware of each other’s positions on the playing field. Concussions are frequent in collisions. The best way to avoid collisions is to let everyone know when you intend to go after a baseball.
Don’t showboat. Some sports condone showboating, like a touchdown dance in football. But in baseball, showboating after a home run or a big strikeout is very much frowned upon. It’s the type of thing that causes a lot of bad blood between teams, and it can easy cause rifts among teammates.
Learn how to properly grip a bat. If you are right-handed, your left hand must be on the bottom with the right one on the top. The bats should be about 6 inches from your chest. Hold the bat up instead of on your shoulders. Spread your legs about a shoulder-width apart. Don’t stand straight up. Stand with knees slightly bent to avoid feeling stiff.
Proper stride is key in baseball. If you are right-handed, go with the left leg for picking it up at the release of the pitch. Left-handed players will use the right leg in the same way. When a pitch comes close to you, begin striding about a foot forward to build up a bit of momentum towards that pitcher. Younger and smaller players should stride somewhat less, maybe 9 inches.
If you are in the outfield, learn to read the ball. With practice, you can know approximately where the ball will land each time the ball is hit. Carefully, watch the pitcher so you know the speed of the ball when it crosses the plate. By simply knowing the speed you can judge how far the ball will be hit.
When trying to catch a ground ball, always avoid reaching across your entire body. Instead,you should quickly shuffle to your right or left so you can move your hand to where the ball is. Otherwise, when you try to catch the ball, the ball may hit the side of your glove.
One thing you must think about as a pitcher is the fact that you must watch runners leading off on base. This is especially important when it comes to preventing second base steals and squeeze plays at home. If you can pick off a runner that is trying to get in your head, then you have done your job.
Have you taken a good look at your bat? A metal bat that is good quality should be about three ounces lighter than the total inches of the bat. A bat that is 36 inches, should weigh 33 ounces. This formula helps you hold the baseball bat perpendicular during your swing.
Know what your body is saying when you pitch the ball. Shoulder injuries are common when a pitcher continues to overuse his arm. To help prevent this type of injury, allow recovery time between practices. You will be able to rest the shoulder and avoid injuries.
Listen to your coaches, even if you feel like they’re wrong. Your coaches are your leaders. They are the people looking at the big picture. You need to trust that they know best more often than not over the course of a game. Be willing to give up control when on the ball field.
Always have your helmet on as you enter the field to take your turn at the plate. This way, if the ball that’s batted heads for you, you don’t need to worry about a concussion or something worse.
As you now know a few more things about baseball, it’s time for you to use them on the field. The more you know about the sport, the more fun you are going to have playing. And, the more you are going to be helpful to your team as well.