Hitting Drills For Fastpitch Softball Players
By guest author: Shanna Stevens
Hitting drills can be done by softball players effectively without having to waste time waiting around for busy coaches. Its is also important what type of bats are being used by the athlete's. Aluminum versus Composite.
Aluminum fastpitch bats and composite fastpitch bats have their pros and cons. Because fastpitch softball requires great bat speed and reaction time selecting the proper bat can mean the difference between striking out, laying down a bunt, getting a base hit or even hitting a home run.
Composite bats offer more advantages than aluminum bats these days, but cost more and lack durability. Composite bats also require attention and care to prevent damage.
Composite Bat Speed: Composite bats are easier to swing and can be more accurately controlled.
Aluminum Bat Speed: Aluminum bats are generally heavier than composite bats and less evenly balanced.
Composite Performance: Composite bats peak in performance once they have been properly broken in. A broken-in composite bat will outperform most aluminum bats.
Aluminum Performance: Aluminum bats maintain a steady performance throughout the life of the bat.
Composite Durability: Composite bats are fragile and batters must be conscious of weather conditions and proper use.
Aluminum Durability: Aluminum bats are very durable and require little attention.
Composite Cost: Composite bats vary greatly in cost, depending on materials used.
Aluminum Cost: Aluminum bats are less expensive than composite bats and do not require as much technology to produce.
With a type of bat in mind, now you can start gather hitting drills for your players. Some aspects of hitting to focus on could include Building The Swing, Visual Preparation and Game Adjustments. There are many types of drills to focus on the simple mechanics of hitting. Some use a hitting Tee, some will use wiffle balls and even the Soft Toss Drill where a ball is tossed in front of the hitter in line with the big toe allowing the hitter to focus on their technique instead of reading a pitch coming straight at them.
If you're looking to improve your bat speed or looking to increase your bat strength make sure you choose a bat that best fits your personal preference. Take some time to choose your bat. Take the time to select your hitting drills and get yourself set up for the drills that are focusing on the specific mechanics you are looking to improve and get to work! May all your swings come true. Have a great year!!
Highly effective hitting. How do you get the most out of your drills so your not wasting anyone's time. What ques do you use, what equipment do you use and what drills do you use. These are common questions coaches across the world ask themselves everyday. If your players don't hit the ball they don't score, if they don't score, they can't put point's on the board. If you're not putting points of the board your not going to win ball games. Hitting has to be done effectively with confidence.
http://www.shopsoftballutah.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shanna_Stevens
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The 4 Best Batting Tees in Baseball:
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Showing posts with label softball hitting drills. Show all posts
Showing posts with label softball hitting drills. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Step-By-Step Softball Hitting Procedure
Step-By-Step Softball Hitting Procedure
By guest author: 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
=======================
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!
By guest author: 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
=======================
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!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Softball Hitting Drills - Bat Throwing Drills
Softball Hitting Drills - Bat Throwing Drills
Uploaded by softballperformancehttp://www.softballperformance.com Softball Peak Performance Coach Marc Dagenais discusses about how to use their whole body using proper mechanics to generate hitting power.
=====================
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Baseball2u.com/CoachesBest.com is the ultimate online baseball training and coaching store. With over 1400 products organized into categories Baseball2u.com makes finding that baseball training product easy and simple. Order securely online or by phone. Baseball2u.com is a fully licensed company and has a full time staff available from 8:00 to 5:00 CST. Their toll free customer service number is 1-877-431-4487.
The Categories they have are: BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, Batting Cages, Pitching Machines, Jugs Equipment, Game and Practice Baseballs, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, Portable Pitching Mounds, Baseball DVDs & Books, Clearance Items on Sales, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Five Batting Trainers Every Baseball and Softball Hitting Coach Should Know About
Five Batting Trainers Every Baseball and Softball Hitting Coach Should Know About
Posted on YouTube by Coach2winVideos
Video features five popular and productive baseball/softball batting trainers. The baseball batting trainers are the BatAction Machine, Hurricane Machine, HandsBack Hitter, StayBack Tee, and SKLZ Target Trainer. Each training aid is shown being hit by a player. Each trainer's specific use and purpose is also given.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Baseball2u.com/CoachesBest.com is the ultimate online baseball training and coaching store. With over 1400 products organized into categories Baseball2u.com makes finding that baseball training product easy and simple. Order securely online or by phone. Baseball2u.com is a fully licensed company and has a full time staff available from 8:00 to 5:00 CST. Their toll free customer service number is 1-877-431-4487.
