Baseball is a favorite sport among many people, but for others they wonder why it has become so popular. Lately you see the game really taking off overseas, and that leaves a lot of people confused at to how the game is played. If you would like to understand the game better, then keep reading for great tips about 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 playing infield and a groundball is hit, always go toward it. Don’t sit there and wait for the ball to come to you. This will help you have a much better chance of getting the batter out and your team will appreciate it. This also applies to outfielders as well.
To maximize the power of your batting stance, shift your weight to the back foot. Right-handed batters put weight on the right foot, which makes that thigh muscle tighten. As you swing, your rear foot will push through with power.
Practice your defense. Sure pitching and batting get all of the glory, but being a great defensive player is worth just as much to your team. The ability to save a run is just as valuable as the ability to create a run. Both are needed to win ball games.
When hitting make sure that your legs are in the right place. Proper athletic balance is important. Your legs need to be a bit wider than shoulder-width from each other. Flex your knees so that your weight is centered on the insides of your feet. Your knees need to be slightly bent toward one another.
Learn how to properly grip a bat. If you are right-handed, your left hand must be on the bottom with the right one on the top. The bats should be about 6 inches from your chest. Hold the bat up instead of on your shoulders. Spread your legs about a shoulder-width apart. Don’t stand straight up. Stand with knees slightly bent to avoid feeling stiff.
When catching a fly ball, use both hands on the glove. It may be tempting just to use your glove hand, but that may lead to an unforeseen error if you’re careless. Your better bet is to position yourself under the ball, and trap the ball in your glove with your free hand once it hits the glove.
When running the bases, don’t ignore the signs that your base coaches are giving you. They can see the entire field. Make sure your focus is on running the bases rather than on the ball. Let the coaches be your eyes. When they indicate you should stop, do so at the base closest to you. If they want you to keep running, don’t hesitate.
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.
Your glove makes a great sun shield whenever the ball is headed towards you and you are blinded by the sun. Just hold it above your eyes and adjust so you can catch the ball there.
It is important that you care for your baseball glove. A baseball glove should be broken in before you try to use it in a game. This means working the leather and applying conditioning oil to the glove. The conditioner helps the glove be more flexible which allows you to close the glove easier.
Baseball bats come in a variety of lengths, weights and sizes. Consider your height and strength when choosing a bat. A longer bat gives you more reach, while a heavier bat adds power. The size of your hands can help you determine the right diameter for your bat. Swing a few different baseball bats before deciding which one feels the most comfortable for you.
When it is time to bat, you must know how to line up correctly at home base. Your body should be facing home plate. Plant your feet about shoulder width apart and slightly bend your knees. Extend the baseball bat to the plate to ensure that the tip of it lines up with the farthest side of the base.
Watch a right-handed pitchers left foot so you do not get thrown out on first. When the pitcher picks his foot up and it goes behind the rubber, it must be pitched or a balk is committed and the runner gets to move to second base.
You don’t want the coach at third base reading your signs when you’re the catcher. Therefore, you should hold your catchers mitt open and covering your left knee. This keeps the third-base coach from being able to see your signs and relaying them to the batter so he knows the pitch.
Many pitchers prefer a two seam fastball. With this type of fastball, the middle finger and index finger is placed on the seam of the baseball. The thumb is placed between the two seams at the bottom of the ball. This allows the ball to spin seamlessly through the air resulting in a fast ball.
After reading the above article, there is no reason why you can’t love the game of baseball. The tips in the article should have given you a boost to want to go outside and play the game, or watch it on television. Pass the tips to friends so you have someone to enjoy the sport with!
