Although millions of people around the world already know what makes baseball great, others are rather mystified by this athletic pastime. If baseball is a mystery to your and you want answers, is is the right place. Read on to learn more about the greatness of baseball.
Learn how to hit a ball without chasing it by using a batting cage. A batting cage allows you to hit the ball as hard as you can without worrying about an errant ball going through a window. The batting cage has mesh sides so the ball is easily recovered.
If you’re trying out for a new team, make sure you’re on time! Always strive to be at least fifteen minutes early for each tryout, as well as any practices and games. Nothing will hurt you more than showing up late to a tryout. And if you show up early, it can only help you.
If you are a catcher, be sure you are in the proper position when no one is on base. This means getting into a low squat and balancing your weight on your feet’s balls. Get as close to the underside of the bat as possible, but be sure you will not get hit.
When batting, don’t be afraid to take a few pitches, especially against a pitcher you are less familiar with. Those pitches will give you an idea of the pitchers speed and the ball’s action to the plate. Plus, the additional pitches will help wear out the pitcher over the course of the game. A tired pitcher makes more mistakes.
Practice as often as possible to maximize your potential. Generally speaking, a good baseball practice should consist of a ten minute warm-up followed by twenty minutes of team and individual hitting drills. After that, five minutes of base running and ten minutes of situational drills and team defense are good. Finish up with ten minutes of drills on position-specific defense and a cool down time. After that have a team meeting and that’s all there is to it.
Do you know how to steal a base? If a bad pitch is thrown, it is time to take off towards the next base. However, make sure that you have enough time to get to the base before taking off. Otherwise, you may get an unnecessary out for your team.
Learn the best way to stride in baseball. If you’re right-handed, use your left leg to pick it up a bit when the pitch is released. This is the reverse for left-handers. As the pitch approaches, begin striding ahead approximately a foot so that you have momentum heading to the pitcher. If you’re a child or a smaller adult, you may stride a less than twelve inches.
Practice throwing the baseball every day. It may seem obvious, but some ignore throwing for the call of the batter’s cage. They think baseball is all about the big hit. It’s about much more, and a strong arm can mean a lot of runs saved over the course of a season.
If you lose a ball game, congratulate the opposing team with sincerity and dignity. Baseball is not a sport for poor losers. It’s very much a team sport and camaraderie. If winning wasn’t in the cards today, work harder to beat them the next time. Never take it out on the opposing team through name calling or rudeness.
To help you stay focused on the ball when running towards it, run on your tiptoes. If you run and allow your heel to hit the ground, you will jar your body. This jarring will make your eyes lose focus on the ball. To keep this from happening run on your tiptoes.
To throw a curve ball, place both your index and middle fingers along a seam of the baseball. As you throw the pitch, slide your fingers down toward the ground in a clockwise direction if you are right-handed (counterclockwise if you are left-handed). This motion gives the pitch its curve.
Try a little choke on the bat to improve your swing speed. Choking up is when your hands move up the bat’s base some so that you get them closer to the barrel of the bat. This will tighten up your swing and make it quicker. This is especially beneficial if the pitcher is throwing fast balls.
Listen to your whole body when you pitch. Many shoulder injuries occur when a pitcher overuses his arm. You should only practice pitching about three times every week to make sure you don’t overexert yourself. This gives your shoulder time to rest on those alternate days, helping you prevent injuries.
Keep your baseball cards in mint condition by protecting them with card holders. This will prevent air from ruining them. Keep them out of direct light to avoid fading. Cards in mint condition are worth a lot more.
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.
Fuel is vital when you are playing the game of baseball. This means you need to eat plenty of protein both the day of and the day before your game. Eat foods with complex carbohydrates a couple hours before gametime for some added energy.
Be accessible to your teammates. Teams only go so far as their teamwork will take them. And teamwork starts with being open and accessible to everyone on the squad. Even if you normally wouldn’t be friends with someone, it should take a back seat to building a team atmosphere for the sake of camaraderie and winning.
You should know why people like baseball. Baseball is an easy game once you understand the basic techniques. If the need arises, use these concepts regularly as a refresher course.