The Categories they have are: BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, Batting Cages, Pitching Machines, Jugs Equipment, Game and Practice Baseballs, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, Portable Pitching Mounds, Baseball DVDs & Books, Clearance Items on Sales, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!
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
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
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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
SoftballrUs.com
Suggested Links:
RottenSports.com
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Blog4Coaches.com
WildSportsVideos.com
BaseballCoachingDigest.com
YouthBaseballDigest.com
LittleLeagueDigest.com
SoftballBloopers.com
FunnyBaseballVideo.com
BaseballBloopersandBlunders.com
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Top 5 Softball Batting Tee Drills
Top 5 Softball Batting Tee Drills
By Guest Author Marc Dagenais
Here are the top 5 softball batting tee drills, in no particular order, and in my opinion. They are the ones that can really help turn you into an elite batter.
Drill 1 - Back Knee Down
Purpose: To develop upper-body strength and quickness. The drill helps the player stop lunging by eliminating lower-body movement. The drill can reduce upper cutting. It emphasizes keeping the barrel above the hands and using correct timing.
Procedure: Use a low T for this drill. The hitter kneels on a towel with the back knee at a 90-degree angle, keeping the shoulders on a level plane. The drill can also be done off a soft toss. The player sees the bat hit the ball.
Drill 2 - Bingo
Purpose: To develop a level swing and proper mechanics by offering instant feedback.
Procedure: Position two Ts at the same height with one directly behind the other. The batter drives the back ball into the front ball. The farther apart the Ts, the more difficult it is to hit the front ball because errors are magnified. The path of the hit provides quick feedback on the mechanics of the swing. If the hitter misses to the left, she has an outside-inside swing. If the hitter misses by going above, she is dropping her back shoulder. When successful, the hitter should yell "Bingo."
Drill 3 - Balance Beam
Purpose: To check balance during a swing.
Procedure: The hitter stands on a two-by-four or with both feet on the inner edge or a tire while hitting off the T. A hitter with good balance can stay on the beam throughout the swing.
Drill 4 - Look at Pitcher, Then Hit
Purpose: To practice refocusing from the pitcher to the point of contact.
Procedure: The batter at a T looks out at an imaginary pitcher and then refocuses on the T and takes a normal swing.
Drill 5 - Two Ts
Purpose: To concentrate on hitting to and through the ball on the sweet spot of the bat with a line drive contact.
Procedure: Two Ts are placed at the same height one directly in front of the other with a ball on each. The batter tries to drive the bat through the ball on the first T and into and through the ball on the second T.
Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that provides softball tips, softball drills, and information on techniques for hitting, pitching, coaching, and training through his blog at http://www.softballperformance.com/blog
He also 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. You can sign-up to get his FREE Softball Tips at http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-tips.html Go Sign-up Now!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
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Check Out These Sites:
RottenSports.com
RottenCoaches.com
Blog4Coaches.com
WildSportsVideos,.com
BaseballCoachingDigest.com
YouthBaseballDigest.com
LittleLeagueDigest.com
SoftballBloopers.com
FunnyBaseballVideo.com
BaseballBloopersandBlunders.com
By Guest Author Marc Dagenais
Here are the top 5 softball batting tee drills, in no particular order, and in my opinion. They are the ones that can really help turn you into an elite batter.
Drill 1 - Back Knee Down
Purpose: To develop upper-body strength and quickness. The drill helps the player stop lunging by eliminating lower-body movement. The drill can reduce upper cutting. It emphasizes keeping the barrel above the hands and using correct timing.
Procedure: Use a low T for this drill. The hitter kneels on a towel with the back knee at a 90-degree angle, keeping the shoulders on a level plane. The drill can also be done off a soft toss. The player sees the bat hit the ball.
Drill 2 - Bingo
Purpose: To develop a level swing and proper mechanics by offering instant feedback.
Procedure: Position two Ts at the same height with one directly behind the other. The batter drives the back ball into the front ball. The farther apart the Ts, the more difficult it is to hit the front ball because errors are magnified. The path of the hit provides quick feedback on the mechanics of the swing. If the hitter misses to the left, she has an outside-inside swing. If the hitter misses by going above, she is dropping her back shoulder. When successful, the hitter should yell "Bingo."
Drill 3 - Balance Beam
Purpose: To check balance during a swing.
Procedure: The hitter stands on a two-by-four or with both feet on the inner edge or a tire while hitting off the T. A hitter with good balance can stay on the beam throughout the swing.
