Baseball Hitting Tips - How to Recognize a Curve Ball Quickly!

By Larry Cicchiello


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Recognizing a curve ball quickly is not an easy thing to do. Hitting a well located curve is not easy either.That's why you will hear the expression, "he's a good fastball hitter" ten times for every one time you will hear, "he's a good curve ball hitter." I'm well aware that part of that is because there are many more fastballs being thrown, so of course more fastballs will be hit harder. But I'm also well aware that the movement on the curve makes baseball hitting much more difficult and the slower speed disrupts timing. The quicker you can recognize that it's the curve that the pitcher is throwing, the better chance you will have of hitting it well. Like we've said many times, a fraction of a second is an eternity when it comes to baseball hitting and it most certainly applies here. That's why pitchers who have "late breaking" pitches are usually very successful, because the batter does not realize it is a breaking ball until it's a fraction of a second too late.

Ways to Recognize the Curve Ball Quickly:


Watch the release point of the pitcher very closely. The pitcher's release point may be slightly different from the fastball point of release.
Watch the trajectory of the ball as soon as it's released by the pitcher. It could very well have a slight arc to it that is not present on the fast ball.
Watch the pitcher's arm angle. There's a strong possibility that with the fastball, the pitcher may come almost directly overhand and with the curve he may drop down a little bit. This happens very often.
Practice watching as many curve balls as possible.

Let's say you play three times a week and get about ten at bats per week. Out of those ten at bats, you see about one curve per at bat, which is about ten per week. I strongly suggest that to improve at recognizing a curve quicker, you must see more than ten per week. If you are serious about baseball hitting and having better at bats against the curve ball, here is what I highly recommend you do.

Whenever you have batting practice with your team, ask your pitcher to mix in some curve balls during your last ten or twelve swings.

If one of your pitchers is pitching batting practice, stand behind the backstop and practice trying to recognize his curve ball as quickly as possible.

If one of your pitchers is throwing a "bull pen," go stand nearby and watch him closely. Try to read the curve as quickly as you can. (If you're serious about your baseball hitting, you will find the time to do these things.)

By doing the things listed above, you may very well be seeing 50 curve balls per week instead of only 10 per week. I'm well aware that it's not as efficient as if you were up there hitting in the batter's box but it will still improve your recognition of the curve. How can it not help? It has to to help you.

Hitting the Curve Ball:


Quick hands are an essential part of successful baseball hitting. If your hands are quick, you can "stay back" longer. By staying back and not over committing, this is extremely useful when attempting to hit the curve ball. There is much less of a chance you will be fooled by it and be off balance and too far out in front. There is no substitute for having quick hands.
"Hit it where it's pitched." An old cliche but a tough low and away curve ball with very good downward movement is not an easy pitch to hit. I highly recommend hitting it to the opposite field. Very few well located low and away curve balls are pulled by a batter and hit well.Very few.

Larry is the president of Larwenty Online Enterprises Inc. He is also the author of "Excellent Baseball Coaching: 30 Seconds Away." If you are a baseball player or baseball coach at any level of play, or a parent who wants to help your child improve, you will be fully equipped! His baseball website offers several FREE baseball tips from his very informative and very fairly priced eBooks.

Larry's baseball website is http://www.larrybaseball.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Cicchiello



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Happy Thanksgiving to Our Batting Cage Blog Readers

Happy Thanksgiving to Our Batting Cage Blog Readers

The staff at Nedco Sports wishes you and your family a safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holidays.

Baseball Hitting With Wooden Bats

By Jack D. Elliott

There is no denying the power of an aluminum bat. In fact, one reason they are not allowed in the major leagues is to help protect pitchers from having a line drive take off their head. However, occasionally practicing with a wooden bat in batting practice or the batting cage can definitely fine tune your swing and improve your baseball hitting.

A wooden bat has the advantage of encouraging the batter to hit the ball in the sweet spot. If the hitter hits the ball with the inside part of the bat, he runs the risk of breaking his bat or getting a stinging sensation in his hands. If the hitter hits the baseball with the outside part of the bat, the baseball will not travel very far. For these reasons, a wooden bat will encourage a batter to hit the baseball with the sweet spot. The more repetitions you get hitting the baseball with the sweet spot will translate into better hitting when you switch over to an aluminum bat which has an even bigger sweet spot and is slightly lighter.

