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
Showing posts with label coaching softball hitters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coaching softball hitters. Show all posts
Monday, July 15, 2013
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Friday, August 27, 2010
Fastpitch Softball Hitting Lesson - Batting Stance
Fastpitch Softball Hitting Lesson - Batting Stance
Posted on YouTube by FastpitchTrainer
Here is a lesson about the batting stance. In the video, Fastpitch Trainer, Mark Mulvany covers some basic information that should help your hitter get to their ready, or hitting position more often.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to our sponsors:
SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!
Check out these coaching articles at the Softball Coaching Digest:
SoftballCoachingDigest.com
• Articles from the Youth Softball Coaching Clinic Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Pitchers Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Hitters Blog
• Articles from the Tips for Fastpitch Softball Coaches Blog
• The Fastpitch Softball Training Equipment Blog
Check out these video demos of some of the most popular baseball training products on today's market. Click below and see the Advanced Skills Tee, Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer, and the Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine.
--Video of the Advanced Skills Tee is used by a college hitter during a hitting drill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M30Ti00ZaOk
--Baseball Batting Tee - The Advanced Skills Tee - Baseball Trainer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkvPoPWa7NU
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine - Youth Baseball Batting Trainer - Youth Hitting Drill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dFE150AKDs
--Joe Mauer Quick Swing Trainer - Demo Tape Shows How the Machine Loads, and Operates During Use. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFwoJ8Vh1nU
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Batting Machine - Baseball Backyard Batting Trainer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtxZk74y1L4
--Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine - The Backyard Basketball Goal for Baseball Players http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJBn9VS9WDI
--Youth Baseball Batting Trainer - Hitting Drill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ0JjILe73k
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Softball Hitting Drills - The Overhead Drop Drill
Fastpitch Softball Hitting Drills - The Overhead Drop Drill
Posted on YouTube by softballperformance
http://www.softballperformance.com/ - Softball Hitting Drills- Peak performance coach Marc Dagenais shares a great drill for hand eye coordination. The Overhead Drop Drill.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to our sponsors:
SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!
Check out these coaching articles at the Softball Coaching Digest:
SoftballCoachingDigest.com
• Articles from the Youth Softball Coaching Clinic Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Pitchers Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Hitters Blog
• Articles from the Tips for Fastpitch Softball Coaches Blog
• The Fastpitch Softball Training Equipment Blog
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The Real Role of Coach in your Softball Hitting Skills
The Real Role of Coach in your Softball Hitting Skills
by: Marc Dagenais
In the world of softball, softball hitting is one of the most important skills that a player must learn. This is actually where the performance of the whole team depends. If the batter has properly hit the softball unto the right direction, with the proper power and timing, all his teammates including him, can be able to perform their next task well.
If you are the batter of your team, it is very important for you to master your softball hitting techniques. Although there may be some instances that you won't be able to make effective shots, you must not let that happen always. In fact, you must not let that happen in any way. As you hit the softball that is thrown unto you, make it certain that you hit it at the right time and with all your might so you and your teammates can be able to perform your next moves, make a score, and eventually win your game.
In practicing your softball hitting skills, it is important that your coach is always there to guide you. If your coach watches over you as you practice hitting the softball, you must not be annoyed. In fact, you must let that instance be an inspiration because as your coach watches over you as you practice, it only means one thing - and that is you are important to him. You are important to him because he wants to see how you practice your softball hitting skills.
The role of your coach is not only effective in the softball arena. Even you are only at your practice, the role of your coach is still carried there. And so, you must not take your coach for granted. There may be instances wherein your coach might scold you when you made a wrong hit, but you must not look at it on a negative way. Instead, you must use that instance as a motivation on your part so you can easily get up and do it better the next time. If you are not good in your softball hitting skills as you practice them and your coach scolds you for that, don't be mad at him. For all you know, he only wants the best for you. He wants to bring out the best of your softball hitting skills.
You might not know it but your coach is one of the best buds that you can have as you practice your softball hitting skills. At times, when you commit mistakes when you hit the softball, your coach will surely reprimand you. But that is only at first. And that is because he only wants you to learn. But in the long run, if you will encounter some problems with regards to your practice; he will be there, ready to catch you and even teach you the right way of hitting the softball so you can perfect your hitting skills. And that is the real role of your coach as you practice your softball hitting skills.
The role of your coach is not only effective in the softball arena. Even you are only at your practice, the role of your coach is still carried there. And so, you must not take your coach for granted. There may be instances wherein your coach might scold you when you made a wrong hit, but you must not look at it on a negative way. Instead, you must use that instance as a motivation on your part so you can easily get up and do it better the next time. If you are not good in your softball hitting skills as you practice them and your coach scolds you for that, don't be mad at him. For all you know, he only wants the best for you. He wants to bring out the best of your softball hitting skills.
