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 softball hitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label softball hitting. Show all posts
Monday, July 15, 2013
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Softball Hitting Secrets - How to Hit the Elusive Curve Ball
Softball Hitting Secrets - How to Hit the Elusive Curve Ball
By Guest Author: Marc Dagenais
As everyone knows, softball hitting is one of the most essential roles in this sporting event that each and every player must master. It brings your teammates more chances and opportunities of running on the bases, achieving more home runs and winning the game. We also know that curve balls are the hardest to hit and if a pitcher is good at pitching curve balls, then, it is highly likely that a team would end up with a lot of strike outs. So, if you want to a good batter, then, you need to master hitting that evasive curve ball. And the secret to hitting curve balls is to hold off long enough to see and evaluate the break of a curve ball.
Waiting for the right time to hit the ball can be quite daunting as you can run out of patience and swing the bat prematurely. And so, you need to come up with a technique that would allow you to be consistent in hitting a curve ball, whether it is a slow one or a fast curve ball.
For instance, Hank Aaron, a well-known American baseball player and considered as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, has revealed this tip many years ago: "I can wait on the curve ball because I know the pitcher cant throw the fastball by me". What he means is this. He has a very compressed and natural swing that goes similar to where the fastball is going. He can search for the curve ball and if he is incorrect, then, his swing would still cover the area where the fastball is going and he would still be able to hit it even if he makes a mistake in finding the curve ball.
So, like Hank Aaron's hitting style, you too should also develop a natural and compressed swing regardless of how old you are. Adhere to his softball hitting techniques so that you would be able to hit both the fastball and give you the time that you need to hold off for the break of the curve.
In addition, it is important for you need to search for the ball and wait for it because even if you are incorrect in anticipating for the curve ball, you would still be able to hit it as you swing the bat. So, at all cost, avoid throwing the littlest uppercut in swinging the bat as this would prevent you from hitting the ball when you are searching for the curve ball.
In softball, be sure to remember this. You need to wait for the ball, take note of when the right should be to hit the ball and be sure to go for a flat swing that would allow you to hit the ball no matter what. If you are able to do this, then, you would be able to not only develop consistency in hitting the ball but you would also help your team score more hits and home runs.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
By Guest Author: Marc Dagenais
As everyone knows, softball hitting is one of the most essential roles in this sporting event that each and every player must master. It brings your teammates more chances and opportunities of running on the bases, achieving more home runs and winning the game. We also know that curve balls are the hardest to hit and if a pitcher is good at pitching curve balls, then, it is highly likely that a team would end up with a lot of strike outs. So, if you want to a good batter, then, you need to master hitting that evasive curve ball. And the secret to hitting curve balls is to hold off long enough to see and evaluate the break of a curve ball.
Waiting for the right time to hit the ball can be quite daunting as you can run out of patience and swing the bat prematurely. And so, you need to come up with a technique that would allow you to be consistent in hitting a curve ball, whether it is a slow one or a fast curve ball.
For instance, Hank Aaron, a well-known American baseball player and considered as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, has revealed this tip many years ago: "I can wait on the curve ball because I know the pitcher cant throw the fastball by me". What he means is this. He has a very compressed and natural swing that goes similar to where the fastball is going. He can search for the curve ball and if he is incorrect, then, his swing would still cover the area where the fastball is going and he would still be able to hit it even if he makes a mistake in finding the curve ball.
So, like Hank Aaron's hitting style, you too should also develop a natural and compressed swing regardless of how old you are. Adhere to his softball hitting techniques so that you would be able to hit both the fastball and give you the time that you need to hold off for the break of the curve.
In addition, it is important for you need to search for the ball and wait for it because even if you are incorrect in anticipating for the curve ball, you would still be able to hit it as you swing the bat. So, at all cost, avoid throwing the littlest uppercut in swinging the bat as this would prevent you from hitting the ball when you are searching for the curve ball.
In softball, be sure to remember this. You need to wait for the ball, take note of when the right should be to hit the ball and be sure to go for a flat swing that would allow you to hit the ball no matter what. If you are able to do this, then, you would be able to not only develop consistency in hitting the ball but you would also help your team score more hits and home runs.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Step-By-Step Softball Hitting Procedure
Step-By-Step Softball Hitting Procedure
By Marc Dagenais
Having trouble hitting the ball with striking result? Have you been practicing for it for several weeks, yet you always failed to deliver a satisfying performance? Are you now in great desperation to learn the technique of softball hitting? If so, then you may find the following step-by-step procedure very useful. This actually helps me a lot, too.
· Begin with a good standing posture. This is essential in softball hitting. This means that you have to maintain a comfortable stance. Your weight should be balanced on the balls of your feet. Keep your knees a little flexed, with a slight curve at the waist.
· Have a grip on the bat with your front elbow down and relaxed. Your grip must not too loose or too tight, but hold the bat just right. Make sure that your back elbow is at a 45-degree angle, pointed towards the ground.
· Then with your middle knuckles of one hand aligned with your middle knuckles of the other hand, take hold of the bat at a 45- to 90-degree angle.
· Always let your hands at the top of the strike zone, and close to your back armpit. Also remember that the bat should be between the catcher and your back shoulder.
· Also important to keep your head straight, then cast your full attention to the pitcher in anticipation for the ball to be released. You may want to focus your eyes on the side of the pitcher's leg. This will help you maintain a good concentration.
· When the pitcher goes into the windup, immediately shift the weight onto your back.
· Then with your front foot, take a stride forward on the release of the pitch, making sure not to bring any weight forward on the stride. This is what we call a soft step.
· Immediately after, begin turning around your back foot so that your back heel is facing the catcher, and move your weight forward to the middle of your body.
· Then lastly commence your hand, with the knob of the bat going in the direction of the pitcher's feet.
· You should be careful not to drop the barrel of the bat underneath your hands at the launch of the swing.
· Strike the ball and drive it. This should follow through by way of your hands swinging to your opposite shoulder.
Alright, there you have it. All you have to do is be familiarized with every step provided. At the same time, help yourself with perseverance and determination. Actually, there is actually no undisclosed topics you need to know when it comes to softball hitting.
For you become a good softball player you dreamt of, all you need to do is carry out, practice, and practice. Yes, keep on practicing and improving your skills. As a well-worn adage goes, "Practice makes perfect." Take that as your softball hitting key to success.
