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Baseball Hitting Tips and Mechanics

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What does it take to be a great hitter?
It's obvious Edgar Martinez, Tony Gwynn, and George Brett have all discovered the answer.
What about the rest of us? How do we maximize our potential and become great hitters?

Be Willing To Try Things Out

Since you love playing baseball, your goal is to become a better hitter. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone will give you advice and hitting tips. Whether qualified or not many people believe they are qualified to provide hitting instruction. Your job is to take all the advice and weed out everything that doesn't fit your hitting style. How do you know what to weed out? There are certain fundamentals common to all good hitters. Use those fundamentals as your building blocks, then be open to other advice. Try out different ways of hitting, different stances, different approaches, different hitting drills. If something works for you, keep it; if it doesn't, throw it out. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses, incorporate these into how you practice, and how you approach each at bat. If you want to be a great hitter, there's no substitute for desire and hard work, both mentally and physically. Don't be satisfied with a certain average or other statistics. There's always something that can be improved.

Hitting Instruction

As a coach, one of your jobs is to improve the hitting on your team.
It's said that hitting a baseball is the most difficult skill in all sports; not surprisingly, giving hitting instruction is also one of the most difficult skills a coach has to learn. Teaching baseball hitting is difficult because every player is different in the many combination of skills required to hit a baseball. While teaching infield or outfield skills, you can run the same drills and teach everyone uniformly. However, with hitting, each player will require his own set of instructions and hitting drills to maximize his/her understanding and potential. Like hitting itself, teaching hitting will require a lot of hard work and study. Too many coaches want to apply a cookie cutter approach to hitting instruction. That approach will not work since every player has his own style at the plate. Watch a single Major League Baseball game and you'll see a wide variety of hitting styles and approaches. As a coach you're going to have to be able to differentiate the aspects of hitting for each player and apply changes to help that particular aspect of the swing.
The first piece of advice would be to avoid drastic changes in a player's hitting style until you know what that player can and can't do. Except for very young players, they're hitting the way they are for a reason. If you change them right away, you won't know why they had adopted the style they had.
For example: I saw a coach who in the first practice noticed that a player was hitting with a very open stance. The player was struggling during batting practice to make contact. The coach believed that a square or slightly closed stance was better. Immediately he changed the player's stance. What he didn't know and didn't take time to find out was the player's dominant eye was his right eye. He had developed an open stance over time in order to be able to see the ball better. Now there are many great players at all levels that hit with an open stance, but for some reason this coach wanted to mold everyone into the stance he believed to be the best. This particular hitter couldn't hit well with that stance and struggled for the early part of the season before he finally abandoned the coach's instructions and went back to an open stance.
So what are the morals of the story? Here are a few.

Be Open Minded When You Work on Hitting With a Player

Why would a player like that stance? Not sure, ask him.

Take Your Time As You Work On Hitting With A Player

Many times coaches feel like they have to have the answer immediately. When a player struggles, the coach may feel the need to correct the problem. It can't always be done; actually, it almost never can be done as quickly as the coach would like. Analyze the problem. Assume that what you perceive as the problem isn't the problem. What else is the player doing that could cause the problem? In the example above, the player may not have been tracking the ball, may have been too far away from the plate, may have been just too rusty.

This is a good time to talk about video taping your hitters. If you don't videotape your hitters, you're missing out on one of the best ways to figure out how to turn them into good hitters. Tape hitters, analyze the tapes, and then review the tape with the player. Often players can't feel that they are doing something wrong. You may tell them that they are dropping their hands below the waist before the swing, but they won't feel it. Videotapes don't lie. You can show them exactly what their swing looks like and come up with some drills to make modifications.
Before you get worried that you have to come up with different strategies for each hitter, there is some good news. There are certain fundamentals that are shared by good hitters. A coach often falls into the trap of being too concerned with what a hitter is doing before the ball is even pitched and not enough attention to what the hitter is doing after the ball is released from the pitchers hand.
When you learn the fundamentals that are shared by good hitters, you'll be able to take that videotape of your hitters and make very small changes necessary to turn a hitter around. Don't try to change everything at once. Make small adjustments and have the player practice that new skill until it's natural. Then move on.
In the next few pages, we'll cover the fundamentals of good hitting. Often we'll give a variety of different methods. Hopefully this will provide you with the necessary information to help you help your players.

Baseball Hitting Drills

There are many good hitting drills that you can use in our baseball drills section.

Baseball Hitting - Selecting a Bat

Try Different Brands and Sizes of Bats

When you select a bat, make sure you select one you can handle with confidence. During one of the first practices, many players will grab a bat that initially feels good or that some other player likes and will use that bat the entire year. However, players should hit with a number of different bats during practice to determine what bat gives them the correct feel.