You might not know it but your coach is one of the best buds that you can have as you practice your softball hitting skills. At times, when you commit mistakes when you hit the softball, your coach will surely reprimand you. But that is only at first. And that is because he only wants you to learn. But in the long run, if you will encounter some problems with regards to your practice; he will be there, ready to catch you and even teach you the right way of hitting the softball so you can perfect your hitting skills. And that is the real role of your coach as you practice your softball hitting skills.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com
About The Author:
Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS, is a softball peak performance coach that helps players and 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 of great FREE softball hitting tips to boost your games!
=============
Thanks to Our Sponsor: SoftballrUs.com
Suggested Links:
http://fastpitchsoftballcoaching.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchsoftballtrainingequipment.blogspot.com/
http://youthsoftballcoachingclinic.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchsoftballhittingcoach.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchpitchingcoach.blogspot.com/
http://softballbloopers.blogspot.com/
http://softballvideosonline.blogspot.com/
http://wildsportsvideos.blogspot.com/
http://rottensports.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchsoftballcoaching.blogspot.com/
by: Marc Dagenais
In the world of softball, softball hitting is one of the most important skills that a player must learn. This is actually where the performance of the whole team depends. If the batter has properly hit the softball unto the right direction, with the proper power and timing, all his teammates including him, can be able to perform their next task well.
If you are the batter of your team, it is very important for you to master your softball hitting techniques. Although there may be some instances that you won't be able to make effective shots, you must not let that happen always. In fact, you must not let that happen in any way. As you hit the softball that is thrown unto you, make it certain that you hit it at the right time and with all your might so you and your teammates can be able to perform your next moves, make a score, and eventually win your game.
In practicing your softball hitting skills, it is important that your coach is always there to guide you. If your coach watches over you as you practice hitting the softball, you must not be annoyed. In fact, you must let that instance be an inspiration because as your coach watches over you as you practice, it only means one thing - and that is you are important to him. You are important to him because he wants to see how you practice your softball hitting skills.
The role of your coach is not only effective in the softball arena. Even you are only at your practice, the role of your coach is still carried there. And so, you must not take your coach for granted. There may be instances wherein your coach might scold you when you made a wrong hit, but you must not look at it on a negative way. Instead, you must use that instance as a motivation on your part so you can easily get up and do it better the next time. If you are not good in your softball hitting skills as you practice them and your coach scolds you for that, don't be mad at him. For all you know, he only wants the best for you. He wants to bring out the best of your softball hitting skills.
You might not know it but your coach is one of the best buds that you can have as you practice your softball hitting skills. At times, when you commit mistakes when you hit the softball, your coach will surely reprimand you. But that is only at first. And that is because he only wants you to learn. But in the long run, if you will encounter some problems with regards to your practice; he will be there, ready to catch you and even teach you the right way of hitting the softball so you can perfect your hitting skills. And that is the real role of your coach as you practice your softball hitting skills.
The role of your coach is not only effective in the softball arena. Even you are only at your practice, the role of your coach is still carried there. And so, you must not take your coach for granted. There may be instances wherein your coach might scold you when you made a wrong hit, but you must not look at it on a negative way. Instead, you must use that instance as a motivation on your part so you can easily get up and do it better the next time. If you are not good in your softball hitting skills as you practice them and your coach scolds you for that, don't be mad at him. For all you know, he only wants the best for you. He wants to bring out the best of your softball hitting skills.
You might not know it but your coach is one of the best buds that you can have as you practice your softball hitting skills. At times, when you commit mistakes when you hit the softball, your coach will surely reprimand you. But that is only at first. And that is because he only wants you to learn. But in the long run, if you will encounter some problems with regards to your practice; he will be there, ready to catch you and even teach you the right way of hitting the softball so you can perfect your hitting skills. And that is the real role of your coach as you practice your softball hitting skills.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com
About The Author:
Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS, is a softball peak performance coach that helps players and 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 of great FREE softball hitting tips to boost your games!
=============
Thanks to Our Sponsor: SoftballrUs.com
Suggested Links:
http://fastpitchsoftballcoaching.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchsoftballtrainingequipment.blogspot.com/
http://youthsoftballcoachingclinic.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchsoftballhittingcoach.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchpitchingcoach.blogspot.com/
http://softballbloopers.blogspot.com/
http://softballvideosonline.blogspot.com/
http://wildsportsvideos.blogspot.com/
http://rottensports.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchsoftballcoaching.blogspot.com/
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Fast Pitch Softball Hitting Drills with Crissy Rapp
Fast Pitch Softball Hitting Drills with Crissy Rapp
On http://ClubHouseGAS.com, noted college player and coach talks about the basic drills for fast pitch softball hitting. Also check-out http://YouthSportTravel.com
Thanks to our sponsor:
SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!