Reading magazines or articles regarding the proper technique of softball hitting can also help. Also try to solicit some advices from people who have enough knowledge and experience about softball hitting. Their true to life experience is worth knowing.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
By Marc Dagenais
Having trouble hitting the ball with striking result? Have you been practicing for it for several weeks, yet you always failed to deliver a satisfying performance? Are you now in great desperation to learn the technique of softball hitting? If so, then you may find the following step-by-step procedure very useful. This actually helps me a lot, too.
· Begin with a good standing posture. This is essential in softball hitting. This means that you have to maintain a comfortable stance. Your weight should be balanced on the balls of your feet. Keep your knees a little flexed, with a slight curve at the waist.
· Have a grip on the bat with your front elbow down and relaxed. Your grip must not too loose or too tight, but hold the bat just right. Make sure that your back elbow is at a 45-degree angle, pointed towards the ground.
· Then with your middle knuckles of one hand aligned with your middle knuckles of the other hand, take hold of the bat at a 45- to 90-degree angle.
· Always let your hands at the top of the strike zone, and close to your back armpit. Also remember that the bat should be between the catcher and your back shoulder.
· Also important to keep your head straight, then cast your full attention to the pitcher in anticipation for the ball to be released. You may want to focus your eyes on the side of the pitcher's leg. This will help you maintain a good concentration.
· When the pitcher goes into the windup, immediately shift the weight onto your back.
· Then with your front foot, take a stride forward on the release of the pitch, making sure not to bring any weight forward on the stride. This is what we call a soft step.
· Immediately after, begin turning around your back foot so that your back heel is facing the catcher, and move your weight forward to the middle of your body.
· Then lastly commence your hand, with the knob of the bat going in the direction of the pitcher's feet.
· You should be careful not to drop the barrel of the bat underneath your hands at the launch of the swing.
· Strike the ball and drive it. This should follow through by way of your hands swinging to your opposite shoulder.
Alright, there you have it. All you have to do is be familiarized with every step provided. At the same time, help yourself with perseverance and determination. Actually, there is actually no undisclosed topics you need to know when it comes to softball hitting.
For you become a good softball player you dreamt of, all you need to do is carry out, practice, and practice. Yes, keep on practicing and improving your skills. As a well-worn adage goes, "Practice makes perfect." Take that as your softball hitting key to success.
Reading magazines or articles regarding the proper technique of softball hitting can also help. Also try to solicit some advices from people who have enough knowledge and experience about softball hitting. Their true to life experience is worth knowing.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Tips in Softball Hitting
By Marc Dagenais
Perfect Hit, How to make it? Softball hitting is said to be one of the most important skills in playing softball. I am certain that you have already read that statement for many times now. But then I am saying it again on this article because it's the truth.
It is essential for a team to have an excellent softball hitter. You are a softball hitter. As the hitter of the team, greater and bigger responsibilities lie in your hands. Sometimes these things caused a lot of pressure. As you watch a professional softball hitter, you are thinking on how he was able to do it. What did he do to make a perfect hit?
Well, there is really no perfect formula when it comes to softball hitting. You may think of copying the strategies of the player that you are watching but then there is this tendency that his strategies in softball hitting will not suit you. The secret behind the success of every hit lies on the knowledge on what to do first and what to do next. It lies on the familiarization of the proper mechanics.
The stance. The stance is the position of the hitter when he will release a swing. This is that start of it all. This serves as the foundation for the swing. The hitter must have the proper position so that he will be able to have a perfect swing that would eventually result to a perfect hit. As a hitter, you must see to it that you feet are just outside your shoulders and your weight must be equally distributed to the inside balls of your feet. Balance is important. You should not forget that. The line drawn through your toes must extend directly to the pitcher who is about to throw the ball. Your hands must be level with your shoulders and it must be aligned of your rear shoulders. The distance of your hands from your body must be about four to six inches away.
Getting ready for the swing. This is the loading phase. This is when you are already shifting the weight of your hands backwards so that they can have a greater distance that can be applied before you hit the ball. You are loading your power during this time. The hands must now be aligned behind the shoulder and then gently stride the front foot forward directly toward the direction of the pitcher.
The swing. Successful and famous softball hitters always release perfect swings. They were able to do these because they keep on practicing and they do this thing repeatedly. You too can do this. The bottom of the palm down is the one that guides the bat. The top of the palm is the one that pushes the bat. Your arms must be bent slightly as the bat extends. Your eyes must be focused on the ball and the pitcher who is going to throw the ball. When you are about eight inches from the ball, your top wrist must now push the bat to finally hit the ball.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
Perfect Hit, How to make it? Softball hitting is said to be one of the most important skills in playing softball. I am certain that you have already read that statement for many times now. But then I am saying it again on this article because it's the truth.
It is essential for a team to have an excellent softball hitter. You are a softball hitter. As the hitter of the team, greater and bigger responsibilities lie in your hands. Sometimes these things caused a lot of pressure. As you watch a professional softball hitter, you are thinking on how he was able to do it. What did he do to make a perfect hit?
Well, there is really no perfect formula when it comes to softball hitting. You may think of copying the strategies of the player that you are watching but then there is this tendency that his strategies in softball hitting will not suit you. The secret behind the success of every hit lies on the knowledge on what to do first and what to do next. It lies on the familiarization of the proper mechanics.
The stance. The stance is the position of the hitter when he will release a swing. This is that start of it all. This serves as the foundation for the swing. The hitter must have the proper position so that he will be able to have a perfect swing that would eventually result to a perfect hit. As a hitter, you must see to it that you feet are just outside your shoulders and your weight must be equally distributed to the inside balls of your feet. Balance is important. You should not forget that. The line drawn through your toes must extend directly to the pitcher who is about to throw the ball. Your hands must be level with your shoulders and it must be aligned of your rear shoulders. The distance of your hands from your body must be about four to six inches away.
Getting ready for the swing. This is the loading phase. This is when you are already shifting the weight of your hands backwards so that they can have a greater distance that can be applied before you hit the ball. You are loading your power during this time. The hands must now be aligned behind the shoulder and then gently stride the front foot forward directly toward the direction of the pitcher.