One caveat: Wooden baseball bats can break very easily. One thing that can be done to help increase the life of a wooden bat is to wrap baseball tape or electrical tape around the sweet spot of the bat. This should help absorb some of the sting of a baseball when it hits the wooden bat in the wrong area. This is especially important because batting cage balls (the ones with the dimples in them) are a little bit harder on bats than a regular baseball.

Regardless of how you treat your wooden bat, you can expect to break a few wooden baseball bats if you play long enough. The good news is they are cheaper than aluminum bats ranging any where from $30 to $100. Another way one can make lemonade out of these lemons is to use the broken wooden bat for other purposes. Depending on how much is salvageable, you may be able to use the fat end of the bat as a club (miniature bat) for additional wiffleball practice by putting baseball tape on the tail end of it. This would allow you to practice your batting swing with your extension hand. This type of exercise helps with driving through the baseball.

Also, the handle of the bat may be converted into a strength training tool as well. You can create this baseball training tool by:

1. Drilling a hole on the bat handle. Drilling a hole through the handle of the bat and tie a very thin rope to it. The rope should have about 3 ½ to 4 feet of slack.

2. Tie a small weight to the rope. Then, tie a small weight to the other end of the rope. This weight should be under 10 pounds. I recommend starting with a 5 pound weight.

3. Roll up rope using back and forth motion. From here, you will want to hold the handle out in front of you with two hands. It should be in front of your body at roughly chest level. Then, you will want to start using your hands in a back and forth rolling motion to start rolling up the rope and weight around the handle.

4. Reverse the motion to control the decline. Once you are at the top, you will want to do the reverse by controlling the decline of the weight to the bottom again.

5. Do enough repetitions until you get muscle fatigue. You will want to do enough repetitions to get to the point where you have exhaustion in your forearms.

6. Add weight to increase resistance. If after doing a number of repetitions, you find that you are not getting forearm muscle fatigue, increase the weight used. This exercise is very good for improving the strength of your forearms. This will be directly helpful with your swing and help strengthen your throwing arm as it will give you more muscle control of your arms.

In conclusion, wooden baseball bats provide another sound way to improve your baseball hitting. Be sure to make the investment in at least one wooden bat to see if it works for you. You will be glad you did.

Jack Elliott, is a former player and fan of the game. To read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article, please click here: http://www.baseballtrainingtechniques.com/Baseball-Hitting/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_D._Elliott

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Tips on Baseball Pitching Mechanics

By Alan Karpuch

It is a known fact that it is hard for any pitcher to have three innings. A pitcher needs to give up hits and walks, as well as work with fielders who make errors. If you are a pitcher and wants to improve your skill, it is recommended to ask advice on pitching mechanics. Remember that a lot of problems in pitching are due to poor mechanics.

Pitching mechanics can be hard for a coach to analyze at full velocity. If the basic structure is inconsistent, remember that even if you change one feature, the problem is still there. One of the most important things you need to know which motion is wrong and it is essential to solve the trouble in lack of control.

Every pitcher is required to practice everyday and remember that it is impossible to perfect the skill in just one day. Pitching is like any other sport - it requires practice to be good at it.

It is a fact that it is hard to find a new pitcher that has good pitching mechanics. Pitching needs dedication and hard work and you must take care of yourself completely. It is essential to be in perfect shape and pay attention on your arm and you must work on the right pitching mechanics in order to lessen the risk of arm injury. If you are just starting out, make sure to do a lot of throwing in order to develop arm strength.

Aside from physical strength, you must also develop your mental element of pitching. You must also be tough mentally in order to be a skilled pitcher. This element can be developed eventually and it is necessary to examine your performance every game in order to improve more. Always focus on the game especially on the hitter and face any problem appropriately. Remember that with good pitching mechanics, you can ensure your good health and success.

Alan provides information about Pitching Workouts through his website on Baseball Pitching Mechanics

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Karpuch

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Baseball Tips on Hitting - Hitting the Ball to the Opposite Field

By Larry Cicchiello

By now, we've all heard the expression, "hit it where it's pitched." It's very frustrating for a pitcher when he throws a perfect low and away strike and the batter hits the ball the opposite way for a hit. Most pitchers will make a mental note of it and know how well schooled the hitter is. Low and away strikes are almost always a pitcher's bread and butter and the very smart hitters will learn how to take some of the effectiveness of the low and away strike away from the pitcher. It's pretty much a baseball fact of life that if a hitter tries to pull everything, his batting average will suffer. It's also a baseball fact of life that hitters who hit effectively to the opposite field have a strong tendency to hit for higher batting averages.