On http://ClubHouseGAS.com, noted college player and coach talks about the basic drills for fast pitch softball hitting. Also check-out http://YouthSportTravel.com
Thanks to our sponsor:
SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Baseball & Softball Swing - Confidence Vs Mechanics
Baseball & Softball Swing - Confidence Vs Mechanics
By Guest Author Todd Thomas
I was at a high school level ball game recently. Of the two teams playing, one was filled with a group of very cocky players. They were cocky and CONFIDENT. What's interesting is that the players on this team had some of the worst baseball swings I have ever seen in my life. But they were confident as all get out.
It's an interesting phenomenon to observe that a player can have horrible mechanics but have supreme confidence(cockiness is a good word to describe here) and still be able to hit the baseball successfully. Alex Rodriquez successfully? NO! No, as I watched the game none of these players really scorched the baseball but they did swing confidently at it and put the ball in play often finding holes and blooping hits all the way to a 14 to 2 win.
These players' potential to play at higher levels is limited with bad mechanics. Ultimately, they will reach an end to their success(and subsequently their confidence) as they move to higher and higher levels of baseball. These were high school players. Obviously, they are going to have some success at the high school level. Reaching the collegiate level is probably out for most of them because of their technique, but one or two of them may reach that level. Then that's probably it. I once had a collegiate player over for some training and his mechanics were awful, but he was playing Division I baseball. Why? More than likely he was extremely confident up until this point but now was crashing and burning at the collegiate level. He also had a load of natural ability that had carried him this far too. However, he had reached his peak and I remember telling him that if he has sights on playing professionally he needed to change what he was doing mechanically. And he did have the desire to play pro ball.
However, even if a player works on and gets mechanically sound, I believe that any player(no matter what age) will struggle if they don't learn how to be confident. If they are not confident and their new mechanics aren't "working" for them, then they will blame the mechanics or the teacher or both and will keep searching for that "perfect" way to swing to insure success. When what they really need is confidence training in order to raise the game and to be successful.
So is learning the proper mechanics the "answer" to being a good hitter? I teach the mechanics of the best players in the game and I am supremely confident in what I teach. Let's say however that I took a player from the team of confident hitters with bad mechanics and we started working on fixing his mechanics. IF he is able to sustain his confidence, look out. He should excel in a big way.
What if though(and this probably goes higher the younger the player is) the player starts "thinking too much" about executing the proper swing mechanics? What if he starts over-analyzing his swing and trying to hard to make things happen with his new swing? Questions and doubt may start building within him after a bad(weak) hit or a strike out. He then starts asking himself, "Am I doing it right?" "Am I performing my mechanics correctly?" If the results are not there, then the player will assume that he is not swinging "correctly" and there begins the process of over-thinking, over-analyzing, and confidence shrinking. And I believe the downward spiral of his hitting results and confidence will continue to fall.
What's interesting as I think about the team of cocky confident hitters is that I don't think they realize that they suck. Their mechanics that is. They seem to have no idea how "bad" they are and they play as if not to care. They are just confident. On the contrary, they are pretty good because they THINK they are in spite of what they don't know.
So which is more important? Confidence or mechanics? It seems from my observations that confidence with bad mechanics can still have a degree (albeit limited) of success. YET, good mechanics with zero confidence and playing scared seems to have no chance to succeed.
Hmmm?
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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SoftballBloopers.com
FunnyBaseballVideo.com
BaseballBloopersandBlunders.com
By Guest Author Todd Thomas
I was at a high school level ball game recently. Of the two teams playing, one was filled with a group of very cocky players. They were cocky and CONFIDENT. What's interesting is that the players on this team had some of the worst baseball swings I have ever seen in my life. But they were confident as all get out.
It's an interesting phenomenon to observe that a player can have horrible mechanics but have supreme confidence(cockiness is a good word to describe here) and still be able to hit the baseball successfully. Alex Rodriquez successfully? NO! No, as I watched the game none of these players really scorched the baseball but they did swing confidently at it and put the ball in play often finding holes and blooping hits all the way to a 14 to 2 win.