Drill 4 - Look at Pitcher, Then Hit
Purpose: To practice refocusing from the pitcher to the point of contact.
Procedure: The batter at a T looks out at an imaginary pitcher and then refocuses on the T and takes a normal swing.
Drill 5 - Two Ts
Purpose: To concentrate on hitting to and through the ball on the sweet spot of the bat with a line drive contact.
Procedure: Two Ts are placed at the same height one directly in front of the other with a ball on each. The batter tries to drive the bat through the ball on the first T and into and through the ball on the second T.
Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that provides softball tips, softball drills, and information on techniques for hitting, pitching, coaching, and training through his blog at http://www.softballperformance.com/blog
He also 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. You can sign-up to get his FREE Softball Tips at http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-tips.html Go Sign-up Now!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
---------------------------------------------------------
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Thanks to our sponsor:
SoftballrUs.com
Check Out These Sites:
RottenSports.com
RottenCoaches.com
Blog4Coaches.com
WildSportsVideos,.com
BaseballCoachingDigest.com
YouthBaseballDigest.com
LittleLeagueDigest.com
SoftballBloopers.com
FunnyBaseballVideo.com
BaseballBloopersandBlunders.com
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Softball Hitting Basics: Slo-Mo Swing
In this video (one of the nine videos in the Softball Hitting Basics series), Coach Ricciardi analyzes a proper softball hitting swing in slow motion, detailing the key components of a strong, consistent swing.
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WildSportsVideos,.com
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LittleLeagueDigest.com
SoftballBloopers.com
FunnyBaseballVideo.com
Thanks to our sponsors;
BattingCagesDirect.com
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SoftballrUs.com
Check Out These Recommeded Sites:
RottenSports.com
RottenCoaches.com
Blog4Coaches.com
WildSportsVideos,.com
BaseballCoachingDigest.com
YouthBaseballDigest.com
LittleLeagueDigest.com
SoftballBloopers.com
FunnyBaseballVideo.com
Monday, June 21, 2010
Working on Softball Hitting Tips - Your Line of Attack to Win!
Girls Fastpitch Softball Hitting Tips
By Guest Author: Marc Dagenais
All games require energy, concentration, alertness and staying power in order to achieve one goal - to win! In softball game, these behaviors must be in attendance to every player of a team. When you engage into this game or kind of sport, there are certain things that you need to take serious of and to consider. And, softball hitting is one of those many things which you are required to make focus on because hitting is the best way in order to win in the game.
Here are some strategies for you to be able to deal with softball hitting:
· The first important thing in hitting is the weapon that you are using in striking or hitting a softball - the bat! It is very essential for a player to have a good bat and when we say well, it involves the features of it, for instance the size. You should consider the size of the bat when buying one. And, you should be able to get used to it or go well with your bat; it is like you have the connection from both of you. Size is important in terms of your speed, for some players want a big bat that can somehow help them to strike, however having a weighty one is not suggested by experts, and it really should be of a good size to help you out in when you swing it with no difficulty and within your control. The best part is to use the bat to strike the bottom part of the softball.
· Focused - mind is needed in softball hitting. It is pretty important when striking because your attentiveness on the softball tells and describes how good and brawny you are in the game. You should be able to keep your head in one place and in one course, for this will help you out to put your 100% focus and awareness to the softball and in order to make a nice strike. Keeping your focus steady and secure towards the ball, will provide you time to guess your accurate timing in hitting the softball.
· Hands are also playing as one of the most important parts in softball hitting. They are the ones who make hold of the bat and striking the ball in a very nice manner depends on how will you hold your weapon. You should not grip the bat too tight or too loose, just handle it in a relaxed way and be certain that your fingers are in a proper position when you are holding the bat to give you comfort. This will certainly give you a good speed when you strike the softball and give you much awareness to hit than how will your hands move when you make a strike.
· Your stance must be at a good place. You should make your knees bend and allow your feet to carry out your body's weight and have a distance between your feet, enough to make you at ease with your stance.
You should give enough time and effort when practicing these softball hitting strategies for you to achieve your goal - to be triumphant!
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
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!
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
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Important Role of Softball Drills in Winning
The Important Role of Softball Drills in Winning
By Marc Dagenais
In any kind of sport, it is always true that practice makes perfect. You need to work hard in order to become a skillful player. You should multiply your skills and abilities to have a better chance of making the best player in your chosen sport. Of course your coach has an important part in your quest. Your coach will be your guide and will tell you what skill should you put more focus on and what are the drills you should practice.
