Five Tips For A Better Baseball Game
Baseball requires many physical skills, from throwing and catching to pitching and batting. To improve your game, practice is necessary. Focus on making the most from your drills, and use your best form while in practice. Below are a few tips to keep in mind that will help improve your overall baseball game.
Tip 1: Throwing the Ball
Grip the baseball with your index and middle finger along the long seams of the baseball, with your thumb beneath for support. Square up your shoulders with your target, move towards the target, and then throw with a three-quarter arm action. Your followthrough should be a smooth arc down and across to the opposite side of your body. This will allow your arm to slow down after releasing the ball.
Tip 2: Fielding the Ball
Keep your feet spread and squat down for good balance and to keep the ball from going between your legs when fielding a grounder. Always keep your glove before you so can block the ball and watch it go into the glove.
Tip 3: Catching Fly Balls
Try to get under and behind the ball so you can see the ball and quickly get into your stride to throw to your target. Lift your glove up with your glove thumb pointing up. As the ball approaches, move your glove to where the ball will land. Then catch the ball above your shoulder with a bend in your elbow to help cushion the impact. Once the ball hits your glove, immediately close it, and put your other hand over the opening of the glove so the ball won’t pop out.
Tip 4: Pitching
Focus on consistent strikes with good mechanics to reduce the chances of arm injury. Don’t throw every pitch with the same speed. Try to keep the batter confused and their timing off. Learn to get late movement in your pitches. Proper throwing techniques will help you achieve your best performance while reducing your risk of injury.
Tip 5: Batting Stance
Generally, you want a parallel stance with your feet spread about six to eight inches wider than the shoulders, the front foot opened slightly towards the pitcher at about 45 degrees. Your toes should be pointed inward slightly to help your balance. Check that your hips and shoulders are level, with the front shoulder tucked in slightly toward the plate. Keep your head steady, eyes level and your chin tucked in on your front shoulder. Keep your bat angle about midway between horizontal and vertical. Experiment with different stances to see what works best for you.
Of course, the most important tip of them all is to practice, practice, practice!
Although these tips just scratch the surface of the game, they will help your efforts in becoming a better baseball player. Good luck!