Length, Weight, Bat Drop

Many charts, used to determine proper bat size, use player weight and height to determine the proper bat length. While these two factors are important, other characteristics are missing. The bat length, weight, grip, brand, and whether the player likes to choke up on the bat are all important factors when determining whether a bat has a good feel in the players hand.
Bat drop is the difference between the length and weight of the bat. A 30"/18oz. bat has a bat drop of -12. A 30"/23oz. bat has a bat drop of -7. The higher the bat drop the easier it is to swing and the more you will pay for the bat. When purchasing a bat it can be an important factor in determining the size to purchase. A player may not be able to use a 30"/23oz., but may be fine with a 30"/18oz. If you are going to purchase a lower drop, be aware that the player may need a shorter bat.
Choking up will also have an effect on the bat size you will want to purchase. A player that chokes up an inch will be able to handle a longer bat than a player that doesn't.
The table below will give you a general idea based on height and weight of what size bat would work. In addition you must take into account the other information described above in picking out a bat.
Here are a couple of examples to give you an idea (chart is colored in to show where the range would fall):

Aluminum Or Wood?

If you coach a youth team, this may not be an issue as many youth leagues no longer allow wood bats to be used.
Older players often believe that wood bats can give them an edge; (they watch major league players hit home runs with wood bats). With all bat characteristics being equal (except for type), aluminum bats do provide more power than wood bats. But, even though I wouldn't stock wood bats in the team bag each year, I also wouldn't discourage players from using a wood bat if they like them.

Should Players Wear Batting Gloves When Hitting?

As with the selection of a bat, all players are different. Some will like the feeling of the glove(s) and some will prefer the feel of the bat without the gloves. As a coach, I would encourage rather than discourage the use of batting gloves. The simple reason is one of comfort. Hitters may develop blisters on their hands from constant motion and swinging; wearing batting gloves can protect against the development or continued irritation of blisters.

Hitting Approach

Know Yourself

How do you step in the box?
Many players don't get prepared for an at bat until they slip on a helmet. Getting ready to hit at any at bat must first start during practice. We're not talking about the mechanics of the swing (which will be discussed later), but as a hitter, you must know your strengths and weaknesses.
Possible Strengths/Weaknesses:

• Quick or slow bat?
• Tough time handling the inside heat?
• Tough time with breaking pitches?
• Uncertain about personal strike zone?

When you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can incorporate them into your approach at the plate.
This process is not only important during practice but it's essential to recognize during each at bat in order to be successful.

Know Your Opponent

Players should study the opposing pitcher prior to the game, during between inning warmups, and while he is pitching to other hitters.
Things to look for:

• What pitches is he throwing?
• How is his control?
• What pitches is he throwing for strikes?
• What pitches does he seem to struggle?
• What type of delivery does he have?
• What are his strength?

Strategy

Apply what you observe and develop a plan for this particular pitcher. For instance, perhaps he primarily throws fastballs; while you hit fastballs well, he throws hard and you have difficulty getting around on a hard inside fastball. Knowing this, your plan may be to look for a fastball middle or away, trying to drive it up the middle or take it the other way. If he throws a fastball inside, take the pitch until you have two strikes. By doing this you will swing at fastballs that you know you can handle, and you won't be striding too early because you're worried about getting around on the inside heat. This also has the added bonus of allowing you to adjust to his off-speed pitches.
Don't be afraid of going deep into the count or of striking out.

Know The Situation

Great players (notice we didn't say hitters) always know the game situation and what they need to do to help their team in a particular situation. It really comes down to your willingness to sacrifice stats for the team when the situation dictates. This may entail laying down a sacrifice bunt or moving a runner forward by hitting behind him or taking a strike so a baserunner can try to get into scoring position by stealing second.
The game situation may fit with your strategy that you are using against this pitcher or it may dictate that you try something else. Make sure you have taken everything into account when you approach the plate. Each team gets a limited number of outs during a game; don't waste this one.

Be A Tough Out

No matter what the strategy, situation, or the pitcher, always strive to be a tough out. This means you battle when you are at the plate. You don't swing at bad pitches. You foul off tough pitches. To be a tough out, you need to take a different approach when you have two strikes on you. The main thing you want to do is shorten your swing slightly. It doesn't mean that you won't swing hard, but it does mean that your swing is taken down a notch. This allows you to wait a split second longer before committing.

Gripping The Bat

Loosen Up

Tension is your worst enemy when it comes to a fluid swing. Tension throughout the body is often the direct result of gripping the bat incorrectly. A player with a relaxed grip on the bat will be able to react faster and wait longer on a pitch than a player with a death grip on the bat. You want to be relaxed in the box; this starts when you pick up the bat.