In the field of softball, softball pitching and hitting are two main keys to win the game. You should use a good combination of this in order to have a higher chance of winning. You need to practice more to improve these skills. Softball drill will help a lot to multiply your skills in hitting and pitching.
Your coach should have enough knowledge about the different softball drills so that you can choose the most effective drill.
Some common softball drills which can you incorporate in your everyday practice are:
· Back Knee Down
The main purpose of this drill is to improve your upper body strength and quickness. It is done to decrease the lower body movements like lunging and upper cutting. It focuses to keep the barrel above your hands. The use of proper timing is also essential in this drill.
The drill can be done by using a low T. the hitter will kneel on a towel with the back knee positioned in 90 degree angle. The shoulders should be level on plane. You can also do it in a soft toss as long as the bat will hit the ball.
· Hitting Fungoes
It is the drill that improves the action of the hand, shifting of the weight, downward swing and follow-through.
There should be some players staying on the deck. They will be the one to hit the fungoes toward the direction of the fielders on the side of the infield. You should have four hitters in each of the three hitting stations. The hitters will take a certain number of swings and then rotate at the back of the line of the next hitting station. The hitter should complete the rotation passing the three hitting stations. After the rotation one line can rotate to the infield spots and the infielders can come to hit the ball. You should hit the top half of the baseball using a short, downward swing.
· Draw a Line
It is for the purpose of practicing the moving of the hands to the ball. It will also develop the speed and strengthen the lead arm.
To start with the drill, the batter will estimate the stance even without holding the bat. The lead hand should be in its normal position with the thumb up. The hitter then will draw a line across her chest and then extends the ball.
· Snap Backs
It will multiply the quickness of the hands, small stride, and forearm and the strength of the wrist.
Your player should have corresponding partner. The partner will stand six feet from the batter and will toss the ball in the fastest speed towards the contact point of the strike zone. The hitter standing up will drive one ball after another into the net taking the swing and snapping the bat back to the staring point.
· Quick Hands
It will surely increase your ability in quick hands, backswing and compact swing.
First the tosser will stand in front of the batter and behind a screen with 15 feet distance to the hitter. The batter will positioned the bat pointing the tosser, then return the hand back quickly, and then forward again now hitting the tossed ball.
Mentioned above are some common softball drills to keep you at the top of your game.
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
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!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Top 5 Softball Batting Tee Drills
Article Title: Top 5 Softball Batting Tee Drills
By Marc Dagenais
Here are the top 5 softball batting tee drills, in no particular order, and in my opinion. They are the ones that can really help turn you into an elite batter.
Drill 1 - Back Knee Down
Purpose: To develop upper-body strength and quickness. The drill helps the player stop lunging by eliminating lower-body movement. The drill can reduce upper cutting. It emphasizes keeping the barrel above the hands and using correct timing.
Procedure: Use a low T for this drill. The hitter kneels on a towel with the back knee at a 90-degree angle, keeping the shoulders on a level plane. The drill can also be done off a soft toss. The player sees the bat hit the ball.
Drill 2 - Bingo
Purpose: To develop a level swing and proper mechanics by offering instant feedback.
Procedure: Position two Ts at the same height with one directly behind the other. The batter drives the back ball into the front ball. The farther apart the Ts, the more difficult it is to hit the front ball because errors are magnified. The path of the hit provides quick feedback on the mechanics of the swing. If the hitter misses to the left, she has an outside-inside swing. If the hitter misses by going above, she is dropping her back shoulder. When successful, the hitter should yell "Bingo."
Drill 3 - Balance Beam
Purpose: To check balance during a swing.
Procedure: The hitter stands on a two-by-four or with both feet on the inner edge or a tire while hitting off the T. A hitter with good balance can stay on the beam throughout the swing.
Drill 4 - Look at Pitcher, Then Hit
Purpose: To practice refocusing from the pitcher to the point of contact.
Procedure: The batter at a T looks out at an imaginary pitcher and then refocuses on the T and takes a normal swing.
Drill 5 - Two Ts
Purpose: To concentrate on hitting to and through the ball on the sweet spot of the bat with a line drive contact.
Procedure: Two Ts are placed at the same height one directly in front of the other with a ball on each. The batter tries to drive the bat through the ball on the first T and into and through the ball on the second T.
Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that provides softball tips, softball drills, and information on techniques for hitting, pitching, coaching, and training through his blog at http://www.softballperformance.com/blog
He also 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. You can sign-up to get his FREE Softball Tips at http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-tips.html Go Sign-up Now!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
By Marc Dagenais
Here are the top 5 softball batting tee drills, in no particular order, and in my opinion. They are the ones that can really help turn you into an elite batter.
Drill 1 - Back Knee Down
Purpose: To develop upper-body strength and quickness. The drill helps the player stop lunging by eliminating lower-body movement. The drill can reduce upper cutting. It emphasizes keeping the barrel above the hands and using correct timing.
Procedure: Use a low T for this drill. The hitter kneels on a towel with the back knee at a 90-degree angle, keeping the shoulders on a level plane. The drill can also be done off a soft toss. The player sees the bat hit the ball.
Drill 2 - Bingo
Purpose: To develop a level swing and proper mechanics by offering instant feedback.
Procedure: Position two Ts at the same height with one directly behind the other. The batter drives the back ball into the front ball. The farther apart the Ts, the more difficult it is to hit the front ball because errors are magnified. The path of the hit provides quick feedback on the mechanics of the swing. If the hitter misses to the left, she has an outside-inside swing. If the hitter misses by going above, she is dropping her back shoulder. When successful, the hitter should yell "Bingo."
Drill 3 - Balance Beam
Purpose: To check balance during a swing.
Procedure: The hitter stands on a two-by-four or with both feet on the inner edge or a tire while hitting off the T. A hitter with good balance can stay on the beam throughout the swing.
Drill 4 - Look at Pitcher, Then Hit
Purpose: To practice refocusing from the pitcher to the point of contact.
Procedure: The batter at a T looks out at an imaginary pitcher and then refocuses on the T and takes a normal swing.
Drill 5 - Two Ts
Purpose: To concentrate on hitting to and through the ball on the sweet spot of the bat with a line drive contact.
Procedure: Two Ts are placed at the same height one directly in front of the other with a ball on each. The batter tries to drive the bat through the ball on the first T and into and through the ball on the second T.
Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that provides softball tips, softball drills, and information on techniques for hitting, pitching, coaching, and training through his blog at http://www.softballperformance.com/blog
He also 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. You can sign-up to get his FREE Softball Tips at http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-tips.html Go Sign-up Now!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
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!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
How Do You Handle Softball Hitting?
Hurricane Swing Trainer - HurricaneMachine.com
Softball is a game of life for some. It is what keeps others fueled up. It is a game wherein everybody is making their way to reach the top. It is really a great achievement if you put yourself into the limelight of the softball world.
Since softball is a wonderful diversion of life, it is very much important that you take time informing yourself about the latest and the newest learnings that you could use to survive the crucial sport event. There are a lot of ways now on how you could possibly get hold of the best softball hitting activities and drills. You just have to keep your mind's eye open for the possibilities that you could gain in your every search.
First you have your softball coach to train you. Aside from it is his major responsibility to help you in your training, it is still a must to consult him from time to time on what you should do to better your performance in softball hitting. You could approach him and ask some questions on the proper gripping of the softball bat, proper stance, stride and so on. These important skills should be known by you so that you will have that dream success in your every game performance.
Next, after the strenuous trainings that you and your coach have done and performed, you can still maximize your softball hitting training by researching more softball hitting techniques from the internet. For sure, there are several softball sites that are especially designed for softball players who want to learn more about their desired softball skill. Since you are a softball hitter, then you are most probably to be searching about the latest techniques about softball hitting. There are various coaches, as well as professional softball players who have already shared their ideas and experiences to the different sites in the internet so it pays a lot if you keep your patience on searching for them.
Afterwards, you have to put to heart to everything that you have known and learned. By keeping soulfully whatever skill that you have caught from different people and from various sources, you can definitely move on to the self-training. Yes, you also have to have your own softball hitting training. You don't just have to wait for the training that is called for by your coach. You have to take the initiative to train yourself by using all of the training techniques that you have learned. It is when you start having initiative that you can make the big difference.
Softball players really have a big responsibility. They have to keep themselves fit and vigorous at all times. Discipline is another factor when it comes to learning the different information about softball. If you want to learn, you should listen. Do not act as if you know everything. Remember, there are a lot of losers in this world because they don't know how to listen. Discipline and listening are interrelated. You have to bear in your mind and heart these two virtues because they will serve as your secret weapons to battle every challenge that will cross your softball hitting performance.
