Have you ever been curious about baseball? Well you probably are because you wouldn’t be here right now. Maybe you’re just confused about the rules or don’t understand why people enjoy it so much? No matter your reasons for being here, your curiosity has told you that baseball is a sport you want to learn more about. Keep reading to learn some interesting baseball tid-bits.
There is no magic stance for hitting a baseball. You should stand in a comfortable position with your shoulders parallel to your body and your toes pointed towards home base. Avoid trying to imitate another players stance if it doesn’t feel comfortable. Figure out your most comfortable batting position when you’re not holding the bat.
If you are a coach, there are things you can do to keep your players motivated. Pizza parties and the like go far in helping a team bond. Most of all, teach your team that it’s just a game and a loss is not the end of the world.
When hitting, make sure you put your weight on the back foot more than the front. Why? Your body acts like a coil when hitting. When you go to hit the ball with your weight properly managed, your body will unload like a spring. That gives you a ton more power.
Learning how to throw is vital to playing baseball. It does not matter if you are playing infield or outfield, you must know how to accurately throw the ball. To throw accurately, line where you want to the ball up with your hand and follow through from your shoulder.
Remember that baseball is only a game. Yes, it may be important to you and your team, but you don’t want to let it get you down. Even if you make a mistake, if you keep positive there’s always a chance to correct that mistake. But if you let it bother you, chance are you’ll make another mistake.
One of the best things you can do before any game is to drink plenty of water. Baseball is generally played during the Spring and Summer months, meaning the weather is quite warm. Baseball players use a lot of energy running bases and running after balls. Therefore, it is important that you stay hydrated to avoid a heat stroke.
While in a comfortable batting position, keep your arms away from your body. Your elbows should be up and away, practically parallel to the ground. Hold the bat at shoulder level and make sure you don’t drop your rear elbow. Practice your stance in front of a large mirror to ensure that your elbows are properly positioned.
Pay attention to where all other players are. A lot of collisions can be prevented by just knowing where all players are all the time. Serious head injuries may occur when players collide. The easiest way to keep away from collisions is to call for the baseball when you go after it.
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 fielding a ground ball, square up on the ball before catching. Many young players go for a side glove catch or a one-handed grab, but with each you are increasing your chances for an error. If you’ve got the time to get in front of the ball, do so. Use both hands and bend at the knees to help block against a bad hop.
If you are a third base coach, there are certain things you have to attend to. For example, you have to decide whether to send runners home or hold them at third base. You must let runners know if they should slide into third or come in standing. You need to assist the runners by informing them when to run and remind them of how many outs there are.
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.
You must learn to stretch to reach the ball when you are playing the first base position. Reach toward the ball as you step with the other foot, making sure that one foot remains on the base at all times.
Baseball equipment is important to the sport. Wear a batting helmet whenever you are in the batter’s box, on deck or running the bases. A baseball is a hard object and pitches have been clocked at over 100 mph. Getting hit in the head with this fast moving object can lead to serious medical conditions or death.
To keep a left-handed pitcher from picking you off at first base, keep an eye on his right foot. As soon as it passes back across the rubber, he has to pitch it. If he throws it to first, it’s a balk. If he brings the foot straight up, he is likely to throw it to first.
Baseball gloves are not cheap, so it’s important to take care of your glove. Routine maintenance includes keeping your glove clean and dry and storing it in a cool, dry area. Occasionally, you should condition your glove. If your glove accidentally gets wet, allow it to air dry and apply leather conditioner to soften it.
Now that you read the above article, you should be confused about baseball anymore. It really is just a simple game between two teams of 9, and you can enjoy it even more by studying the tips you just read. Keep them close by, and soon you will see how much this game means to you.