These players' potential to play at higher levels is limited with bad mechanics. Ultimately, they will reach an end to their success(and subsequently their confidence) as they move to higher and higher levels of baseball. These were high school players. Obviously, they are going to have some success at the high school level. Reaching the collegiate level is probably out for most of them because of their technique, but one or two of them may reach that level. Then that's probably it. I once had a collegiate player over for some training and his mechanics were awful, but he was playing Division I baseball. Why? More than likely he was extremely confident up until this point but now was crashing and burning at the collegiate level. He also had a load of natural ability that had carried him this far too. However, he had reached his peak and I remember telling him that if he has sights on playing professionally he needed to change what he was doing mechanically. And he did have the desire to play pro ball.
However, even if a player works on and gets mechanically sound, I believe that any player(no matter what age) will struggle if they don't learn how to be confident. If they are not confident and their new mechanics aren't "working" for them, then they will blame the mechanics or the teacher or both and will keep searching for that "perfect" way to swing to insure success. When what they really need is confidence training in order to raise the game and to be successful.
So is learning the proper mechanics the "answer" to being a good hitter? I teach the mechanics of the best players in the game and I am supremely confident in what I teach. Let's say however that I took a player from the team of confident hitters with bad mechanics and we started working on fixing his mechanics. IF he is able to sustain his confidence, look out. He should excel in a big way.
What if though(and this probably goes higher the younger the player is) the player starts "thinking too much" about executing the proper swing mechanics? What if he starts over-analyzing his swing and trying to hard to make things happen with his new swing? Questions and doubt may start building within him after a bad(weak) hit or a strike out. He then starts asking himself, "Am I doing it right?" "Am I performing my mechanics correctly?" If the results are not there, then the player will assume that he is not swinging "correctly" and there begins the process of over-thinking, over-analyzing, and confidence shrinking. And I believe the downward spiral of his hitting results and confidence will continue to fall.
What's interesting as I think about the team of cocky confident hitters is that I don't think they realize that they suck. Their mechanics that is. They seem to have no idea how "bad" they are and they play as if not to care. They are just confident. On the contrary, they are pretty good because they THINK they are in spite of what they don't know.
So which is more important? Confidence or mechanics? It seems from my observations that confidence with bad mechanics can still have a degree (albeit limited) of success. YET, good mechanics with zero confidence and playing scared seems to have no chance to succeed.
Hmmm?
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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BattingCagesDirect.com
SoftballVideosOnline.com
SoftballCoachingDigest.com
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WildSportsVideos.com
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SoftballBloopers.com
FunnyBaseballVideo.com
BaseballBloopersandBlunders.com
Friday, July 9, 2010
5 Simple Hitting Drills That Will Raise Your Average Overnight!
5 Simple Fastpitch Softball Hitting Drills That Will Raise Your Average Overnight!
By Guest Author Janet K Hansen
The best hitters in the game use a variety of hitting drills to improve hand-eye coordination, bat speed, and power. These drills will have you or your players hitting the ball more consistently and with more power, with the ability to place shots more effectively. The result will be higher average and better run production in just a week or two of practice.
1. Ball on a Cone or Tee: Hand-eye coordination is the key to all good hitting, in any game and at every level. Improving your ability to match what your eyes are seeing with the trajectory of your swing creates the kind of contact that produces more line drives, and with time, more power. Hitting legend Ted Williams used to practice by using a cue stick to hit bottle caps. That's not a bad idea, but these drills will serve the purpose, too.
Ball on a cone: Put a traffic cone on the floor 3 feet out from a mat. Kneel, or have your players kneel, on the mat. Put balls on the cone and have the players focus on hitting a line drive. Hit 15 to 25 balls in each session, more if time allows - the more the better. The drill emphasizes contact using just the arms and upper body, which is essential to hitting the ball consistently.
T-Ball: Kids start in t-ball for a reason - they learn to make contact, plain and simple. Since solid contact is the key to all good things in hitting, contact drills never go out of style. Pro, college, and top amateur teams continue to use hitting tees to warm up and find the hitting touch, especially after layoffs. Start hitting practice with a round of tee drills to emphasize keeping an eye on the ball, with a bonus feature being an increase in confidence. When pitch speed is added, the improvement will be noticeable. When the game starts, sharper hitting will lead to more base runners and more RBI's. VARIATIONS: place the tee on the inside, middle, and outside parts of the plate to encourage hitters to go with the pitch, so they learn to drive balls to all fields. Most hitters try to pull everything, and this will help break that habit.
2. Wiffle Ball: This drill emphasizes bat speed and a compact, powerful swing. Using either a pitching machine or a live pitcher, stand 20 feet in front of the plate and use waffle balls for safety. Set the machine to about 40 mph, or gauge your pitch speed accordingly. Batters have to get the bat around in a hurry. The drill will expose swings that are too long - the kind of swings that keep pro players in the minors. On the positive side, it encourages increased bat speed to be able to get around on the pitches, and a shorter, more compact swing that is the foundation of power.