Check out the Hurricane Hitting Machine: Derek Jeter Series:
Hurricane Hitting Machine - Homepage
15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
Message to Parents From Coach Nick
Examples of Hurricane Hitting Drills
The Highly Acclaimed 20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
Hurricane Batting Machine Video Clips
Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine
Softball is a game of life for some. It is what keeps others fueled up. It is a game wherein everybody is making their way to reach the top. It is really a great achievement if you put yourself into the limelight of the softball world.
Since softball is a wonderful diversion of life, it is very much important that you take time informing yourself about the latest and the newest learnings that you could use to survive the crucial sport event. There are a lot of ways now on how you could possibly get hold of the best softball hitting activities and drills. You just have to keep your mind's eye open for the possibilities that you could gain in your every search.
First you have your softball coach to train you. Aside from it is his major responsibility to help you in your training, it is still a must to consult him from time to time on what you should do to better your performance in softball hitting. You could approach him and ask some questions on the proper gripping of the softball bat, proper stance, stride and so on. These important skills should be known by you so that you will have that dream success in your every game performance.
Next, after the strenuous trainings that you and your coach have done and performed, you can still maximize your softball hitting training by researching more softball hitting techniques from the internet. For sure, there are several softball sites that are especially designed for softball players who want to learn more about their desired softball skill. Since you are a softball hitter, then you are most probably to be searching about the latest techniques about softball hitting. There are various coaches, as well as professional softball players who have already shared their ideas and experiences to the different sites in the internet so it pays a lot if you keep your patience on searching for them.
Afterwards, you have to put to heart to everything that you have known and learned. By keeping soulfully whatever skill that you have caught from different people and from various sources, you can definitely move on to the self-training. Yes, you also have to have your own softball hitting training. You don't just have to wait for the training that is called for by your coach. You have to take the initiative to train yourself by using all of the training techniques that you have learned. It is when you start having initiative that you can make the big difference.
Softball players really have a big responsibility. They have to keep themselves fit and vigorous at all times. Discipline is another factor when it comes to learning the different information about softball. If you want to learn, you should listen. Do not act as if you know everything. Remember, there are a lot of losers in this world because they don't know how to listen. Discipline and listening are interrelated. You have to bear in your mind and heart these two virtues because they will serve as your secret weapons to battle every challenge that will cross your softball hitting performance.
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
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais
Sponsor Links:
Check out the Hurricane Hitting Machine: Derek Jeter Series:
Hurricane Hitting Machine - Homepage
15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
Message to Parents From Coach Nick
Examples of Hurricane Hitting Drills
The Highly Acclaimed 20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
Hurricane Batting Machine Video Clips
Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Softball Hitting Tips on Common Softball Hitting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
By Marc Dagenais
How well you react to the pitcher's throw increases your chances of hitting the ball or avoiding it if it's outside the strike zone.
But becoming a good batter is easier said than done. The truth is that, it's a lot more challenging to hit the ball when you're playing in front of a crowd, and the odds are stacked against your team.
The good thing is that, you can minimize the errors you commit on the batter's plate if you have a good grasp of softball hitting mechanics.
That's why I'm going to show you some of the most common softball hitting mistakes so you can avoid them in easy-breezy games or even in pressure-packed situations.
Let's begin.
No Follow Through
There's a tendency for a lot of players to cut their swing short as the ball makes contact with the bat. But doing this causes the ball to lose a lot of power.
Instead, follow through your swing by allowing your arms and the bat to complete the batting motion. This allows your body to transfer more power into the ball than you would by cutting your swing short.
Swinging with Your Arms
Your bat speed depends a lot on the strength of your arms and your shoulders. The stronger your arms and shoulders are, the faster you can swing the bat.
However, you cannot fully maximize your bat speed without the help of the proper position and motion from your legs and hips.
That is why you should keep in mind the way you bend your knees and how you rotate your hips when you're practicing your swings. Having a good training coach can help you with the best stance you can use to ensure you can hit the ball with maximum power once it hits the bat.
Gripping the Bat Tightly
You might not notice it but you could be gripping your bat tightly when waiting for the pitch. It could be because of habit or tension during the game, but the thing is that you lose a lot of power when you do this.
What you should do then is that you should train yourself to loosen your grip on the bat. Keep your grip just tight enough to prevent the bat from slipping from your hands. Also, remember to grip the bat with your fingers and not with the palm of your hands.
Failure to Anticipate the Ball
If you're a beginner, you might think that you should only react to the ball when it's already within your bat's reach. But by this time, you're already too late hit the softball with enough power, much less hit the ball altogether.