The swing. Successful and famous softball hitters always release perfect swings. They were able to do these because they keep on practicing and they do this thing repeatedly. You too can do this. The bottom of the palm down is the one that guides the bat. The top of the palm is the one that pushes the bat. Your arms must be bent slightly as the bat extends. Your eyes must be focused on the ball and the pitcher who is going to throw the ball. When you are about eight inches from the ball, your top wrist must now push the bat to finally hit the ball.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Good Articles on Softball Hitting
Good Tips on Softball Hitting
A Softball game is a type of specialized game or sport, which necessitates focus, stamina and attentiveness. One of the imperative skills that a player must and should characterize in this field of sport is the ability to do an extremely good softball hitting. This is not as easy as you think because it really requires your determination and self - discipline in filtering this nature of skill.
Tips on How to Improve Softball Hitting
Softball Hitting is definitely one of the most complex and stressful roles to play when engaging in the softball sport. A lot of people engage themselves in this kind of sport because they believe that this cannot only develop them physically but mentally as well.
Must Have Equipments For Softball Hitting
Softball is considered as one of the most popular games in the world. This is played by people of all ages all over the world. Even if it is a game that is hard to play, a lot of people are still enjoying playing softball because it brings tons of challenges.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Softball Hitting Tips - Is a Good Swing Good Enough?
Softball Hitting Tips - Is a Good Swing Good Enough?
By Marc Dagenais
A lot of softball players place a premium on good swinging that they start to think that it's the only aspect of hitting they need to do in order to become good hitters. However, nothing can be further from the truth than this.
The truth is that, good swinging mechanics is just a part of the entire equation. There are other things that you need to consider if you want to be a good hitter. And that's what we're going to discuss here in this article.
Tracking the Ball
First of all, you need to able to see where the ball is going. This ability is commonly referred to as tracking. To track the ball well means you should be able to see the ball's direction from the time it leaves the pitcher's hand to the time it reaches within your swinging reach.
Just like all skills, tracking is a skill that takes time to develop. At 70mph, the ball is quick enough that it leaves you just little time to react and trace its direction. That is why it's important that coaches should teach their players this skill through various drills.
One of the most common drills to develop tracking is called the Finger Flash. The good thing with this drill is that it doesn't need any equipment for players to perform. All they need to do is have a 'pitcher' who will quickly flash 1, 2, or 3 fingers from a distance, and the 'batter' would then call out the number of fingers that the pitcher flashed.
Making Split-Second Decisions at Bat
Another skill that a good hitter should have is knowing when NOT to hit the ball. There are times when hitting the ball would be too impossible that doing so would cause a strike while during other times, swinging the bat would constitute a ball, to name a few situations.
Pitchers will have a variety of pitches to throw at batters. The key here is for the batter to know whether to swing the bat or not. It may sound easy, but again, with fast balls, it would be pretty difficult to make split-second decisions.
It's therefore important for hitters to be able to approximate whether the ball is in or out of the strike zone. This skill could be developed through a number of drills that simulate pitches to particular zones. And, then, there's experience. As you go on playing the game, it will become much easier to make these decisions for yourself.
Of course, there's nothing that consistent practice can't remedy. As I said earlier, these skills take time to master. It may be a little more difficult to do these things now, but try to remember the time when you were just trying to learn the mechanics of hitting. It was difficult at first, but eventually you developed it into the good swing you have today.
Take the learning of new skills as a challenge. If you're out to compete with the best of the best, you should keep on developing your skills. And in this case, having a good swing is never enough. You should also train yourself to track the ball and make split-second decisions on whether to hit it or not. I hope you find these softball tips helpful and make them part of your regular training routine.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
sponsor liks
------------
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!
By Marc Dagenais
A lot of softball players place a premium on good swinging that they start to think that it's the only aspect of hitting they need to do in order to become good hitters. However, nothing can be further from the truth than this.
The truth is that, good swinging mechanics is just a part of the entire equation. There are other things that you need to consider if you want to be a good hitter. And that's what we're going to discuss here in this article.
Tracking the Ball
First of all, you need to able to see where the ball is going. This ability is commonly referred to as tracking. To track the ball well means you should be able to see the ball's direction from the time it leaves the pitcher's hand to the time it reaches within your swinging reach.
Just like all skills, tracking is a skill that takes time to develop. At 70mph, the ball is quick enough that it leaves you just little time to react and trace its direction. That is why it's important that coaches should teach their players this skill through various drills.
One of the most common drills to develop tracking is called the Finger Flash. The good thing with this drill is that it doesn't need any equipment for players to perform. All they need to do is have a 'pitcher' who will quickly flash 1, 2, or 3 fingers from a distance, and the 'batter' would then call out the number of fingers that the pitcher flashed.
Making Split-Second Decisions at Bat
Another skill that a good hitter should have is knowing when NOT to hit the ball. There are times when hitting the ball would be too impossible that doing so would cause a strike while during other times, swinging the bat would constitute a ball, to name a few situations.
Pitchers will have a variety of pitches to throw at batters. The key here is for the batter to know whether to swing the bat or not. It may sound easy, but again, with fast balls, it would be pretty difficult to make split-second decisions.
It's therefore important for hitters to be able to approximate whether the ball is in or out of the strike zone. This skill could be developed through a number of drills that simulate pitches to particular zones. And, then, there's experience. As you go on playing the game, it will become much easier to make these decisions for yourself.
Of course, there's nothing that consistent practice can't remedy. As I said earlier, these skills take time to master. It may be a little more difficult to do these things now, but try to remember the time when you were just trying to learn the mechanics of hitting. It was difficult at first, but eventually you developed it into the good swing you have today.
Take the learning of new skills as a challenge. If you're out to compete with the best of the best, you should keep on developing your skills. And in this case, having a good swing is never enough. You should also train yourself to track the ball and make split-second decisions on whether to hit it or not. I hope you find these softball tips helpful and make them part of your regular training routine.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
sponsor liks
------------
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, February 1, 2010
Step-By-Step Softball Hitting Procedure
By Marc Dagenais
Having trouble hitting the ball with striking result? Have you been practicing for it for several weeks, yet you always failed to deliver a satisfying performance? Are you now in great desperation to learn the technique of softball hitting? If so, then you may find the following step-by-step procedure very useful. This actually helps me a lot, too.
· Begin with a good standing posture. This is essential in softball hitting. This means that you have to maintain a comfortable stance. Your weight should be balanced on the balls of your feet. Keep your knees a little flexed, with a slight curve at the waist.
· Have a grip on the bat with your front elbow down and relaxed. Your grip must not too loose or too tight, but hold the bat just right. Make sure that your back elbow is at a 45-degree angle, pointed towards the ground.
