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	505 - DRILLS AND TIPS TO IMPROVE HITTING The main ingredient to improve hitting requires perfect technique followed by repetition. Developing good basic skills for hitting is perhaps the easiest skill to work on. Simply, because one can practice in a relatively small area, with the proper game plan. Developing a program to improve hitting: 1. Learn your own batting style by breaking it down into different phases and work on one phase at a time. 2 Concentrate on one phase at a time, while letting the other phases happen naturally. Keep practice sessions short. About five minutes are best. This will avoid fatigue that could cause you to develop bad habits. 3. Just swinging the bat is important. The more times your practice the swing, the more you will understand your own style and will be able to make adjustments to the different pitches. 4.Use the drills suggest below if the equipment is readily available. If not just practice in front of a mirror. Stance and Pivot Drill: This drill is good for team practices. By having all the players participate and the coaches simulate throwing from a mound to all the players that are in a single line. 1. Place a bat behind you back held in position by gripping the bat between both elbows. 2. Assume your normal stance. 3. Check your stance, before every swing. 4. Visualise the ball being thrown and make your inward turn as the ball would be approaching the contact zone. The only body movement should be your shoulders and your hips about three inches. Keep the rest of your body quiet. 5. After the above has been mastered, continue on by striding about twelve inches. Remember to trigger (back shoulder moves back slightly replacing the movement of the hands for this drill.) Note: During the stride your feet should slide forward as the hips explode and are pointing directly square with the pitcher. While your head remains still, eyes down focusing into the contact zone. 6. Repeat this drill about twenty times (each practice session) visualising a different pitch and location each time. AHEAD TO 506 RETURN TO 500 CONTENTS

505 - DRILLS AND TIPS TO IMPROVE HITTING

The main ingredient to improve hitting requires perfect technique followed by repetition. Developing good basic skills for hitting is perhaps the easiest skill to work on. Simply, because one can practice in a relatively small area, with the proper game plan.

Developing a program to improve hitting:
1. Learn your own batting style by breaking it down into different phases and
    work on one phase at a time.
2 Concentrate on one phase at a time, while letting the other phases happen
    naturally. Keep practice sessions short. About five minutes are best. This
    will avoid fatigue that could cause you to develop bad habits.
3. Just swinging the bat is important. The more times your practice the swing,
    the more you will understand your own style and will be able to make
    adjustments to the different pitches.
4.Use the drills suggest below if the equipment is readily available. If not just
    practice in front of a mirror.

Stance and Pivot Drill:
This drill is good for team practices. By having all the players participate and
the coaches simulate throwing from a mound to all the players that are in a
single line.
1. Place a bat behind you back held in position by gripping the bat between
     both elbows.
2. Assume your normal stance.
3. Check your stance, before every swing.
4. Visualise the ball being thrown and make your inward turn as the ball would
     be approaching the contact zone. The only body movement should be your
     shoulders and your hips about three inches. Keep the rest of your body
     quiet.
5. After the above has been mastered, continue on by striding about twelve
    inches. Remember to trigger (back shoulder moves back slightly replacing
    the movement of the hands for this drill.) Note: During the stride your feet
    should slide forward as the hips explode and are pointing directly square
    with the pitcher. While your head remains still, eyes down focusing into the
    contact zone.
6. Repeat this drill about twenty times (each practice session) visualising a
    different pitch and location each time.

AHEAD TO 506 RETURN TO 500 CONTENTS