When Hitting To The Opposite Field. The first order of the day is to avoid the common baseball hitting mistake of letting up on your swing. Many hitters will not swing as hard when going the opposite way. Their swing quite often loses its aggressiveness and this should be avoided. The hitter should attack the ball in the same manner as if it were a very hittable pitch that's belt high and over the middle of the plate. When you are trying to hit the ball to the opposite field, preferably you want the pitch over the outside part of the plate. The angle of the bat should be facing toward the opposite field. One of the best baseball tips on hitting to the opposite field is that you make contact with the ball deeper in the hitting zone. Contrary to what some may believe, you use the same exact swing that you always use. The only difference is you hit the ball when it is closer to the catcher.

Pitchers are not thrilled with hitters who use all fields and can efficiently hit the ball to the opposite field. As a hitter, you don't want pitchers to be thrilled when you are at bat. Just remember to attack the ball with the same aggressiveness, have your bat angled toward the opposite field and let the pitch travel and get a little closer to the catcher. There is a serious link between hitters who can do this and higher batting averages. It is not a coincidence.

Larry Cicchiello is the author of several very informative baseball coaching books. All of his editions are included in "Excellent Baseball Coaching: 30 Seconds Away." He is unique in that his site offers visitors several FREE TIPS that are straight from his books. Baseball tips on hitting, baseball pitching tips, baseball fielding tips, baseball base running tips, baseball coaching drills and more. Your baseball coaching "help desk" will be open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Larry invites you to check out his FREE TIPS. You will be FULLY EQUIPPED as a manager, coach, player at any level or a parent who wants to help their child improve or overcome any baseball struggles.

You can visit his website at http://www.larrybaseball.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Cicchiello

How to Help Your Child Manage Anger and Frustration in Sports and in Life - 12 Tips For Parents

By Jay Granat

As a result of a brawl at a New York Yankees game, an outburst at the US Open and some unpleasant actions by politicians and celebrities, I was interviewed by Cindy Hsu of WCBS TV in New York. During the interview, I explained what parents can do to help kids learn from these events.

The interview caused me to think more about his problem and what could be done. Here is a list of 14 tips which should be helpful:

1. Parents, coaches and league officials need to set guidelines and rules with consequences for violence, trash talk and inappropriate behaviors.

2. Parents need to model good sportsmanship and the idea of treating others with kindness, dignity and respect.

3. Kids need to learn anger management, self control, frustration management and meditative techniques at an early age.

4. Young athletes need to understand that anger will prevent them from entering the zone and from performing their best.

5. Athletes must be encouraged to respect their opponents. After all, they too are practicing and working hard and trying to do well.

6. You can't always get what you want in sports or in life.

7. Sports can be serious and competitive but they do not need to be life or death situations.

8. Perhaps we need to rethink the idea of winning at all costs all the time.

9. Kids should be encouraged to focus on mastery, discipline, respect and camaraderie as well as on winning.

10. Angry states of mind are not fun and they are very dangerous.

11. Sports reflect the kind of selfishness and narcissism which seems rampant in our culture right now.

12. Let your performance do the talking instead of your mouth or your fists.

Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and the founder of http://www.stayinthezone.com He has written several books and developed several programs to help people perform to their fullest potential at sports, at work and at school. Dr. Granat, a former university professor, has appeared in The New York Times, Good Morning America, AP, ESPN, Golf Digest, The BBC and The CBC. He can be reached at info@stayinthezone.com. His books include Zone Tennis and Get Into The Zone In Just One Minute. He is also the author of How To Get Into The Zone With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis, How To Lower Your Golf Score With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis, 101 Ways To Break Out Of A Hitting Slump and Bed Time Stories For Young Athletes. Golf Digest named Dr. Granat one of America's Top Ten Mental Gurus. He was recently featured in a documentary film on long distance running. Dr. Granat writes a weekly column for three newspapers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Granat


Baseball2u.com and CoachesBest.com is your online super store for baseball batting cages, pitching machines and protective screens and nets. This fully licensed company has a full time staff to help you from 8:00 to 5:00 CST. You may order securely online or by phone, toll free, at 1-877-431-4487.
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Plus, they have one the internet's largest selections of Baseball Training and Coaching DVDs and Books. Make sure to chweck our their CLEARANCE DEPARTMENT for rock bottom prices on top quality equipment.

Increase Bat Speed Using Your Body's Natural Energy

By Rob Bucher

Looking for a way to increase your bat speed and hit for more power and catch up with the missiles pitchers are firing at you?