· Then with your middle knuckles of one hand aligned with your middle knuckles of the other hand, take hold of the bat at a 45- to 90-degree angle.
· Always let your hands at the top of the strike zone, and close to your back armpit. Also remember that the bat should be between the catcher and your back shoulder.
· Also important to keep your head straight, then cast your full attention to the pitcher in anticipation for the ball to be released. You may want to focus your eyes on the side of the pitcher's leg. This will help you maintain a good concentration.
· When the pitcher goes into the windup, immediately shift the weight onto your back.
· Then with your front foot, take a stride forward on the release of the pitch, making sure not to bring any weight forward on the stride. This is what we call a soft step.
· Immediately after, begin turning around your back foot so that your back heel is facing the catcher, and move your weight forward to the middle of your body.
· Then lastly commence your hand, with the knob of the bat going in the direction of the pitcher's feet.
· You should be careful not to drop the barrel of the bat underneath your hands at the launch of the swing.
· Strike the ball and drive it. This should follow through by way of your hands swinging to your opposite shoulder.
Alright, there you have it. All you have to do is be familiarized with every step provided. At the same time, help yourself with perseverance and determination. Actually, there is actually no undisclosed topics you need to know when it comes to softball hitting.
For you become a good softball player you dreamt of, all you need to do is carry out, practice, and practice. Yes, keep on practicing and improving your skills. As a well-worn adage goes, "Practice makes perfect." Take that as your softball hitting key to success.
Reading magazines or articles regarding the proper technique of softball hitting can also help. Also try to solicit some advices from people who have enough knowledge and experience about softball hitting. Their true to life experience is worth knowing.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
Having trouble hitting the ball with striking result? Have you been practicing for it for several weeks, yet you always failed to deliver a satisfying performance? Are you now in great desperation to learn the technique of softball hitting? If so, then you may find the following step-by-step procedure very useful. This actually helps me a lot, too.
· Begin with a good standing posture. This is essential in softball hitting. This means that you have to maintain a comfortable stance. Your weight should be balanced on the balls of your feet. Keep your knees a little flexed, with a slight curve at the waist.
· Have a grip on the bat with your front elbow down and relaxed. Your grip must not too loose or too tight, but hold the bat just right. Make sure that your back elbow is at a 45-degree angle, pointed towards the ground.
· Then with your middle knuckles of one hand aligned with your middle knuckles of the other hand, take hold of the bat at a 45- to 90-degree angle.
· Always let your hands at the top of the strike zone, and close to your back armpit. Also remember that the bat should be between the catcher and your back shoulder.
· Also important to keep your head straight, then cast your full attention to the pitcher in anticipation for the ball to be released. You may want to focus your eyes on the side of the pitcher's leg. This will help you maintain a good concentration.
· When the pitcher goes into the windup, immediately shift the weight onto your back.
· Then with your front foot, take a stride forward on the release of the pitch, making sure not to bring any weight forward on the stride. This is what we call a soft step.
· Immediately after, begin turning around your back foot so that your back heel is facing the catcher, and move your weight forward to the middle of your body.
· Then lastly commence your hand, with the knob of the bat going in the direction of the pitcher's feet.
· You should be careful not to drop the barrel of the bat underneath your hands at the launch of the swing.
· Strike the ball and drive it. This should follow through by way of your hands swinging to your opposite shoulder.
Alright, there you have it. All you have to do is be familiarized with every step provided. At the same time, help yourself with perseverance and determination. Actually, there is actually no undisclosed topics you need to know when it comes to softball hitting.
For you become a good softball player you dreamt of, all you need to do is carry out, practice, and practice. Yes, keep on practicing and improving your skills. As a well-worn adage goes, "Practice makes perfect." Take that as your softball hitting key to success.
Reading magazines or articles regarding the proper technique of softball hitting can also help. Also try to solicit some advices from people who have enough knowledge and experience about softball hitting. Their true to life experience is worth knowing.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Four Little-Known Baseball/Softball Training Secrets
Four Little-Known Baseball/Softball Training Secrets, PART 1
By Steve Zawrotny
*************
Train for POWER
*************
Baseball and softball are not games of strength, but of EXPLOSIVE POWER. Just how strong do you have to be to pick up a 5 oz baseball, or a 30 oz bat? On the other hand, propelling that 5 oz ball 90+ mph, or hitting a ball 400+ feet with that 30 oz bat requires tremendous power - the ability to perform work. In this case, the work of playing baseball and softball at a high level.
In both games, while they can be slow in duration, the various activities that comprise a game are short and quick. Rarely does a play take longer than 6 or 7 seconds. There are exceptions, of course - an inside the park homer, or an extended rundown or "pickle." But, for the most part, things happen very quickly on the diamond.
Why does this matter to you?
Well, let me ask you this: how often have you heard coaches tell pitchers to condition themselves by running laps - Long, Slow Distance (LSD) training, or to spend a lot of time pedaling a bike?
If you've been around as long as I have, you've seen this a lot. Here's the problems: these coaches (and many players) incorrectly think that LSD (or aerobic) conditioning improves player performance. In fact, studies show the aerobic demands (the amount of oxygen needed by the body) of baseball and softball to be very low.
In fact, the oxygen uptake of a baseball pitcher (the most active position) is a low 45% of the maximum needed. Apparently the rest pitchers get between each pitch and in-between innings is sufficient to replenish the main energy system used.
Baseball and softball are considered to be "alactic anaerobic" sports in terms of the energy system utilized, with pitchers in both sports the busiest players on the field. What this means is that there is little to no lactic acid buildup as a result of this activity. That burning feeling you get when you lift weights really hard is a result of a buildup of lactic acid, a by-product of that (and other) short-term, intense types of exercise.
Have you ever heard of a ball player complaining of this problem?
Consider the baseball pitcher: it takes about 0.15 seconds from the time the front foot contacts the ground until the ball is released. Very little lactic acid can be built up in this short burst of activity. The primary source of fatigue in pitching is not metabolic, but neural. [1]
Again, why does this matter to you?
Because studies show that LSD training significantly detracts from power, strength, and speed development.
Reduce these characteristics, and you educe your ability to throw with high velocity, hit with power, and run at high speed. Look at the bodies of sprinters vs. marathoners. You don't have to be built like a sprinter to be successful as a ball player, but this illustrates how training affects one's body, conditioning, and hence, ability to perform.
Put another way: Train Slow, Perform Slow.