3. Wait and Explode: Many hitters develop the bad habit of starting their swing far too early. The results are all bad. For instance, the hitter will often stride into the pitch too early and then have to hold back the upper body waiting for the ball. Timing and hand-eye coordination is thrown off, plus if contact is made, it's only the upper body involved. The powerful motion of the legs is eliminated. Misses, weak grounders, and lazy fly balls are the result. Here's how this drill works. Have the batter stand in the box and coach them not to move at all until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. Keep it up until the hitter learns to be patient, reserving their energy until they can complete the swing in one powerful motion. Hitters with good contact skills but poor power will start driving the ball much harder with this drill.
Another way to encourage a "wait and explode" approach is to use tennis balls and bounce balls up to the plate. The hitter must not move a muscle until the ball bounces, 6-8 feet in front of the plate. Patience is learned, and hand-eye coordination is also improved. A short, compact, energetic swing will result.
4. The Barrier Drill: This drill will teach good mechanics. Have the players stand one back length back from a barrier, such as a net or string, and take their cut. If they hit the barrier with the bat, they are taking too long a swing, unlocking their elbows before the shoulders are fully engaged. Point out what's happening and see if they can make the correction, which will produce a compact, powerful cut.
5. Reward or Run: There's nothing like the possibility of a little physical exercise to get players to concentrate. Using a pitching machine, or reliable batting practice pitcher, feed each batter 15 pitches. On strikes only (make swinging at a bad pitch an out, no matter if they hit it or not), count well-struck balls versus misses or weak hits. If the batter has 8 or more good cuts reward them in some way. If 8 or more bad swings happen, it's time to run! As the season continues, and the players improve, bump your better hitters up to 10 or 11 quality hits to avoid running. Tailor the drill to stretch each player to achieve their best.
Each of these drills is used by many professional, college, and top amateurs teams every year. Employ them on your team and start noticing immediate results in terms of contact and power. You'll enjoy better run production from the first time through the order!
Janet Hansen is a softball coach in NC and helps others understand how to choose the right softball bat for their needs, at her Softball Batting website, http://www.SoftballBatGuide.com. You can also learn batting tips and join in the discussion along the way!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_K_Hansen
==========================================================
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WildSportsVideos.com
BaseballCoachingDigest.com
YouthBaseballDigest.com
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SoftballBloopers.com
FunnyBaseballVideo.com
BaseballBloopersandBlunders.com
By Guest Author Janet K Hansen
The best hitters in the game use a variety of hitting drills to improve hand-eye coordination, bat speed, and power. These drills will have you or your players hitting the ball more consistently and with more power, with the ability to place shots more effectively. The result will be higher average and better run production in just a week or two of practice.
1. Ball on a Cone or Tee: Hand-eye coordination is the key to all good hitting, in any game and at every level. Improving your ability to match what your eyes are seeing with the trajectory of your swing creates the kind of contact that produces more line drives, and with time, more power. Hitting legend Ted Williams used to practice by using a cue stick to hit bottle caps. That's not a bad idea, but these drills will serve the purpose, too.
Ball on a cone: Put a traffic cone on the floor 3 feet out from a mat. Kneel, or have your players kneel, on the mat. Put balls on the cone and have the players focus on hitting a line drive. Hit 15 to 25 balls in each session, more if time allows - the more the better. The drill emphasizes contact using just the arms and upper body, which is essential to hitting the ball consistently.
T-Ball: Kids start in t-ball for a reason - they learn to make contact, plain and simple. Since solid contact is the key to all good things in hitting, contact drills never go out of style. Pro, college, and top amateur teams continue to use hitting tees to warm up and find the hitting touch, especially after layoffs. Start hitting practice with a round of tee drills to emphasize keeping an eye on the ball, with a bonus feature being an increase in confidence. When pitch speed is added, the improvement will be noticeable. When the game starts, sharper hitting will lead to more base runners and more RBI's. VARIATIONS: place the tee on the inside, middle, and outside parts of the plate to encourage hitters to go with the pitch, so they learn to drive balls to all fields. Most hitters try to pull everything, and this will help break that habit.
2. Wiffle Ball: This drill emphasizes bat speed and a compact, powerful swing. Using either a pitching machine or a live pitcher, stand 20 feet in front of the plate and use waffle balls for safety. Set the machine to about 40 mph, or gauge your pitch speed accordingly. Batters have to get the bat around in a hurry. The drill will expose swings that are too long - the kind of swings that keep pro players in the minors. On the positive side, it encourages increased bat speed to be able to get around on the pitches, and a shorter, more compact swing that is the foundation of power.