Pick It Up Like An Ax

Many players will hold the bat back in their hands. Doing this causes a couples of problems.

• A decrease in flexibility.
• A tendency to tighten your grip. When you hold the bat in the palm of your hands and tighten your grip, your entire body can tighten up. The end result is a negative effect on your swing.

The proper way to hold the bat is out on the fingers. Pick the bat up like an ax. Once you get the bat in your hands, keep it in your fingers. Your middle knuckles will naturally line up when you pick up the bat this way. Some players leave their knuckles in this alignment and some will close their knuckles slightly. Make sure you don't close the knuckles too far; you could lose the ability to use your wrists during your swing. Closing your knuckles also may increase the likelihood that bat will end up in the palm of your hands and not in your fingers.

Keep Loose

Once you are in your stance, make sure you don't tighten up your grip. If this is difficult, you may want to do something to help yourself to keep your grip loose. For instance, you can lay the bat back slightly but keep it out in your fingers. To do this, you have to have a loose grip on the bat. You can also move your fingers on and off the bat.
Whatever mechanism you use to keep your hands relaxed, make sure it is comfortable and does not disrupt your concentration on the pitcher. If you're worried about throwing the bat or loosing your grip, don't. Once you start your swing, your hands will naturally tighten up on the bat and you will be in control.

Hitting Stance

Stepping Into The Batters Box

Comfort, confidence, and balance! You need all three of these characteristics when you step into the box to hit.
Confidence begins when you step into the box. Do it with a sense of purpose; dig your back foot in and let the opposing pitcher that you're there to battle.
Comfort and balance depend on your stance and how you prepare to hit the ball. If you're not comfortable, you won't be relaxed. When working on your stance, strive for a position that comfortably puts you in a balanced position to hit.

Location In The Batters Box

The first priority when getting into your stance is to make sure you have good plate coverage. Have a method for determining this for each at bat. During practice, have someone watch you take some practice swings from in front of the mound. Simulate swinging at an outside pitch. Is your bat covering the outside corner? Adjust your distance to the plate so you have the correct distance.
Create a method for measuring that distance. Many players tap the plate with their bat the same way each time they get into the box. If the bat hits the same part of the plate each time, then they know the distance is correct.

Depth

While every player wants good plate coverage, the depth you stand in the box is more a matter of preference. If you stand deep in the box (towards the catcher), you may have more time to wait on a fastball, but you may find it more difficult to hit breaking pitches. By standing forward in the box, you may be able to catch the breaking pitch early but it will be more difficult to get around on a good fastball.
What's the right position for you? Analyze your strengths and weaknesses to help you decide. But, wherever you stand make sure you feel confident in that position. Most big league hitters tend to stand toward the back of the box. You, like most of them, may find the extra time to react is important.

Open, Closed Or Square Batting Stance

Most hitting coaches claim that the best stance for hitting is a square stance -- where your feet are parallel to the plate. This stance puts your body in the best position to coil, stride, and swing.
However, there are other stances and you have decide what works best for you. Try to avoid radical stances at the plate, experiment with stances that give you the ability to make a smooth coil (discussed later) to get into the launching position.

Weight and Hands

When you get into your stance, your weight should be slightly back, but not completely on the back leg. Have your hands near the top of the strike zone. Many players prefer to have their hands slightly off the back shoulder. Since you want to swing the bat on a slightly downward plane, having your hands off your shoulder puts them in the best position for swinging the bat.

The Pitch

Picking Up The Ball

Coaches always tell their players to watch the ball all the way to the bat. But, where should you pick up the ball as it comes in? If you don't pick the ball up as soon as it leaves the pitcher's hand, then you reduce the time you have to react and may miss early indicators of the type of pitch being thrown.
There are a number of ways to pick the pitch up out of the pitcher's hand.

• You can follow the throwing arm of the pitcher all the way through the motion.
• Draw an imaginary box around the delivery area. Focus on the box rather than the pitching motion and pick up the ball as it enters the box.
• Pick a spot on the pitcher's body and focus on the location of the delivery of the ball. For some pitchers, this location may be the bill of the cap. Focus on that spot until the pitcher's hand comes into the imaginary box discussed above and then switch your eyes over to the ball. This method allows you to keep your eyes focused at the same distance as the mound.