As mentioned earlier, aside from the game itself (which can be be long and slow) things happen quickly on the ball field. Playing softball and baseball requires high velocity, ballistic movements like throwing a fast, well located pitch, taking a hard swing at this high velocity pitch, and exploding out of the batter's box to sprint down the first base line.
So how should you train?
To augment the aforementioned activities, concentrate on developing power, flexibility, and speed. Weight lifting, plyometrics, flexibility, and short burst sprint interval training should form the basis of conditioning for baseball and softball players.
[1] Gambetta, V. A Big Windup. Training & Conditioning, p. 43 March 2003
Steve Zawrotny, MS, CSCS 405.373.3253 steve@baseballfit.com FREE REPORT: "Harmful Resistance Exercises Baseball/Softball Players Should Avoid" VISIT: http://www.BaseballFit.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Zawrotny
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Monday, January 11, 2010
Tips in Softball Hitting
By Marc Dagenais
Perfect Hit, How to make it? Softball hitting is said to be one of the most important skills in playing softball. I am certain that you have already read that statement for many times now. But then I am saying it again on this article because it's the truth.
It is essential for a team to have an excellent softball hitter. You are a softball hitter. As the hitter of the team, greater and bigger responsibilities lie in your hands. Sometimes these things caused a lot of pressure. As you watch a professional softball hitter, you are thinking on how he was able to do it. What did he do to make a perfect hit?
Well, there is really no perfect formula when it comes to softball hitting. You may think of copying the strategies of the player that you are watching but then there is this tendency that his strategies in softball hitting will not suit you. The secret behind the success of every hit lies on the knowledge on what to do first and what to do next. It lies on the familiarization of the proper mechanics.
The stance. The stance is the position of the hitter when he will release a swing. This is that start of it all. This serves as the foundation for the swing. The hitter must have the proper position so that he will be able to have a perfect swing that would eventually result to a perfect hit. As a hitter, you must see to it that you feet are just outside your shoulders and your weight must be equally distributed to the inside balls of your feet. Balance is important. You should not forget that. The line drawn through your toes must extend directly to the pitcher who is about to throw the ball. Your hands must be level with your shoulders and it must be aligned of your rear shoulders. The distance of your hands from your body must be about four to six inches away.
Getting ready for the swing. This is the loading phase. This is when you are already shifting the weight of your hands backwards so that they can have a greater distance that can be applied before you hit the ball. You are loading your power during this time. The hands must now be aligned behind the shoulder and then gently stride the front foot forward directly toward the direction of the pitcher.
The swing. Successful and famous softball hitters always release perfect swings. They were able to do these because they keep on practicing and they do this thing repeatedly. You too can do this. The bottom of the palm down is the one that guides the bat. The top of the palm is the one that pushes the bat. Your arms must be bent slightly as the bat extends. Your eyes must be focused on the ball and the pitcher who is going to throw the ball. When you are about eight inches from the ball, your top wrist must now push the bat to finally hit the ball.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
===================
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
===================
SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment
Perfect Hit, How to make it? Softball hitting is said to be one of the most important skills in playing softball. I am certain that you have already read that statement for many times now. But then I am saying it again on this article because it's the truth.
It is essential for a team to have an excellent softball hitter. You are a softball hitter. As the hitter of the team, greater and bigger responsibilities lie in your hands. Sometimes these things caused a lot of pressure. As you watch a professional softball hitter, you are thinking on how he was able to do it. What did he do to make a perfect hit?
Well, there is really no perfect formula when it comes to softball hitting. You may think of copying the strategies of the player that you are watching but then there is this tendency that his strategies in softball hitting will not suit you. The secret behind the success of every hit lies on the knowledge on what to do first and what to do next. It lies on the familiarization of the proper mechanics.
The stance. The stance is the position of the hitter when he will release a swing. This is that start of it all. This serves as the foundation for the swing. The hitter must have the proper position so that he will be able to have a perfect swing that would eventually result to a perfect hit. As a hitter, you must see to it that you feet are just outside your shoulders and your weight must be equally distributed to the inside balls of your feet. Balance is important. You should not forget that. The line drawn through your toes must extend directly to the pitcher who is about to throw the ball. Your hands must be level with your shoulders and it must be aligned of your rear shoulders. The distance of your hands from your body must be about four to six inches away.
Getting ready for the swing. This is the loading phase. This is when you are already shifting the weight of your hands backwards so that they can have a greater distance that can be applied before you hit the ball. You are loading your power during this time. The hands must now be aligned behind the shoulder and then gently stride the front foot forward directly toward the direction of the pitcher.
The swing. Successful and famous softball hitters always release perfect swings. They were able to do these because they keep on practicing and they do this thing repeatedly. You too can do this. The bottom of the palm down is the one that guides the bat. The top of the palm is the one that pushes the bat. Your arms must be bent slightly as the bat extends. Your eyes must be focused on the ball and the pitcher who is going to throw the ball. When you are about eight inches from the ball, your top wrist must now push the bat to finally hit the ball.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
===================
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
===================
SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Performing Softball Hitting is Not All About the Bats
By Marc Dagenais
Everybody who is engaged in the softball hitting is endeavored on making the best of his abilities to perform the skill well. As much as possible he commits more than a hundred percent of his efforts so that there will be a great base run at the end.
Hitters should have a quick, short and compact swing so that they can deliver the best hit that they can. It is also indispensable that each hitter gets the bat to the ball as fast as possible during the hitting. Every player is required with the certain degrees of shoulder rotation. One of the common mistakes why a batter is not successful in hitting the ball is that he performs a wrong movement when swinging. That is why this very simple skill should be carefully though of so that any single mistake will be minimized.
Starting as early as possible is very well needed so that you can have the best of improvement more rapidly. So, before you go to the worse side of the softball game, you should always become one of the people who are willing to take more of the softball hitting drills in order for them to get hold of the better performance record.
The batter should not pull out the shoulder in advance as this may cause several damages in your softball hitting. Therefore, this means that every single move is important in the accomplishment of a great softball hitting presentation. Early pulling out of the front side should not be maintained as it produces radical short of bat speed.
Coaches should also become more aware and quickly have a spot of the flaws often committed by the softball hitters so that they can correct them as soon as possible. So every hitter should cure their flaws with the help of course of their coach. The coach should have an individual assessment of the performances of his players. In this way, he can immediately respond to the needs of the players.