3. Wait and Explode: Many hitters develop the bad habit of starting their swing far too early. The results are all bad. For instance, the hitter will often stride into the pitch too early and then have to hold back the upper body waiting for the ball. Timing and hand-eye coordination is thrown off, plus if contact is made, it's only the upper body involved. The powerful motion of the legs is eliminated. Misses, weak grounders, and lazy fly balls are the result. Here's how this drill works. Have the batter stand in the box and coach them not to move at all until the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. Keep it up until the hitter learns to be patient, reserving their energy until they can complete the swing in one powerful motion. Hitters with good contact skills but poor power will start driving the ball much harder with this drill.
Another way to encourage a "wait and explode" approach is to use tennis balls and bounce balls up to the plate. The hitter must not move a muscle until the ball bounces, 6-8 feet in front of the plate. Patience is learned, and hand-eye coordination is also improved. A short, compact, energetic swing will result.
4. The Barrier Drill: This drill will teach good mechanics. Have the players stand one back length back from a barrier, such as a net or string, and take their cut. If they hit the barrier with the bat, they are taking too long a swing, unlocking their elbows before the shoulders are fully engaged. Point out what's happening and see if they can make the correction, which will produce a compact, powerful cut.
5. Reward or Run: There's nothing like the possibility of a little physical exercise to get players to concentrate. Using a pitching machine, or reliable batting practice pitcher, feed each batter 15 pitches. On strikes only (make swinging at a bad pitch an out, no matter if they hit it or not), count well-struck balls versus misses or weak hits. If the batter has 8 or more good cuts reward them in some way. If 8 or more bad swings happen, it's time to run! As the season continues, and the players improve, bump your better hitters up to 10 or 11 quality hits to avoid running. Tailor the drill to stretch each player to achieve their best.
Each of these drills is used by many professional, college, and top amateurs teams every year. Employ them on your team and start noticing immediate results in terms of contact and power. You'll enjoy better run production from the first time through the order!
Janet Hansen is a softball coach in NC and helps others understand how to choose the right softball bat for their needs, at her Softball Batting website, http://www.SoftballBatGuide.com. You can also learn batting tips and join in the discussion along the way!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_K_Hansen
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BaseballBloopersandBlunders.com
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Softball Hitting Instructions
Softball Hitting Instructions
By Guest AuthorMarc Dagenais
If you are a softball coach, you have a big responsibility at hand. You need to empower the players every now and then. You need to be a living example of what you tell them to do. Most importantly, you need to improve their learning and make them become better. In order to improve the softball playing techniques of every member of your team, you need as much power and willingness to device a prevailing plan and instructions.
Now, softball has been one of the most popular team sports in the U.S. You must have observed that in every softball game, much of the control in the runs come from the batting. That is why every softball coach should properly and constantly instruct every softball player to practice and learn the different softball hitting styles and techniques.
There is a need to know that there are different hitting drills that are fit for every softball player. With this fact, the player and the coach must evaluate the varieties of softball hitting styles so that you will both know what works for you and what will not work for you but will still work for the other members of the team. Incorporate your new learning style to your practice and approach in each bat.
Hitting the softball is one of the most difficult skills to be learned. It is also one of the most difficult to coach. Because of these reasons, there is a call for both the players and the coach to work hand in hand for the direct positive result of every undertaking. Just avoid extreme changes when incorporating new styles. Change is good but when it is applied radically, it may bring a negative result which you don't want to happen of course.
The coach and the player must be well coordinated with the kind of style they will use. If the player uses a certain stance, the coach must observe him first. The coach must not reprimand the player in an instant. Observe first the comfort the player while he is using his own style of hitting and the stance as well. The player, on the other hand, should always listen to the coach. Both of you have one major aim. And that is to produce the most number of runs. In order for this to happen, a coordinated plan should be working between the coach and the players. In this way, a smooth flow of the game plan will materialize. Eventually, all the softball hitting instructions that the coach and the players have practiced will serve as their winning edge over the other competing teams.
