Hitting Tips

Some believe that hitting a baseball is the most difficult thing in sports, whether it comes during a game or in practice with a pitching machine. It takes a special mix of hand-eye coordination to begin with. But other factors, such as bat size and weight, stance and reaction time, also come into play.

Go with the Pitch Making proper contact with a pitch means looking at the top part of the ball and the direction of the pitch. For right-handed batters, an inside pitch should be driven to the left side of the infield, and an outside pitch should be headed to the right side. Hitting the top half of the ball will produce more grounders and line drives with fewer fly balls. Too many players, especially at the older level, aim for a home run. It's best to attempt to hit through the fence, not over it. Hitting the ball hard is more important than worrying about your average, meaning hard-hit balls are a true measure of hitting success. The art of hitting comes down to one thing: the swing. Look at the greatest hitters of all time, and you'll see how perfect their swing is. That swing is developed not just in games but in practices; it has to be consistent. It's something that can be honed with the use of a pitching machine or live pitching.

Baseball and softball have one thing in common when it comes to hitting: The head must stay still. Your right eye and left eye see things as separate images. When the two images work as one, it allows you to see the ball more clearly. If you see two images, hitting becomes more difficult.

The Right Bat Is Important
Selecting the right bat, regardless of whether you're playing baseball or softball, is the key to feeling comfortable at the plate. Today's aluminum bats are light, which means the batter can get around quickly on the pitch and generate more power than with the old wooden bat. It's important to pick out a bat that has a length that matches the batter's height. For example:

• A 5-foot to 5-foot-6-inch hitter's bat should be 32 inches
• A 5-foot-6-inch to 6-foot hitter's bat should be 33 inches
• A 6-foot or taller hitter's bat should be 34 inches

The comfort of the bat is highly important as well. You should take a few swings with a bat, picturing how it'll feel in a game situation. You could also borrow a teammate's bat to get a different feel. Regardless, it's important to avoid choosing a bat that is too heavy to swing. You can't get around on a fastball if the bat is too heavy.