In a few short moments I will share with you the proven ways to have a quick bat.

Once you learn them and understand the physics of the swing you will be able to maximize the kinetic chain.

Most hitters except for the best in the game have poor hitting mechanics.

They don't use their entire body's force to whip the bat through hitting zone with lightening speed and the reason is they have been taught to throw their hands at the ball.

Not only is the movement fundamental wrong, but it zaps power and speed from the swing.

You should be turning into the ball with your hands closer to your body. It produces centrifugal force and speeds up the bat and allows the hitter longer time to react to the pitch.

In order to use the kinetic chain to improve bat speed you need to have a proper load and proper release.

Start out with your weight evenly distributed on your feet. As the pitch is delivered, stride forward and push your hands and weight back while turning your front shoulder in about an inch.

This loading techniques allows you to stretch your body out like a rubber band.

As you begin your swing...allow your lower body to pull the upper body into the pitch while transferring your weight to your front leg.

Accomplish this movement and you will get to the hitting zone faster and with more power.

Ready to have a quicker bat and more power? Click here - Rotational Hitting Mechanics. Because your current mechanics make your swing look like molasses in December.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Bucher


Baseball2u.com/CoachesBest.com is the ultimate online baseball training and coaching store. With over 1400 products organized into categories Baseball2u.com makes finding that baseball training product easy and simple. Order securely online or by phone. Baseball2u.com is a fully licensed company and has a full time staff available from 8:00 to 5:00 CST. Their toll free customer service number is 1-877-431-4487.

The Categories they have are: Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, Batting Cages, Pitching Machines, Jugs Equipment, Game and Practice Baseballs, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, Portable Pitching Mounds, Baseball DVDs & Books, Clearance Items on Sales, BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!

The Value of Owning Your Own Batting Cage

By John Peter Pero

I absolutely believe that the #1 backyard training aid that any player could ever hope to have is a batting cage and a pitching machine...even if the pitching machine needs to be budgeted at a later date.

The reason this is so important has to do with how ballplayers are built, how they improve fastest, and where their enjoyment of the game is derived.

If You Can Hit.They Will Find a Place to Play You!

Most players say that hitting is the most fun part of the game.

As coaches, we know that hitting the ball hard and consistent are the best we can hope for from our players.

Hitting the Ball Well Happens When:

First - The player is taught proper hitting mechanics, which is always a work in progress.

Next - Players will repeat these good mechanical swings over and over and over until they become so natural.that success is merely a next step to the next level.

There is no better way for a ballplayer to achieve and repeat these good mechanics and hard swings than having the ability to walk out his own back door to take these swings.

The tremendous number of swings that it takes to commit these mechanics to good muscle memory takes days, weeks and months. Approaching perfection takes much longer. Without this effort, even natural athletes are not nearly as likely to succeed. Every year we see these natural athletes leave the game prematurely!

Space and Money... Money and Space...

The reality is that many families find themselves short of one or both of those items.

That's where we at BaseballTips.com can hopefully help you!

So why don't more players have this invaluable backyard tool?

Until only a few years ago, batting cages were only available as Pro-type cages; the ones you see at High Schools, and league fields. But as the game has grown in popularity and travel ball becomes bigger, some very creative inventors have filled in the gaps.

For those families with limited backyard space and budget please take a look at some of these creative and more inexpensive options that we are now able to offer.

The Portable Batting Cage Kit with L Screen

This cage allows for tremendous flexibility in that it can be purchased in 50, 60 or 70 foot lengths with three choices of net strength that will fit any budget or age player.

Even the shipping charge is reduced due to your needing to purchase the cage legs at a local Home Depot, Lowe's or similar. It is absolutely a simple project, with no cutting or special tools required. Total installation time is 1+ hour right out of the box!

New for 2008

Our Backyard Batting Cage. This creative concept is delivered to you in one box containing a 24 foot section fully complete and ready to go.

The cage sits above the ground, except for a kind of "foot" that is pounded into the ground. a few inches below the dirt level.

Installation is less than 45 minutes the first time you set it up and quicker after that!

The hitter stands inside one end of the cage while the pitching machine is set up outside of the cage at the other end. A small, pre-cut hole allows the pitch to enter the cage while protecting the pitching machine and the coach or practice partner.

Want a 48 or 72 Foot Cage Now or Later?

Two or three of these 24 foot cages can be installed end to end to make a 48 foot or even a 72 foot long cage.