It is also recommended that the coach should build up a practice plan that will have a holistic improvement of the players. There should however a different practice plan for the different skills such as pitching and hitting as these skills require more than just quick run and fast speed.
You visualize what you want in your team so as to produce the results that you want to happen. Build up also the confidence of your players so that the softball hitting and softball pitching will run smoothly. You try ever y possible chance that you and your players can develop a team building activities that all of you will enjoy.
Try also to become more attached with their personal lives. As a coach, you must know how your players are affected with the personal stories that they have in life. But always make sure that you do not go also beyond your limitations. You must develop also their sense of independence most especially in the way that they discipline themselves.
In general, softball hitting can best be done if there is cooperation that exist between the coach, the players as well as the parents so that effective and stronger game match will be witnessed in the softball diamond.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
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!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Fastpitch Hitting - Swing Like "the Best in the World"
By Joe M White
Many people who follow fastpitch softball consider Jessica Mendoza to be the best all-around player, and best overall hitter in the world over the past several years.
Mendoza can do it all at the plate. She is a great bunter, a very effective slap hitter, and hits away for a very high batting average and with terrific power. In fact, baseball fans can compare Mendoza side-by-side with most any major league baseball hall-of-famer, and see that they swing the way she does.
Although Mendoza isn't the first fastpitch player to adopt a Rotational swing, she does it at least as well as anyone who's ever played. More and more fastpitch players are turning to her method of hitting. Increasingly, Division 1 college coaches are converting their players to Rotational hitting (for example, Mike Candera, Head Coach at the University of Arizona, whose teams have won 6 College World Series National Championships, is teaching a peculiar variation of Rotational hitting).
While softball players can continue to have success using the Linear method of hitting, there are reasons for the shift to Rotational.
A Very Short History
Many in the fastpitch community are under the impression that Rotational is relatively new, and that Linear hitting has always been the norm. Actually, Rotational hitting was introduced to Major League Baseball by Shoeless Joe Jackson in the early 20th century, and after Babe Ruth copied Jackson's method, it became the swing of about 95% of Major Leaguers until the introduction of synthetic turf on many Major League fields from the 1960's to the 1990's.
Those early synthetic turf fields were nearly as hard as concrete. Major League batting coaches quickly realized that ground balls hit on it moved so fast, that many balls that were routine ground outs on natural fields were hits on 'turf. Many that would have been outfield singles bounced so hard they became doubles or even triples. So many began to teach Linear hitting to their weaker hitters. And in many cases it worked.
(Most of the Big Leaguers who hit over.300 in those years, and nearly all the RBI and Home Run leaders, continued to be Rotational hitters. As synthetic turf disappeared from the Major Leagues, so did Linear hitting. There are very few nowadays, and although many still use Linear terms to describe their swing, they actually use Rotational swings.)
The increasing use of Linear hitting in MLB coincided with the introduction of lightweight aluminum and composite bats. These bats were not only much lighter than wood -- and so could be swung much faster -- they also had more "pop." The ball came off the bat harder and faster, so grounders hit with metal or composite bats got past infielders more often than with the old wood bats.
While MLB rejected Non-wood bats, they were quickly adopted by youth baseball leagues, middle and high schools, and the NCAA. Along with the bats, coaches at all these levels began to teach Linear hitting. Boys and young men who might have struggled with heavy wood bats became good or even above average hitters by using aluminum/composite bats and Linear hitting.
During all this, fastpitch softball experienced a rebirth as a game for women and girls. Fastpitch softball was originally played with wood bats, and Rotational hitting was the dominant method for both women and men playing the game. In fact, relatively few women played fastpitch until the 1970's.
As young ladies took up the game, they used aluminum and composite bats, for the same reason their male counterparts were. Most of their coaches were men -- dads -- who were enthusiastically embracing the cutting-edge Linear hitting movement. So most ladies learned Linear hitting, which tends to create more grounders as we'll see.
Linear Versus Rotational
So what's the difference between Linear and Rotational hitting? Andy Collins has a pretty good definition of Linear hitting: "Linear hitting is a hitting style that has been used for many years in fast pitch softball and by many little league coaches, some high school, college, and even minor league baseball coaches who still prefer this method of hitting instruction.
"It is used to achieve solid contact hitting, producing... sharply hit ground balls which are designed to shoot through the drawn-in infielders on the hard dirt surfaces of softball (and astroturf surfaces in baseball). It is especially useful in slap hitting (fast runners who hit it on the ground and beat it out to first base).
"Baseball players who use this style, do so especially when they use the ultra light aluminum bats and... if they play on artificial surfaces."
A Linear hitter will normally hit ground balls. Most Linear coaches teach "hit the top half of the ball," and "swing down," which naturally produces grounders. They also teach "lead with the hands" or "take the knob (or hands) to the ball," and to set up with most of your weight on the back foot and then shift your weight to the front foot as you swing. All of these work together to lengthen the swing (producing slower bat speed and therefore less power) and cause a lot of ground balls.
Since softball infields are clay (a hard surface), and the bases are relatively close together -- and so the infielders are close to the batter and have less time to react to the ball to field it -- if you hit a ground ball hard enough, you will get on base. So Linear hitters can be very successful.
Linear hitting works really well when playing against younger or less accomplished fielders and pitchers. But as the defense gets better, whether it's because the ladies at the level you've been at are more mature physically and more experienced fielding balls, or if it's because you're moving up from the Silver division to the Gold, fewer and fewer ground balls get through for hits.
And as the pitching gets faster, Linear hitters often struggle to get the bat around quickly enough, hitting more and more weak grounders to the opposite side. If you get a chance to watch Division 1 college softball games, you'll really see this happening. The lightweight bats allowed in softball go a long way in addressing the problem of slow batspeed. However, when you get to the very top level of competition at a given age, Linear hitters often struggle.
Also, if you are doing a correct Linear swing and happen to hit the middle or lower half of the ball, you will create backspin on the ball - which will usually result in a pop up or a very slow grounder. Slap hitting, a variation of Linear, can help overcome these problems. An accomplished Slapper can place the ball very accurately, and so, "hit 'em where they ain't," as baseball legend Wee Willie Keeler said 120 years ago (Willie was a Linear hitter, like all ballplayers of his time).
