As an athlete in the field, we all want to perform like gods in their highest powers – a runner wants to outrun the light; a footballer wants to hit the ball out of the sight; ask a swimmer, and you might hear her dream of swimming like a sea wave; and all that a baseball player wants is to hit that ball so it makes a hole in the ISS. Such a humble dream right? But where most batters dream of hitting the ball at the pace of a bullet, most fail. The reason? Wrong techniques. Don’t worry if you are not able to hit it rightly. Every batter goes through this beginner’s tunnel.
There are several reasons why a car is not turning on; similarly, there are several reasons why you are not able to hit the ball out of the park. Here are a few common ones:
Stance and Swing Mechanics
One of the most important factors in hitting home runs is having a strong and balanced stance. If you stand weirdly and wildly, and forget about hitting the ball out of the park, you can even fail to touch the ball. Stance in sports is sheer science. So, what is the right stance in baseball? Well, make sure your feet are shoulder-width apart and your weight is evenly distributed between them. This will keep your center of mass at the right point. Also, keep your knees slightly bent and your body relaxed.
Now, when it comes to swinging the bat, most athletes think that it is the muscles in their hands that fuel the ball. Note this - when you swing, focus on keeping your hands and arms close to your body and using your hips to generate power. Don't try to muscle the ball – instead, let your body do the work. This will be efficient and powerful as well.
Timing and Pitch Recognition
Now, once you’ve got the stance that you need, it is time to time your shot. You might have an excellent stance and swing, but timing is everything. The key to hitting home runs is being able to recognize and time pitches effectively. Pay attention to the pitcher's windup and release point, and try to pick up on any patterns or tendencies they may have. What you might want to start with is to practice tracking pitches by watching the ball all the way into the catcher's glove. This will help you anticipate the pitch and adjust your swing accordingly. Apart from it, it is also necessary to have quality sporting goods. This will take a bit of your burden. If cost is an issue for you, you may check a few eBay alternatives to counter the cost.
Strength and Conditioning
But you don’t want to hit just one home run and stop. Right? To hit homerun after homerun requires a combination of power and technique. And to improve your power, focus on building strength in your core, legs, and upper body. You may get this done by incorporating a few exercises. Include squats, deadlifts, and bench presses into your workout routine. And here is another secret - work on your explosiveness by doing plyometric exercises like box jumps and medicine ball throws.
Mental Preparation
Ever noticed why an experience and elite professional goes through days full of zero performance? It is the ruined mental state. They say that you can move even mountains through mental strength alone. Although it is not literally true, what they mean is that you need to be mentally strong. Hitting home runs is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Before stepping up to the plate, take a few deep breaths and visualize yourself hitting the ball out of the park. If you’ve trained yourself well on the above points, be confident, focus on your technique, and trust in your abilities. Don't let nerves or pressure get in the way of your performance.
A player reaches god mode after years and years of practice in the tiniest of areas possible. So, go out, sweat yourself, and see the change happening.
About the Creator
Shivam
Helping people communicate complex ideas using storytelling
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