Note:

There is some cutting and fastening together of each section, though the directions are quite clear and the project itself is really not complicated. I do recommend this project be tackled by two people, not one.

And yes, you can purchase additional sections at a later date or as your players grow.

http://www.baseballtips.com/

Baseball tips & youth baseball equipment, training aids & instruction! It's all here for baseball coaching of pitchers & hitters, little league to high school

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Peter_Pero



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Characteristics of Division I Baseball Players

By Andy Pohl

Below are the athletic measurables and characteristics needed to play at each level of competition. These numbers were put together from general feedback by college coaches. While there certainly are exceptions to the given parameters, these numbers will give you a better idea as to where you stand and what you need to work on.



For the most part, college coaches are looking for pitchers, catchers, shortstops, and centerfielders. Many college coaches will only recruit these four positions and move them to other positions once they arrive on campus. It is very important for high school baseball players to be aware of this fact.

Division 1 Baseball:

RHP: 88-90+ MPH consistently with movement; command of at least 3 pitches;

over 1K per inning pitched in HS

LHP: 86-87+ MPH consistently with movement; command of at least 3 pitches;

1K per inning pitched in HS

Catcher: 1.9 Pop Time or below; superior leadership skills & ability to call games

1B/3B: Tremendous size and power potential (8 + HR in HS)

SS/2B: 6.8 60 yrd or below; 85+ MPH from INF to 1B, 1.35-1.40 turn time

CF: 6.7 60 yrd or below; 87+ MPH from OF

Division II Baseball:

RHP: 85+ MPH consistently with movement; command of at least 3 pitches;

1K per inning pitched in HS

LHP: 83+ MPH consistently with movement; command of at least 3 pitches;

1K per inning pitched in HS

Catcher: 2.0 Pop Time or Below; superior leadership skills & ability to call games

1B/3B: Tremendous Power Potential

SS/2B: 6.9 60 yrd or below; 82+ MPH from INF to 1B; 1.45 turn time

CF: 6.8 60 yrd or below; 82+ MPH from OF

Division III Baseball:

Division III baseball/softball are highly competitive, despite the fact that they do not offer athletic scholarships. Some DIII programs are playing on a DII level, and professional players have been drafted from DIII schools. Due to the discrepancies between DIII schools, it is important that you research each program that you are interested in order to get a better idea as to what type of player they are looking for.

NAIA Baseball:

Like DIII schools, the discrepancies are far too wide to find any similarities in characteristics. Be sure to fully research each individual program to get a better idea as to what type of player they are looking for.

Junior College Baseball:

Junior Colleges have 3 divisions for the purpose of separating stronger JC programs from the weaker ones. While there may be somewhat of a drop off in talent between Division III Junior Colleges and Division 1 and Division II Junior Colleges, there is little difference between a DI and DII Junior College. Many Junior College players lack the 'polish' to be considered D1 players coming out of high school, but they already possess the necessary physical tools to be successful at the D1 level.

Andy Pohl - Co-Founder, DNA Sports

DNA Sports specializes in personalized baseball and softball skill programs, college recruiting education and preparation, and coaching clinics. Learn more: http://www.dnasportsonline.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Pohl

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How to Hit a Home Run in Baseball - 3 Tips For Explosive Power

By Rob Bucher

Want to learn how to hit a home run in baseball and add some more pop in your swing?

Most younger players including high school players have poor hitting mechanics which drains their power at the plate. Contact is made and the ball usually limps off the bat instead of rocketing off it in direction of the fence.

Let me reveal three tips you can use to learn how to jack more homers and become a complete hitter.


Most players have been taught to impart back spin on the baseball by hitting the top half of the ball. While this is great in theory, it rarely helps the ball travel. Two things occur when you try to hit the top half of the ball. Either you hit a ground ball or a soft hump back liner. You should be trying to make square contact with the ball for the maximum collision effect. You might of heard announcers on television term it squaring the ball up. In order to hit the ball with power, the plane of your bat must be on the same plane as the pitch so they intersect at a ninety degree angle.
You may have been told to throw the barrel of the bat at the ball. If this sounds familiar then it's one of the reasons you lack power in your swing. The baseball swing is more of a pull than an actual swing. You need to keep your hands inside the path of the baseball and pull the barrel of the bat through the hitting zone with your hips leading your swing.
In order to hit a home run in baseball you need to make contact with the ball at a ninety degree angle with the barrel of the bat. It's produces maximum exit velocity and propels the ball further. The closer you get to the perfect ninety degree angle the further the ball will fly.
If you want to tap into your true potential and hit more home runs, you need to incorporate these tips into your swing mechanics.

