How To Hit A Baseball

Learning how to hit a baseball is one of the most challenging skills in all of sports. In fact, Ted Williams called hitting a baseball the most difficult sports skill. At the major league level, a hitter has about two fifths of a second to react from the time the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. He must determine whether the pitch is a strike or a ball as well as the trajectory of the baseball. In order for the batter to hit a line drive, he must hit an area on the baseball about the size of a dime with a spot on the bat that is about the same size!

Skilled pitchers can make a baseball curve, drop like a rock, or move at the last instant. Given this difficult set of circumstances, it is a wonder anyone can hit a baseball with any degree of consistency. And yet, a good many athletes are able to do so. Star baseball players like Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols are able to earn their living by regularly hitting the toughest pitchers on the planet.

While being able to hit a baseball with consistency is difficult, it is also a fun and rewarding task worth accomplishing. Good hitters are made not born. It is true that certain players are gifdted with great eye sight and superior hand and eye coordination. But almost any aspiring hitter can greatly improve their results by dedicating themselves to constant practice and adopting an optimal approach to each at bat. Let's first take a look at the role practice plays in developing a good hitter.

If you are like me, you probably have fond memories of a father or mother or other caring adult tossing you wiffle balls in the backyard when you were very young. You would struggle mightily to strike that plastic ball with your little plastic bat. When you finally did manage to make contact, everyone would go wild with glee as you aimlessly ran around the yard. Such are the humble beginnings of most baseball players. Some rise through the ranks of the little leagues, high school, and college ball. A select few make it into professional baseball and some even ascend to the major leagues. The common thread for all is developing a love of the game of baseball and hitting a ball in particular.

The love of the game and the love of hitting are the first keys in learning to hit a baseball well. You must have a burning desire to get better and better. If you want to develop into a great hitter you must eat, sleep, and dream baseball. This is what will cause you to put in the time and effort needed to hone your skills. Each swing you take can make you a better hitter. A player with lesser skills can often develop into a superior hitter through outstanding dedication. Pete Rose was not the most naturally talented hitter. But Pete recorded more hits than any other ballplayer in the history of Major League Baseball. No one out hustled "Charlie Hustle".

While it is vitally important to practice your hitting, it is also important to practice the right way. Work on developing bat control and hitting the ball to all fields. Your power will come after you have made yourself into a good spray hitter. Even such a noted slugger as Reggie Jackson said that he knew his swing was coming around when he started driving the ball to the opposite field. If you have a tendency to pull the ball, your opponents will note this and try to pitch you accordingly.

Try to get in as many swings as you can against live pitching or a pitching machine, but also incorporate bat control games into your routine. The once popular game of "pepper" is a great way to develop bat control. To play pepper you simply need a batter and several fielders standing in a line about ten to fifteen feet away. The fielders soft toss the ball to the batter who raps the ball back to the fielders on one hop. This develops batting and fielding skills. Once you and your pals get a feel for this warm up game you can try countless variations. If no one is around try playing pepper by yourself with a tennis ball and a brick wall. You can really develop hand and eye coordination once you get good at this game. You will also develop your lungs and legs chasing the tennis ball while learning this solitary game.

Baseballs best hitters are the most relaxed hitters. Take note of hitters like Vladimir Guerrero or Robinson Cano. Notice how relaxed they look while batting. Relaxed muscles in your hands, arms, and entire body allow you to react quicker to the pitch. If you ever see and video clips of the great Roberto Clemente wandering up to the plate you will be witnessing the ultimate in a relaxed hitter. You can not hit well if you are grinding the bat handle into sawdust waiting for the pitch to arrive. Be relaxed in your stance an snap into the pitch when it arrives.

Now what does all this boil down to? In a word, it is confidence. If you put in the time and dedication to become a good hitter you will be able to stand at the plate relaxed and confident. This relaxed, confident approach will allow you to become an even better hitter. This can become a virtuous cycle that allows you to become an increasingly better hitter. Learning how to hit a baseball is a skill that can be developed. It takes a combination of natural ability, relentless practice, and a relaxed and confident approach. If you want to become a good hitter you can. You can become the best hitter on your Little League team, your high school squad, or your college team. If you have great determination and dedication, you may even make it to the big leagues. The majors are full of ballplayers just like you who put in the time and effort to become one of the best.