Have you ever played baseball before? Maybe not but you’re just a really good fan? Perhaps you don’t know how to play but want some information to help you follow the game? No matter your reasons for being here, the following article has something for everyone to learn about baseball, so keep reading!
There is a lot of sprinting in baseball. Whether you need to steal a base or run to home plate, sprinting is essential. To help increase the speed of your sprinting, run short drills. Time yourself running from home plate to first base. When you begin, power off to gain the maximum speed.
You need to remember safety when playing any sport. There are many ways injuries occur on the baseball field. Avoid injury, by always knowing where specifically the ball is. A surprise ball can cause some real damage to you if you’re not careful. Also, when a player is sliding into your base, your legs may become injured.
Always wear protective equipment when playing baseball. Just like any sport, injuries happen in baseball. Especially when batting, you need to protect your head. That means you need to wear a helmet whenever you enter the batter’s box. One poor pitch can mean a fastball hitting you in the noggin. That’s at minimum a ringing headache with the potential for a concussion or worse. Be safe.
If you’re into stealing bases, practice taking leads off of bases. Taking leads means you need to know not only your own speed, but also the speed of the pitcher’s pick off move, the speed of his delivery to the plate, and the speed and accuracy of the catcher’s arm. There’s a lot to consider that’ll affect how much lead you take.
Pick the right bat. Pick out one that is not too heavy for you. Beginners should use lighter bats. It is pretty rare to see someone swing a bat that is “too light” because there is a trick called “choking up” to make bats lighter. This involves placing hands about an inch or two up the bat.
When coaching baseball, it’s important that your practice schedule is solid so all players are aware of what’s happening and are able to set personal goals. Do a warm up for at least ten minutes and then 20 minutes of individual and team drills focused on hitting. Base running for 5 minutes and 10 minutes of team defense are great inclusions. After all this ten minutes can be spent on defense drills along with a cool down period. Team meetings can occur before or after practice.
Practice bunting, even if you are a power hitter. Bunting is a bit of a lost art in baseball. The idea is to simply tap the ball into play, taking the infield, pitcher and catcher off-guard. This is a smart tactic to move a teammate over from first to second or to even score an infield hit. A power hitter bunting is so unexpected that it really can be effective.
If you are playing shortstop, you must learn how to stop ground balls. The technique that works for this type of ball is to place your baseball glove perpendicular to the ground. This allows you to scoop up the ball in one smooth action. Gently squeeze the glove as the ball hits your glove to catch it.
Build repetition into any practice drills that you are doing. To get good at anything, you need to repeat it. In baseball that means repeating at bats over and over. It means shagging fly balls again and again. It means running a double play drill until you dream of it. Only then will you begin to master the skills.
Keep baseball cards in plastic sleeves to keep them in mint condition. These protectors lets you to see the card without exposing them to air. To help prevent fading, minimize light exposure. Mint condition cards are worth significantly more.
Players of the infield must perfect double plays. Double plays are a pitcher’s best friend. Double plays can pop up in a huge variety of different situations; good infielders are always ready for them. Keep repeating these drills until they come natural.
Always remember when out in the outfield to make sure you call the ball if you plan to make the catch. As well, you must also listen for other fielders to be sure that you’re not trying to take a catch they have called. Also, if you happen to be the center fielder, you’re call overrules another simultaneous call.
Learn how to throw different types of pitches. With each type of pitch, the ball is held slightly different. For example, with a knuckle ball the middle finger is extended down one of the seams of the ball. The index finger is bent and placed on the other seam. When the ball is thrown in this manner, the ball curves as it gets to the plate.
Bat speed is everything when you are trying to become a better hitter. Therefore, it’s important to build your upper body strength right? Well, yes, but your power swing also comes from your legs. In other words, those full body workouts and batting practice are what is going to help you increase your bat speed for those home runs.
After reading the above article, you are now able to follow a game of baseball more closely. The tips in this article should give you motivation to be a better baseball fan, and really pay close attention the next time a game is on. Remember to keep learning about the game so your enjoyment only continues to grow.