Ready to have explosive power at the plate?

Click here Better Hitting Mechanics.

Because your current mechanics are zapping your power at the plate.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rob_Bucher

Build a Batting Cage in Your Backyard

By Brandon Bland


To build a batting cage, there are many different options you have to consider. A batting cage in your backyard can be one of the greatest assets to you or your child's playing career. Therefore, it is a wise investment and one that should be highly considered by every ballplayer and their parents.

The first thing to consider is where you would like to set up your batting cage. There are many various ways in which you can set up a cage, and will all depend on space available, budget, etc. First off, all cages will require various amounts of assembly and construction. If you have an unlimited budget and space available, it will be no problem to purchase a nice high quality cage from a company like Jugs or Atec.

For those of us looking to save a little money (who isn't, right?), there are many other options available. You may buy kits from several companies online that will ship most or all of the parts to you for fairly reasonable prices. Something that you should also consider is that you may purchase many of the parts, including netting, and especially the frame from your local hardware store. This can result in some pretty substantial savings, because you will end up saving on shipping costs.

If you have limited space, you may have to get a little creative on how you rig up your cage. There are however, standard sizes for cages that most nets are made for. Here is a list of some of those sizes.


70' L x 14' W x 12' H
65' L x 11' W x 11' H
10' L x 12' W x 12' H
55' L x 12' W x 12' H
40' L x 12' W x 12' H

The size you choose will depend on how much space you have to play with, how old the ballplayer using it will be, how much you wish to spend, etc. Obviously the larger nets cost more than the smaller ones. Regardless of the age, a wider and higher cage will allow for a little more comfort and room to work with.

Hopefully this will give you some insight into the things you should consider before you build a batting cage. Remember, that it will be a wise investment in you or your child's playing career, so take your time and make sure you will get exactly what you need. You can find more information about equipment and netting here:

http://www.baseball-equipment-review.com/build-a-batting-cage.html

Brandon Bland is the webmaster of Baseball Equipment Review, a site devoted to informing ballplayers of the quality of today's baseball equipment so they can make informed decisions about their purchases.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Bland

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Baseball Swing - How to Hit Slow Pitching

BatAction Machine - The Backyard Basketball Goal for Hitters

By Nate Barnett

was asked to come work with a youth baseball team recently which was struggling with hitting slow pitching. The coach told me prior to the practice that frustration within his lineup was at an all time high, and confidence was at an all time low. They simply didn't have the necessary tools to approach slower pitching and have success. It was my job in a two hour practice to equip the hitters with some baseball drills and a hitting approach that would improve their chances for success against slower pitching. I've outlined the approach taken below.

1. Modified Stance

The first thing we worked on was understanding what it was about slow pitching that was giving the hitters such trouble with their timing of the baseball swing. We all agreed that slow pitching primarily caused off balanced swings. Logically then we needed to find the solution to what would create improved balance within the baseball swing mechanics. Simple verbal advice of "wait on the baseball" doesn't work in this scenario by the way. Most hitters understand that they must wait on a baseball if they are out in front of the pitch.

One great solution to the off balance problem is to hit with a wider stance and eliminate the stride. We moved the boys from their normal stance position to a stance that was roughly 6 inches wider (depending on the preset width of each individual hitter). This widened stance allowed the boys to keep their weight back without floating up onto their front foot. It's simply easier to feel weight stay back onto the back leg this way. Also, when hitting a baseball with this approach, it's much more difficult physically to let your weight move forward improperly.

2. Eliminate the Pull Side

One of the first things many hitters do when they encounter slower pitching is gear up their muscles and try to crush the baseball. I mean after all it looks so good to hit! This is the wrong approach. I taught the hitters to eliminate the pull side (left field for righties, right field for lefties) from their radar system. By doing this, there was no reason to be early on hitting the pitch since the focus was in hitting a baseball to the opposite field. This is not to say that all balls thrown from a slow pitcher should be hit to the opposite field, as it's plenty fine to pull pitches. It's just that the focus should not be on pulling pitches solely.

Patience is key when battling a slower pitcher. Proper understanding of the baseball swing and baseball swing mechanics is necessary in order to win the fight. Learn to prepare ahead of time and you'll enjoy a greater degree of success in hitting a baseball off slower pitching.

