The "Coaching Fastpitch Softball Hitters" Blog is a valuable resource for softball coaching tips, softball batting drills, softball product reviews, and other valuable softball coaching articles. This blog is the perfect blog for "Fastpitch Softball Hitting Coaches."

Monday, July 15, 2013

Why incorporate mental activities in your softball hitting

You are aware that there are lots of softball hitting techniques in which you can choose from but you should also understand that you have to choose the technique that will suit your ability. Why? It is because the softball hitting mechanics that work on other player might not work on you. And so every player is advised to have sufficient knowledge on the ways to increase your hitting skills.

The batter has an important role in the team especially when you can hit the ball further and make it out of reach. Your bat will be your perfect partner in making a perfect hit. This is why if you will to shop for your bat, you should make sure that you will select the right kind size and weight that will suit your height. Never ever choose a bat that is too long or too short for you because this will only hinder you in giving your full power and energy when hitting the ball.

Is your skill in softball hitting enough to become a very good hitter? Even if you have the perfect bat and you are very knowledgeable in the different hitting tips, there is no assurance that you can be good in your position if you lack the concentration and essential qualities which are useful in the game. Aside from undergoing intensive training to master the different styles in hitting, you still have to have your focus in what you are doing.

Softball is not only after your physical strength because you will also use your thinking while playing the game. You can do a lot to make your team win in the game and you can only do it if you can anticipate the future action of the pitcher. This is the reason why you should have analytical thinking. With this virtue you will have the chance to red the mind of the pitcher who will release the ball that you are going to hi. This way you can have time to make your plan.

While waiting for the ball, you should stay focused on the ball and the pitcher. Never allow yourself to be disturbed by the people around you. Yes, you are playing under a pressured situation but this should not lost your concentration because once you allowed yourself to be disturbed, there is a bigger chance for you to miss the ball.

Doing some mental conditioning in your training can be of great help to have a sound and healthy mind which can help you to make quick decisions when you are in the game. You can have more chances of controlling the game if you have the power to analyze and anticipate to what direction the pitcher will will release the ball.

So if you are aiming to become good in your softball hitting, you should spend some time in enriching your mind. Your everyday practice should not only focus on developing your strength and different skills. You should always remember that in every sport you need to have a sound mind and a sound body to make you a holistic player.

Marc Dagenais

Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS, is a softball peak performance coach that helps playersand teams hit with more power, run faster, throw harder, become mentally tougher,and be more dominant on the softball field. Visit us and sign-up to get tons ofgreat FREE softball hitting tips to boost your game!

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/marc-dagenais/106433

Monday, July 8, 2013

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Girls Softball Drills: Pitching Machines Hinder More Than Help

Softball Drills

By Mike Huber

Attention all girls softball coaches and hitters. This will explain why performing softball drills with pitching machines hinder more than help. Due to pitching machines, most girls softball hitters never really reach their greatest hitting potential!

Girls softball teams use pitching machines because it is very difficult to throw strikes from a live hand in batting practice. A pitching machine is the tool most used in softball drills for helping hitters practice their swing mechanics. The reality is that the machine alters a players swing and timing more than it helps.

It is commonly known to most, if not all, baseball hitters and coaches, to stay away from pitching machines. Pitching machines do not have the same action that a live hand does when the ball is delivered in either sport. The spitting action that a pitching machine depicts when the ball flies out of it, is deceptive to the hitter. This deception adversely affects the hitter's timing and, ultimately, the hitters' swing.

Although baseball players and coaches know this intuitively, the message has not been made clear to women's fast pitch softball and girls softball. Women and girls softball relies on these machines far too much. Most girls softball coaches have not figured out the proper way to use the pitching machines for softball drills or how to help players improve their confidence when using a pitching machine.

Softball drills for hitters should always be performed at a slower speed and the human pitcher or pitching machine should be a good 3 to 5 paces in front of the pitching rubber. This is the only way to improve the confidence of the hitter. The hitter should have every opportunity to know what it feels like to connect with the ball efficiently; this type of set up will give the hitter that opportunity.

Unfortunately, in girls softball, the pitching machine is placed to close to the pitching rubber and the coaches set the speed of the pitch near the speed of what the hitter would see in a game. This does not help the hitter for 2 reasons:

1. The machine "spits" the ball harder when the machine is turned up and causes even more deception. Most hitters have to change the mechanics of their normal swing just to be able to contact the pitch. Because of this, hitters tend to throw their hands at the ball and do not have the time to adjust to the timing of the machine. This can only lead to improper use of their body and hips, not to mention, the hitter is practicing incorrect swing mechanics that will not be used during a game. Over time, continued use of pitching machines in softball drills will train a hitter's muscles to consistently swing the wrong way, even during games. This results in decreased levels of performance as well as confidence.

2. The hitters confidence goes down because most hitters swing and miss or just foul off the majority of the pitches when a machine is improperly placed and the speeds are increased. If you are a believer in achievement through visualization, then you should agree that a hitter who gets continuous images in their head of swinging and missing or bad hits, will not get better, but worse.

The key is to pitch batting practice out of a live hand if at all possible. Just pitching under hand close up with the L-screen at a slow pace will greatly improve the confidence and skills of the hitter. If you have no choice but to use a pitching machine for softball hitting drills, please adhere to the following proper use guidelines.

Proper Use Guidelines for Pitching Machine Drills When using a pitching machine for softball drills, set the machine between 30-40 mph depending on the age of the player. Place the machine 3-5 strides ahead of the pitching rubber. This will simulate the right pace that a hitter needs to see and feel in order to get her rhythm, timing, and swing down.

Proper use of pitching machines will also improve a hitters confidence and enable the coach to instruct much more efficiently. There is no reason why female softball hitters cannot be just as consistent as male baseball hitters. From a training perspective, this is the reason why baseball players experience more success with batting average and slugging percentage than softball players do. Most baseball players practice off live arms and if a tosser is not available, the player, more often than not, knows how to use pitching machines properly.

Girls softball needs the machines because it is hard to throw strikes from a live hand in batting practice. Use them properly and hitting will improve dramatically.

Coach Huber's hitter training program for softball players and coaches shows you which drills are best, how to do those drills, how to hit for power without extra strength or effort and how to build confidence. You can read more about it at http://aboutsoftball.net or find loads of great articles on softball tips and drills at http://hubiemagicblog.com

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7320306