Swinging for the Fences
Each day you see the pros swinging as hard as they can, "for the fences", trying to hit that homerun. No doubt that homerun looks great on the highlight film but it may not have had any bearing on the outcome of the game. And it also doesn't necessarily make a great hitter. If you compare the homerun to strikeout statistics for many of professional "homerun hitters" you will notice that many have a significant amount of strikeouts (as high as 200 in one year). Why?
Over swinging (Swing for the fences).disrupts the synchronized ascending steps needed to hit a baseball consistently.
CORRECT STEPS FOR CONSISTENT HITTING
Hitting is hard to do! Trying to hit a small ball at high speed with a slender piece of wood. The fundamental steps described below will help prevent you from over swinging.
1) Stride directly toward the pitcher with your lead foot when beginning the swing
2) Keep the shoulder pointed toward the pitcher
3) Keep the chin on the shoulder.
4) Keep the head still
5) Follow the ball with your eyes until it intersects the ball and bat.
6) Swing the bat level, with controlled force
OVER SWINGING IMPLICATIONS
Over swinging causes the batter to "Step Out" (striding with the front foot to left field for righties and vice-vera for lefties)" in an attempt to get as much power behind the swing. This begins the inevitable uncontrollable sequence of events, including:
- The shoulder "swings out" and follows the leading stride.
- Next, the chin follows the shoulder
- Which moves the head and inevitably
- Results in the eyes not able to focus and follow the ball to the bat.
DON'T TRY TO HIT HOMERUNS
Homeruns will come natually with a controlled swing. Here's some tips:
1) Retain your balance when you initiate your swing - keeping legs and torso in line. Try not to lead forward. This will help you adjust your swing to hit offspeed pitches when you're not anticipating it!
2) Stride toward the pitcher with your lead foot. This will keep your leading shoulder from opening (swinging away from the bottom toward the left or right field foul poles)
3) Keep your head still, positioning you chin on your lead shoulder.
4) Focus your eyes on the ball and follow it until it meets the bat.
If you follow these tips you'll become a more consistent hitter and a critical situation hitter. It's the small things that win ballgames. Like hitting the ball to the opposite field to move over a runner; or hitting it between moving fielders on a "hit and run" play, and even getting an RBI with a sacrifice fly.
Remember: IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WIN BALLGAMES!!
Good luck and keep swinging - correctly!
For more Baseball Tips and Techniques, have a peak at my website, http://teachkidsbaseball.com/