Nate Barnett is owner of BMI Baseball designed to improve the mental game of baseball in athletes. Come download a free ebook on dealing with baseball psychology.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett

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Tips For a Great Batting Practice

www.BattingCagesDirect.com

By Mike Posey

Batting practice is an important ingredient to every practice, but it can also be a time waster. Many players at a young age accomplish little during an ineffective BP session. Here are a few tips to help every coach run a quick paced, exciting, BP session.

Batting Practices that Rock!


Stay in Small Groups.
Divide your team into groups of 4 or 5. One group can hit BP, one can be in the field shagging balls, and one group can be with another coach in the batting cages working on tee drills or toss drills.

Good Batting Practice Pitchers Throw Strikes.
A good BP pitcher must throw a lot of strikes and keep the pace moving. We also use a hack-attack pitching machine twice a week to supplement our pitching. Use coaches to throw BP when possible and let the players throw in scrimmages.

Take Quick Short Rounds
Hit in quick short rounds of no more than eight (8) swings. Keep the hitters moving in and out. Usually hit 3-5 rounds.

Have a Goal for Each Round
Each round must have a purpose. First round can be to the opposite field, second round can be hit and run, third round can be moving runners over from second, etc.

Use a Lightning Round at the End.
Lightning rounds can be fun as the last round. The concept of a lightning round is every hitter gets one pitch, if he hits a line drive then he gets a second pitch. Every line drive will result in another chance. If they miss, then the next player jumps in. Keep them moving in and out.

Use a Roll On Batting Tunnel
A portable roll on tunnel will help BP move much faster. Every league should invest in a good roll on to use every day at practice.

Hustle
make sure everyone is busy and hustles when changing groups. Group in the field can rotate to the cages, the cage group rotates to the field BP, and the BP hitters go to the field. Use a stop watch or field timer if needed (you can even use an air horn when its time to change groups, train them to hustle)

Running the Bases
If you have enough players for a fourth group, then add a base running group. If not, you can have groups of four or five, with two base runners while the others hit. But plan to practice base running at times during BP.

Take Ground Balls
If possible, have fielders rotate into short and second. A coach (or volunteer) can hit fungo ground balls in between BP pitches.

Situational Hitting
Some BP sessions can include a round of situational hitting. The coach calls out the situation for the hitter to execute (if you have runners on base, put them in a situation). For example, runners on third with no outs. (hit a ground ball in the infield or outfield fly ball) Runner at second base with no outs (hit behind the runner to move him up to third base)

Batting practice should be fun. Keep them moving and throw strikes.

Mike Posey "CP"
Expert Baseball Tips
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Posey




Baseball2u.com and CoachesBest.com is your online super store for baseball batting cages, pitching machines and protective screens and nets. This fully licensed company has a full time staff to help you from 8:00 to 5:00 CST. You may order securely online or by phone, toll free, at 1-877-431-4487.
Check out these categories that are featured at Baseball2u.com.
Jugs Complete Packages
Batting Cages
60' Portable Batting Cage
55' Portable Batting Cage
70' Portable Batting Cage
Extender Batting Cage 30'
Jugs Pitching Machines
Iron Mike Pitching Machines
BATA Pitching Machines
Heater Pitching Machines
Granada Pitching Machines
Phantom Pitching Machines
…and if you are looking for Youth Training Equipment, Advanced Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, and Pitching & Throwing Trainers, or Portable Mounds, they have those too!
Plus, they have one the internet's largest selections of Baseball Training and Coaching DVDs and Books. Make sure to chweck our their CLEARANCE DEPARTMENT for rock bottom prices on top quality equipment.

Baseball Tips on Hitting - Being Ahead in the Count is Where You Want to Be!

Joe Mauer Quick Swing baseball Trainer

By Larry Cicchiello

The ability of a hitter to get the count in his favor will very often determine how much success he has as a hitter.

There isn't any such thing as a mediocre swing, late swing, weak swing or check swing at a pitch when the count is in the hitter's favor.

He should have the buttons on his uniform shirt popping off because the swing should be aggressive or he should not be swinging at all and should take the pitch!

You will definitely see many better pitches to hit when ahead in the count.

You can be much more selective and decide if it's the type of pitch that YOU want to hit and it's located where YOU want it to be located or simply take the pitch.

If a hitter's favorite pitch to hit is a fastball that's belt high and out over the plate and the count is 2-0 or 3-1, if he doesn't get the fastball out over the plate and belt high he simply takes the pitch.

If you are a "pull hitter," you can look for a certain pitch that's over the middle of the plate or a little bit inside, where you like it.