Instead, track the direction of the ball from the time it leaves the pitcher's hand. This will give you enough time to adjust your stance or your swing depending on how the pitcher released the ball.
Now that you're familiar with the most common softball hitting mistakes, I hope you'll become more aware of these next time you play and be able to avoid them from now on.
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!
How well you react to the pitcher's throw increases your chances of hitting the ball or avoiding it if it's outside the strike zone.
But becoming a good batter is easier said than done. The truth is that, it's a lot more challenging to hit the ball when you're playing in front of a crowd, and the odds are stacked against your team.
The good thing is that, you can minimize the errors you commit on the batter's plate if you have a good grasp of softball hitting mechanics.
That's why I'm going to show you some of the most common softball hitting mistakes so you can avoid them in easy-breezy games or even in pressure-packed situations.
Let's begin.
No Follow Through
There's a tendency for a lot of players to cut their swing short as the ball makes contact with the bat. But doing this causes the ball to lose a lot of power.
Instead, follow through your swing by allowing your arms and the bat to complete the batting motion. This allows your body to transfer more power into the ball than you would by cutting your swing short.
Swinging with Your Arms
Your bat speed depends a lot on the strength of your arms and your shoulders. The stronger your arms and shoulders are, the faster you can swing the bat.
However, you cannot fully maximize your bat speed without the help of the proper position and motion from your legs and hips.
That is why you should keep in mind the way you bend your knees and how you rotate your hips when you're practicing your swings. Having a good training coach can help you with the best stance you can use to ensure you can hit the ball with maximum power once it hits the bat.
Gripping the Bat Tightly
You might not notice it but you could be gripping your bat tightly when waiting for the pitch. It could be because of habit or tension during the game, but the thing is that you lose a lot of power when you do this.
What you should do then is that you should train yourself to loosen your grip on the bat. Keep your grip just tight enough to prevent the bat from slipping from your hands. Also, remember to grip the bat with your fingers and not with the palm of your hands.
Failure to Anticipate the Ball
If you're a beginner, you might think that you should only react to the ball when it's already within your bat's reach. But by this time, you're already too late hit the softball with enough power, much less hit the ball altogether.
Instead, track the direction of the ball from the time it leaves the pitcher's hand. This will give you enough time to adjust your stance or your swing depending on how the pitcher released the ball.
Now that you're familiar with the most common softball hitting mistakes, I hope you'll become more aware of these next time you play and be able to avoid them from now on.
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!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Indoor Softball Drills
By Becky Wittenburg
In many of the northern states softball practice has to begin before the weather outside is nice enough for practice. So, the first few practices have to be held indoors in a gymnasium. That’s okay because there are plenty of indoor softball drills that players can practice in order to get ready for the softball season.
Hitting
It’s impossible to get players any real batting practice against a live pitcher during indoor softball drills. However, players can begin to get themselves back into the hitting mode by hitting off a tee and taking batting practice off a pitching machine.
Hitting from a Tee
Many older players think it’s a waste of time to hit a softball off a tee. All the players can think about is when they were 6 years old and playing tee ball. Once the role of this drill is explained to the players, they see the usefulness of it and are willing do it.
While hitting off a tee a player should be concentrating on her stance and the position of her hands and arms. Then the player needs to make sure she steps forward with her front foot, keeps her back foot planted, and swings the bat well all the way through the ball. She also needs to be sure to keep her head down on the ball.
A coach can actually help a player be a better hitter by watching her swing while hitting off a tee and then correcting any areas that need correcting.
Hitting off a Machine
Pitching machines are a great tool for indoor softball drills. The speed can be set precisely so a player can get into a rhythm hitting the ball. During these hitting drills a player should try to hit the ball right back at the pitching machine.
Also, hitting off a pitching machine is a perfect opportunity for players to practice bunting. This is a lost art with most of today’s players. However, if they start practicing bunting indoors then they should be able to do it well enough in the games.
Fielding and Throwing
There is almost an unlimited amount of indoor softball drills players can do that involve fielding and throwing. These drills will help the players get into shape to play softball and the drills will also help a coach evaluate his players.
Fielding without Gloves
This drill requires players to field the ball in their bare hands without a glove. Players line-up in two lines facing each other. Then the first player in one of the lines rolls the ball to the first player in the other line. The player who rolled the ball runs to the back of the opposite line. Then the other player fields the ball and rolls it to the next player.
During this drill players should concentrate at getting square with the ball, bending with their knees, and cradling the ball into their bodies. It’s important that players not roll the ball too slowly or too fast. So a coach needs to monitor the drill to make sure the rolling is acceptable. A coach should also watch the drill to make adjustments to players’ fielding techniques.