Marc Dagneais is Softball Peak Performance Coach that helps softball players turn their athletic talent into extraordinary performances and help coaches get more out of their players, turn their struggling team around or get an edge over their opponents. Visit us to access our directory of FREE softball drills!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
================================
Thanks to Our Sponsor: SoftballrUs.com
Suggested Links:
http://fastpitchsoftballcoaching.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchsoftballtrainingequipment.blogspot.com/
http://youthsoftballcoachingclinic.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchsoftballhittingcoach.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchpitchingcoach.blogspot.com/
http://softballbloopers.blogspot.com/
http://softballvideosonline.blogspot.com/
http://wildsportsvideos.blogspot.com/
http://rottensports.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchsoftballcoaching.blogspot.com/
By Guest AuthorMarc Dagenais
If you are a softball coach, you have a big responsibility at hand. You need to empower the players every now and then. You need to be a living example of what you tell them to do. Most importantly, you need to improve their learning and make them become better. In order to improve the softball playing techniques of every member of your team, you need as much power and willingness to device a prevailing plan and instructions.
Now, softball has been one of the most popular team sports in the U.S. You must have observed that in every softball game, much of the control in the runs come from the batting. That is why every softball coach should properly and constantly instruct every softball player to practice and learn the different softball hitting styles and techniques.
There is a need to know that there are different hitting drills that are fit for every softball player. With this fact, the player and the coach must evaluate the varieties of softball hitting styles so that you will both know what works for you and what will not work for you but will still work for the other members of the team. Incorporate your new learning style to your practice and approach in each bat.
Hitting the softball is one of the most difficult skills to be learned. It is also one of the most difficult to coach. Because of these reasons, there is a call for both the players and the coach to work hand in hand for the direct positive result of every undertaking. Just avoid extreme changes when incorporating new styles. Change is good but when it is applied radically, it may bring a negative result which you don't want to happen of course.
The coach and the player must be well coordinated with the kind of style they will use. If the player uses a certain stance, the coach must observe him first. The coach must not reprimand the player in an instant. Observe first the comfort the player while he is using his own style of hitting and the stance as well. The player, on the other hand, should always listen to the coach. Both of you have one major aim. And that is to produce the most number of runs. In order for this to happen, a coordinated plan should be working between the coach and the players. In this way, a smooth flow of the game plan will materialize. Eventually, all the softball hitting instructions that the coach and the players have practiced will serve as their winning edge over the other competing teams.
Marc Dagneais is Softball Peak Performance Coach that helps softball players turn their athletic talent into extraordinary performances and help coaches get more out of their players, turn their struggling team around or get an edge over their opponents. Visit us to access our directory of FREE softball drills!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
================================
Thanks to Our Sponsor: SoftballrUs.com
Suggested Links:
http://fastpitchsoftballcoaching.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchsoftballtrainingequipment.blogspot.com/
http://youthsoftballcoachingclinic.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchsoftballhittingcoach.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchpitchingcoach.blogspot.com/
http://softballbloopers.blogspot.com/
http://softballvideosonline.blogspot.com/
http://wildsportsvideos.blogspot.com/
http://rottensports.blogspot.com/
http://fastpitchsoftballcoaching.blogspot.com/
Friday, June 25, 2010
Softball Hitting For Power Basics
Softball Hitting For Power Basics
By Guest Author Brad Henks
Watching some of the best hitters in baseball and softball makes us want to hit just like them. There are great home run hitters like Babe Ruth, Albert Pujols, Crystl Bustos and some others. They all command attention when they step up to the plate because of their explosive hitting power.
Here are some tips to help you become a better, more powerful softball hitter. Implement these at your next softball practice.
1. To be a powerful softball hitter you will need to be powerful and in great shape physically. Work on this by do exercises that will build power such as squats, plyometric jumping drills, long jumps over boxes. Work on your triceps, and chest by doing medicine ball drills or dips for a few ideas. You can come up with more I'm sure.
2. Learn to hold the bat properly. A lot of young players naturally, but mistakenly grip the bat way too firmly. If you loosen your grip on the bat you will be able to swing the bat much faster and it will feel better. You need to have loose wrists and grips. There is even a line of batting gloves out there that help you keep a looser grip on the bat.
That should tell you how important this is for a powerful swing.
3. Do some one handed batting drills. Use a tee, swing the bat with the top hand only. Then repeat using only the bottom hand. Do about 10-15 wings each. This will strengthen your arms and hands. Also gets you into proper alignment with the bat and your body.
4. Using both hands, remember that your front hand pulls the bat while your back hand pushes the bat. Beginners may find this a little tough but stick with it and you will get the hang of it soon.
5. Step to the plate correctly. Align yourself about in the middle of the batters box to give yourself plenty of room to see the pitch and time to swing properly at it.
6. Get a good view of the pitcher. Make certain you are looking straight at the pitcher with both eyes. Hold your chin on your front shoulder to put your head in the proper alignment.
7. Watch the ball all the way to your bat. Don't close your eyes and don't be distracted by the infielders moving or the base runner starting to steal a base. Keep your eye on the ball as they say. This will help you track the ball for a more powerfull softball hit.