Rotational hitting emphasizes even weight balance, leading with the hips, using the legs, hips and torso muscles to produce a short, compact swing, and hitting the center of the ball. These combine to create more bat speed than Linear hitting can, and because the intention is to hit the middle of the ball, it produces many more line drives. No one swings perfectly every single time, so of course, there will be ground balls and pop ups, just as with Linear, but overall, there is more power, and many more balls hit in the air to the outfield. And, because the swing is faster, ground balls are normally hit harder than with Linear -- and so are more likely to get past the infielders for hits.
Perhaps the biggest problem with Rotational hitting is that many people who have very little understanding of it try, with the best of intentions, to teach it. They often combine bits of Linear with a partial understanding of Rotational, with horrible results. Some have grasped portions of the Rotational, and teach what they know. Their results are very uneven. Some hitters do fairly well with this partial swing, most do no better than with Linear, and some don't have any success.
Mike Epstein, former MLB baseball player, and the person credited with coining the phrase "Rotational Hitting," ask the question, "Do we coach what we REALLY see?" Very few coaches take the time to do the frame-by-frame video analysis of great softball and baseball hitters to see all of the components of a productive Rotational swing. (Epstein's hitting course is one of the better ones available. Thousands of players have benefitted from his instruction.)
What a Rotational Swing Looks Like
The photos at batting.wordpress.com in the Nov. 5 post, "The Best Hitter on the Planet?" show how the key components of Jessica Mendoza's swing work together to make her such a great hitter. A true Rotational hitter. You may see that it's very different from what most local coaches teach, even those who call their style of hitting "Rotational." (In her 5-minute video lessons on YouTube, even Mendoza teaches something very different from the way she actually hits! It seems to me that her using Linear hitting phrases -- "shift your weight," and "take your hands to the ball" -- can be confusing to most players, because Mendoza doesn't do these things in a Linear way at all, as you can see in the photos.)
Mendoza keeps her hands back and high as she begins her swing. As she takes a very small step, her entire body moves slightly toward the pitcher (the "weight shift"), but her weight is balanced equally on both feet. Her hips begin to rotate as she brings her back hand down slightly. Her front foot pivots. Keeping her elbows close to her body, the hip rotation brings her bat around at very high speed. Her wrists remain in the same position as at the beginning of the swing.
Her back shoulder moves lower (how much lower depends on the pitch -- if it had been high in the strike zone, the back shoulder would have lowered less, but still would have "dipped"). At contact, both elbows are in an "L" position, head directly on the ball. At the moment of contact, the front knee is straight, the back knee in almost an "L" position. The bat extends straight from her lead arm, looking as if it is part of her arm.
The elbows remain in the "L" until well into her follow-through. Her back hand remains on the bat until the swing is 98% finished.
That's how the best fastpitch hitter in the game does it. And the ball is on a powerful line drive trajectory. If you can get a look at Crystl Busto, the most powerful fastpitch hitter who every played, you'll see that her swing is the same. If you can find video of Stacey Nuveman from 2004-2007, you'll see the same swing. If you look at the Texas A&M team, nearly everyone has the same swing as Jessica Mendoza.
Is One Better Than the Other?
In the fastpitch softball community, the discussion over the two styles is often very heated, and passions frequently run high. Often people are so emotional about their chosen method that they cannot see that both have a place. But look at the 2006-2009 USA National Softball teams. The ladies who made up the team were deemed to be the best players in the US at the time. Both methods of hitting were represented on the team, and they won 3 World Championships and a Silver Medal in the Olympics. Clearly there is room for both Linear and Rotational hitting.
What to Look for in a Coach
In general, everyone who teaches Linear hitting teaches the same principles and the same swing. While each coach will have their own way of teaching it, there is a great uniformity in Linear instruction. A player will get the same advice and tweaking of her swing, but perhaps with different words used from coach to coach.
Unfortunately, while Rotational hitting is fairly simple and straightforward, many coaches haven't really learned the components of the swing. Simply latching onto key words and phrases, they teach what sounds like Rotational hitting to them and the player. Of course, this doesn't produce a sound swing, and causes many to abandon and reject Rotational hitting. Those who have learned Mike Epstein's system can teach a pretty effective swing. Jack Mankin has taught many coaches how to teach the swing used by Mendoza and nearly every Major League Baseball Hall of Fame member.
Even worse than those who teach Rotational hitting without understanding it, are those who try to combine the two methods. This simply doesn't work, except for a very few extremely gifted athletes whose hand-eye coordination is so superior they can overcome this disastrous combination swing. Avoid this swing at all costs!
Use the photos at batting.wordpress.com and the description above of Mendoza's swing to guide you in finding a Rotational hitting coach. These are the fundamental elements of the swing, and each is crucial. Ask the coach to describe the components they teach. If it sounds very different, move on to someone else. If it sounds similar, ask more questions. Be sure they are teaching what you see in these photos. This particular swing is about as perfect a Rotational swing as humanly possible.
In the End, It's a Choice You Have to Make
As we said, there is a place for both Linear and Rotational hitting in fastpitch softball. However, as they move up in skill levels, Linear hitters will find it increasingly difficult to achieve the greatest possible success at the plate.
The best hitter in fastpitch, Jessica Mendoza, is a Rotational hitter. So are Crystl Busto, Stacey Nuveman, and many of the best players in the US. More and more top Division 1 college softball coaches are adopting Rotational hitting for their teams.
The method has been around for nearly a hundred years and is proven to be very effective. If you're serious about taking your game as far as you can, if you dream of playing college softball or even playing for your national team (and why NOT dream that?), you should look into Rotational hitting. But try to be sure you find a coach who really understands this simple method and knows how to teach it.
Whatever you choose, keep practicing, especially in the off-season, keep working hard at getting better, but also take some breaks from the game! Don't get burned out on the game you love!!
©2009 Joseph M. White
Now in his 17th season as a youth softball and baseball coach; also a hitting coach and fastpitch pitching coach. His long experience studying all aspects of the game, and teaching hundreds of boys and girls how to play, and play better, gives him unique insights and enables him to effectively convey game skills to players, coaches, and parents.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_M_White
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Thursday, November 12, 2009
Quick and Effective Softball Hitting Tips
By Marc Dagenais
Whether you're a softball coach or player, you're probably aware that it takes a lot of time and dedication to be the best that you can ever be. Even the world's top coaches and players had to start from scratch like everyone else.
But we have to admit that there are also times when we simply can't spend too much time learning something. Take for example a situation wherein your best pitcher was injured, and therefore, your secondary pitcher should step up. You could spend an entire season refining her technique. But it would also help if you have a quick remedy to the situation under your sleeve.