Four Corners
This indoor drill requires players to stand at each corner of the gym. One player begins the drill by throwing the ball to the player at the diagonal corner of the gym. That player catches the ball and then throws to the player on the same side of the gym. Then the next throw goes diagonally again so that all four players have caught and thrown the ball.
Players should work on their “crow hop” while throwing the ball. They should also catch the ball with two hands and get the ball out of their glove quickly. This drill should be very crisp when it is practiced well.
The Benefits of Indoor Softball Drills
Indoor softball drills can pretty much simulate anything that a real game will throw a player’s way. In fact, many coaches like to begin the season practicing inside because it allows for more structure and it also helps the players to get closer because they are in a confined space. There are many great indoor softball drills that players can practice.
Coach Becky has been coaching softball for well over a decade. She's constantly on the lookout for new softball-spot.com indoor softball drills You can get instant access to a sample of her softball practice plans by visiting her website:
SoftballSpot.com
For a limited time, all coaches who visit Becky's site will also get a free copy of her special report: "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Softball Coaches Make". Go get your free copy today!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_Wittenburg
In many of the northern states softball practice has to begin before the weather outside is nice enough for practice. So, the first few practices have to be held indoors in a gymnasium. That’s okay because there are plenty of indoor softball drills that players can practice in order to get ready for the softball season.
Hitting
It’s impossible to get players any real batting practice against a live pitcher during indoor softball drills. However, players can begin to get themselves back into the hitting mode by hitting off a tee and taking batting practice off a pitching machine.
Hitting from a Tee
Many older players think it’s a waste of time to hit a softball off a tee. All the players can think about is when they were 6 years old and playing tee ball. Once the role of this drill is explained to the players, they see the usefulness of it and are willing do it.
While hitting off a tee a player should be concentrating on her stance and the position of her hands and arms. Then the player needs to make sure she steps forward with her front foot, keeps her back foot planted, and swings the bat well all the way through the ball. She also needs to be sure to keep her head down on the ball.
A coach can actually help a player be a better hitter by watching her swing while hitting off a tee and then correcting any areas that need correcting.
Hitting off a Machine
Pitching machines are a great tool for indoor softball drills. The speed can be set precisely so a player can get into a rhythm hitting the ball. During these hitting drills a player should try to hit the ball right back at the pitching machine.
Also, hitting off a pitching machine is a perfect opportunity for players to practice bunting. This is a lost art with most of today’s players. However, if they start practicing bunting indoors then they should be able to do it well enough in the games.
Fielding and Throwing
There is almost an unlimited amount of indoor softball drills players can do that involve fielding and throwing. These drills will help the players get into shape to play softball and the drills will also help a coach evaluate his players.
Fielding without Gloves
This drill requires players to field the ball in their bare hands without a glove. Players line-up in two lines facing each other. Then the first player in one of the lines rolls the ball to the first player in the other line. The player who rolled the ball runs to the back of the opposite line. Then the other player fields the ball and rolls it to the next player.
During this drill players should concentrate at getting square with the ball, bending with their knees, and cradling the ball into their bodies. It’s important that players not roll the ball too slowly or too fast. So a coach needs to monitor the drill to make sure the rolling is acceptable. A coach should also watch the drill to make adjustments to players’ fielding techniques.
Four Corners
This indoor drill requires players to stand at each corner of the gym. One player begins the drill by throwing the ball to the player at the diagonal corner of the gym. That player catches the ball and then throws to the player on the same side of the gym. Then the next throw goes diagonally again so that all four players have caught and thrown the ball.
Players should work on their “crow hop” while throwing the ball. They should also catch the ball with two hands and get the ball out of their glove quickly. This drill should be very crisp when it is practiced well.
The Benefits of Indoor Softball Drills
Indoor softball drills can pretty much simulate anything that a real game will throw a player’s way. In fact, many coaches like to begin the season practicing inside because it allows for more structure and it also helps the players to get closer because they are in a confined space. There are many great indoor softball drills that players can practice.
Coach Becky has been coaching softball for well over a decade. She's constantly on the lookout for new softball-spot.com indoor softball drills You can get instant access to a sample of her softball practice plans by visiting her website:
SoftballSpot.com
For a limited time, all coaches who visit Becky's site will also get a free copy of her special report: "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Softball Coaches Make". Go get your free copy today!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_Wittenburg
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