8. Let your weight shift forward as you make contact with the ball. Allow your back foot to slide forward a couple of inches. This will put all your power into the hit.
9. Focus on hitting the inside seam of the softball. This will make the ball go back up the middle for a hard hit line drive. These are really hard for infielders to get to.
10. When you hit the ball, run as hard as you can all the way through first base. Your coach will tell you if you need to keep going.
There you go, some basic softball power hitting tips. Practice these at home on a tee or with a friend. What are you waiting on, go out and learn to become a true power softball hitter.
Talk about Fastpitch Softball over at http://FastpitchSoftballTalk.blogspot.com/.
The author is a fastpitch softball enthusiast and has been involved in fastpitch softball and baseball for 20 years as a parent and coach. For more information please visit http://www.BuyFastpitchGloves.com for some of the best fastpitch softball gloves and related accessories.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brad_Henks
Thanks to our sponsor:
Fastpitch General Instruction Sites
Fastpitch Softball HITTING INSTRUCTIONAL Websites
Fastpitch Softball PITCHING INSTRUCTIONAL Websites
Fastpitch HITTING INSTRUCTORS National Directory
Fastpitch PITCHING INSTRUCTORS National Directory
Fastpitch FIELDING INSTRUCTORS National Directory
Fastpitch Softball CATCHING INSTRUCTORS National Directory
By Guest Author Brad Henks
Watching some of the best hitters in baseball and softball makes us want to hit just like them. There are great home run hitters like Babe Ruth, Albert Pujols, Crystl Bustos and some others. They all command attention when they step up to the plate because of their explosive hitting power.
Here are some tips to help you become a better, more powerful softball hitter. Implement these at your next softball practice.
1. To be a powerful softball hitter you will need to be powerful and in great shape physically. Work on this by do exercises that will build power such as squats, plyometric jumping drills, long jumps over boxes. Work on your triceps, and chest by doing medicine ball drills or dips for a few ideas. You can come up with more I'm sure.
2. Learn to hold the bat properly. A lot of young players naturally, but mistakenly grip the bat way too firmly. If you loosen your grip on the bat you will be able to swing the bat much faster and it will feel better. You need to have loose wrists and grips. There is even a line of batting gloves out there that help you keep a looser grip on the bat.
That should tell you how important this is for a powerful swing.
3. Do some one handed batting drills. Use a tee, swing the bat with the top hand only. Then repeat using only the bottom hand. Do about 10-15 wings each. This will strengthen your arms and hands. Also gets you into proper alignment with the bat and your body.
4. Using both hands, remember that your front hand pulls the bat while your back hand pushes the bat. Beginners may find this a little tough but stick with it and you will get the hang of it soon.
5. Step to the plate correctly. Align yourself about in the middle of the batters box to give yourself plenty of room to see the pitch and time to swing properly at it.
6. Get a good view of the pitcher. Make certain you are looking straight at the pitcher with both eyes. Hold your chin on your front shoulder to put your head in the proper alignment.
7. Watch the ball all the way to your bat. Don't close your eyes and don't be distracted by the infielders moving or the base runner starting to steal a base. Keep your eye on the ball as they say. This will help you track the ball for a more powerfull softball hit.
8. Let your weight shift forward as you make contact with the ball. Allow your back foot to slide forward a couple of inches. This will put all your power into the hit.
9. Focus on hitting the inside seam of the softball. This will make the ball go back up the middle for a hard hit line drive. These are really hard for infielders to get to.
10. When you hit the ball, run as hard as you can all the way through first base. Your coach will tell you if you need to keep going.
There you go, some basic softball power hitting tips. Practice these at home on a tee or with a friend. What are you waiting on, go out and learn to become a true power softball hitter.
Talk about Fastpitch Softball over at http://FastpitchSoftballTalk.blogspot.com/.
The author is a fastpitch softball enthusiast and has been involved in fastpitch softball and baseball for 20 years as a parent and coach. For more information please visit http://www.BuyFastpitchGloves.com for some of the best fastpitch softball gloves and related accessories.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brad_Henks
Thanks to our sponsor:
Fastpitch General Instruction Sites
Fastpitch Softball HITTING INSTRUCTIONAL Websites
Fastpitch Softball PITCHING INSTRUCTIONAL Websites
Fastpitch HITTING INSTRUCTORS National Directory
Fastpitch PITCHING INSTRUCTORS National Directory
Fastpitch FIELDING INSTRUCTORS National Directory
Fastpitch Softball CATCHING INSTRUCTORS National Directory
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