That's why I came up with these quick yet effective softball hitting tips. I made this for coaches and players who need something quick and easy to implement to help step up their game.
1. Train with the Overload/Underload Training Protocol. Doing this training protocol helps increase your bat swing by 2-3 mph. To do this, you need 3 bats of different weights: 1 regular bat, 1 heavy bat, and 1 light bat. As a rule of thumb, the heavy and light bat should be around 15-20% more or less of the regular bat's weight.
First, you swing the heavy bat 10 times, then, the light bat 10 times. Finally, pick up the regular bat and try to replicate the bat speed you achieved with the light bat for another 10 swings. Perform this set 3 times.
To achieve maximum results, I recommend you do this training protocol 2-3 times per week for 6-8 weeks. You will, then, notice a 2-3 increase in your bat speed after that.
2. Swing with a regular bat on the deck. Contrary to popular belief, swinging with a heavy bat on the deck actually slows down your bat speed. That's why I recommend you swing with a regular bat, or a bat that's 2-3 oz. lighter than the regular one.
The reason for this is that, what you're after is to loosen your muscles before stepping on the plate, and not to strengthen your muscles. So again, swing with a regular bat when you're on the deck, not a heavy one.
3. Approach the plate with confidence. Nothing speaks louder on your lack of confidence than the way you approach the plate. If you're slouching and dragging your bat to the plate, then, you're telling the opposing team that you're an easy prey.
Therefore, I suggest that you approach the plate with an air of confidence. Stand upright and look the pitcher in the eye. Chances are, the pitcher will be more afraid of you than you are of her.
So if you're looking for quick and easy tips to improve your game or that of your players, I'm sure these three tips I shared with you will do just that.
But don't just depend on these softball hitting tips. I recommend that you also come up with a long term solution to your situation to put your game to an ever higher gear than you're playing now.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
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!
Whether you're a softball coach or player, you're probably aware that it takes a lot of time and dedication to be the best that you can ever be. Even the world's top coaches and players had to start from scratch like everyone else.
But we have to admit that there are also times when we simply can't spend too much time learning something. Take for example a situation wherein your best pitcher was injured, and therefore, your secondary pitcher should step up. You could spend an entire season refining her technique. But it would also help if you have a quick remedy to the situation under your sleeve.
That's why I came up with these quick yet effective softball hitting tips. I made this for coaches and players who need something quick and easy to implement to help step up their game.
1. Train with the Overload/Underload Training Protocol. Doing this training protocol helps increase your bat swing by 2-3 mph. To do this, you need 3 bats of different weights: 1 regular bat, 1 heavy bat, and 1 light bat. As a rule of thumb, the heavy and light bat should be around 15-20% more or less of the regular bat's weight.
First, you swing the heavy bat 10 times, then, the light bat 10 times. Finally, pick up the regular bat and try to replicate the bat speed you achieved with the light bat for another 10 swings. Perform this set 3 times.
To achieve maximum results, I recommend you do this training protocol 2-3 times per week for 6-8 weeks. You will, then, notice a 2-3 increase in your bat speed after that.
2. Swing with a regular bat on the deck. Contrary to popular belief, swinging with a heavy bat on the deck actually slows down your bat speed. That's why I recommend you swing with a regular bat, or a bat that's 2-3 oz. lighter than the regular one.
The reason for this is that, what you're after is to loosen your muscles before stepping on the plate, and not to strengthen your muscles. So again, swing with a regular bat when you're on the deck, not a heavy one.
3. Approach the plate with confidence. Nothing speaks louder on your lack of confidence than the way you approach the plate. If you're slouching and dragging your bat to the plate, then, you're telling the opposing team that you're an easy prey.
Therefore, I suggest that you approach the plate with an air of confidence. Stand upright and look the pitcher in the eye. Chances are, the pitcher will be more afraid of you than you are of her.
So if you're looking for quick and easy tips to improve your game or that of your players, I'm sure these three tips I shared with you will do just that.
But don't just depend on these softball hitting tips. I recommend that you also come up with a long term solution to your situation to put your game to an ever higher gear than you're playing now.
Marc Dagenais is a 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 sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
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, November 2, 2009
Softball Hitting - Learning the Right Confidence Before You Hit the Hit
www.SoftballrUs.com
By Marc Dagenais
In any sport, it is important to be able to master a certain skill in order to become an expert in it. Softball, as part of the leading sports in the world, has been part of the sports that has gained numerous positive feedbacks from the viewers. It is because most of the time, the softball fanatics have been carried away with their numerous fantasies about playing softball.
There is a need therefore of a great avenue wherein you will have to observe a great softball game performance. If you are a softball hitter, then you might want to know more about softball hitting so that you can hone more your skills on your existing skills. Yes, it is amazing to note that from your existing skill, you can still actually gain another skill from it.
Hereunder is some of the softball hitting tips that are considered to be great tools in the achievement of a great play.
First, you must spend as much time on your hitting powers as you do in your resistance. It is important that you learn to be ready with the tough hitting drills so that you can move to a more challenging softball hitting technique later as you move on with the next steps. Practice refining your softball hitting skills and then master them. It is not an easy task to master each skill but it will help if you constantly master the skill that you know or the skill that is taught to you. Mastering a particular softball hitting skill doesn't require a highly-skilled hitter. It just needs a hitter who has the patience to learn things.
Second, you must select the heaviest bat wherein you could feel like you can swing it without losing your bat velocity. It is important that you still give your full power the moment you will hit the softball.
Third, you must hold the bat with your fingers. You should have to consider that your power should rely on your fingers and not on your palms.
Fourth, you can regulate the location of your position in the box as long as you are still in accordance with the direction of the pitcher. You must remember that a single move can make a big impact, so be careful with your every single move.
Fifth, never alter your swing the moment before or during the game. If you want to learn a new swing or if you are just learning a new swing, you must not use it right away in the current season of your softball performance. Remember that there is so much to learn about a new move and incorporating it right away to the next game performance will do you no good because you lack enough practice for the certain skill.
Sixth, you should always remain loose at the plate. Relax. Tensed muscles can make you move slowly. Remember, you should move quickly.
Seventh, you shall make each of your swing count. And never zoom on your batting average. Instead you must focus on your on-base proportion.
Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. Visit his site and sign-up to get his FREE softball hitting tips!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
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!
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