If you are an opposite field hitter, you can look for a pitch that's over the middle of the plate or slightly away, where you like it.

You can also position yourself in the batters box to hit a ball in a certain part of the strike zone, because that's the only pitch you are going to swing at anyway.

Most people agree that on average, you get one real good pitch per at bat to hit.

There is a MUCH BETTER chance that you will see that one real good pitch if you are ahead in the count and not even or behind in the count.

The main point here is that when you are ahead in the count you should only swing at one type of pitch that's located where you like it located.

You can afford to be very selective and you are in the driver's seat and not the pitcher!

Although 2-0 and 3-1 are both very good hitter's counts, the best of the two is the 2-0 count.

At 3-1, if a hitter take strike two, he's one pitch away from a walk but is also one pitch away from strike three.

At 2-0, even if the hitter takes strike two, the count is still favorable for the hitter at 2-1 and he still has plenty of breathing room.

Larry Cicchiello is the author of "Excellent Baseball Coaching: 30 Seconds Away." His site offers many FREE baseball tips on hitting, baseball pitching tips, baseball coaching drills, etc. You will be FULLY EQUIPPED!

You can visit his website at http://www.larrybaseball.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Cicchiello

The 4 Best Batting Tees in Baseball:
Advanced Skills Tee
Stay Back Tee
Hands Back Hitter
5 Position Batting Tee

Plate Discipline

www.HurricaneMachine.com

By Todd Thomas

How important is it to have a good eye at the plate? That is to have an acute ability to know a ball from a strike and to offer mostly at strikes and much fewer times at pitches out of the strike zone. Unless you are Vladimir Guerrero, it can most certainly have an effect on your overall success in hitting. Okay, it affects Vlad too, but to a much lesser extent. The previous statement is a major league understatement. :-)

There's a statistic in baseball called O-Swing%(outside swing percentage). This statistic measures the percentage of pitches a batter swings at outside of the strike zone. It's significance is important because when a batter swings at a pitch thrown outside the strike zone, the chances of success are severely decreased. A hitters O-Swing% is a good measure of true plate discipline.

On the flip side is a Pitcher's O-Swing%. A high O-Swing% is good for a pitcher because it shows how adept a pitcher is at tricking batters into swinging at pitches outside the strike zone.

Major League hitters average O-Swing% changes slightly from year to year, but generally is in the 23-25% range. For example, the average major league hitter who sees 4 pitches outside the strike zone will swing at 1 of those 4 on average.

Texas Ranger fans are painfully familiar with the struggles of Josh Hamilton had this season. Prior to August 2nd, Josh's O-Swing% was nearly 44%. Swinging at this high of a percentage of pitches outside the strikezone points in the direction of why Hamilton struggled so much in 2009. Most people wondered what's wrong with Josh's swing. No doubt the Rangers have been working with Josh for an extended period of time on minor swing adjustments, but a quick look at this number would indicate a problem of more of a mental nature than physical.

In Josh's most recent hot streak, his O-Swing% dropped near the Major League average of 23%. And AMAZINGLY, his swing has "returned". My assertion is that Hamilton's swing never really deserted him. It was his approach at the plate that was the major culprit not a mechanical issue. Since he improved his O-Swing%, Josh hit nearly .500 with multiple extra base hits.

Sometimes you have to look deeper into your struggles at the plate than just to say I must be doing something mechanically wrong so I should go get a lesson. Having a professional hitting instructor work with you and look at your swing is never a bad idea, but if that's all you look at for solving hitting problems and you never consider what may be ailing you in your mental game(or lack thereof), then frustration may follow you when your instructor says your swing looks good.

Do you have a plan going to the plate? Get one. Do you have a solid pre-pitch routine that you follow before every pitch to help you be focused, relaxed, composed, and confident? Develop one. Having a solid mental approach is a huge advantage and can lift any given player closer to his/her true potential. BUT you must have the desire to win at the mental game. Most don't. Do You?

Todd Thomas is a Baseball Coach and Professional Hitting Instructor for Mike Epstein Hitting. Coach Todd's personal hitting website is http://www.HitItHere.net. Coach Todd also enthusiastically endorses http://PlayMyBestBaseball.com as a place where baseball and softball hitters can master the Confidence, Composure, Focus and Consistency of their game so they can reach their full potential.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Thomas

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The 4 Best Batting Tees in Baseball:
Advanced Skills Tee
Stay Back Tee
Hands Back Hitter
5 Position Batting Tee