Pitch Recognition

As a hitter, you can gain an advantage if you can correctly predict which pitch the pitcher plans on throwing. You can often determine what the pitch is by the way the ball comes out of the pitcher's hand.
For example, a fastball comes straight out of the pitcher's hand where a curveball pops out above the hand. To determine these pitches, stand behind a backstop and concentrate on the pitcher's release point. While this takes practice to perfect, you will become a more patient hitter who can better predict the pitches thrown your direction.
Arm position can also determine the pitch, especially a pitcher who has a three-quarter arm motion. For these pitchers, they need to get on top of their curveball and often throw pitches with their arm in a higher position than when they throw a fastball.
Let's go back to the imaginary box example. If you focus in on the box and you know the fastball comes from the middle of the box and the curve comes from the top of the box, you will recognize right away when a curveball is being thrown.

Stride

Coil

Timing and good weight transfer are essential to good hitting. One mechanism to help achieve both is the coil. As the pitcher starts his delivery, you will want to move your weight back on to the back leg, closing your shoulder, hips, and knee. This is also the point when you want to move the bat into the launching position. When the coil is complete you are in the correct position to stride.

Stride

One of the most common mistakes made by hitters at all levels is having the stride be part of the swing. In fact, hitters should perform the stride before the swing.
During the stride, you shouldn't transfer your weight from the back leg to the front. Hitters that transfer their weight have a difficult time handling off-speed pitches. (Looks like lunging at the pitch.)
You may notice that a number of big league players do have the stride as part of their swing. The key for these hitters is the big leg kick, which acts as a timing device and doesn't result in the transfer of weight. Instead of picking their foot up and moving it forward, they're picking up their foot and holding it until they recognize the pitch. If they read fastball, they drop their leg quickly and swing. If they read off-speed pitch, they simply hold it there a little longer before putting it down.

How Do You Stride While Keeping Your Weight Back?

The key is to stride out with the inside portion of your front foot. One way to think of it is to act like your striding onto a dozen eggs and you don't want to break those eggs. By doing that you will keep your weight back. Make sure you stride with your front foot closed. If you open up your front foot towards the pitcher, you will also open up your hips which will cause a loss of power when you do swing.

Swing

The pitch is on the way, you've coiled and taken your stride and now you're ready to swing. The first thing to realize is that your swing should not be driven by your arms, but by your legs and hips. We'll take a look at each area of your body and follow it through the swing.

Legs

As your weight moves forward from your back leg to your front leg, your back foot will pivot towards the pitcher and your knee will turn in. The front foot will not pivot and you will want to keep that leg stiff. It's not necessary to keep it completely straight, but you don't want to flex it as you transfer your weight. (This can cause your head to drop as your tracking the ball.)

Hips

While you pivot on your back foot, you also will open up your hips. The degree to which you open your hips depends on the location of the pitch. On inside pitches, you need to completely open the hips to get your hands through right next to your body. On outside pitches, you have to keep your hips more closed to get your hands out and drive the ball the other direction. An important point on feel for the player: It should feel as if the back hip is driving the hips open, not the front hip pulling the hips open. It may seem like a subtle difference, but a player that is pulling open will often start by pulling his front shoulder open. This can cause all types of problems.
Your legs and hips are going to drive your swing and provide power. Work hard on both of these and you will see a difference in the batting cage and on the field.

Arms And Hands

When you begin your swing, you want your hands to be at the top of the strike zone. Any lower and you will be swinging up at a high strike. This most likely will result in a fly ball or pop-up.
To have a quick bat, you must start your swing by bringing your hands through close to your body. On inside pitches, your hands stay closer to your body longer than on outside pitches. Remember to extent the bat towards the ball just before contact. If you extend the bat too soon, you will slow down your swing. As you make contact with the ball, your bottom hand should be palm down and your upper hand should be palm up. This means that you haven't yet rolled your wrists over. Rolling your wrists happens naturally after hitting the ball. Concentrate on driving through the baseball. Sometimes players are in such a hurry to start running that they actually start slowing down their swing before contact. Hit the ball hard first, then run. As your hands continue forward and your wrists roll over, it's natural to let you top hand come off the bat. This allows you to continue with a good follow through on your swing.

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Bunting

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Whether you hit for power, hit for average, or have trouble hitting, you can always help your team in critical situations by laying down a successful bunt. Many players, both novice and experienced, have difficulty laying down a good bunt. If you want to be a complete hitter that can help his team in any situation, you need to spend the time necessary to become a good bunter. Good technique and practice is all that's required to become a quality bunter. You never know when you may be asked to lay down a sacrifice bunt for the team or when a good drag bunt will provide an easy base hit. Prepare yourself during practice as if you are going to be asked to bunt in a critical situation in the next game either for a base hit or to help the team. It really comes down to desire, if you want to become a complete ball player than you will want to work at becoming a good bunter.

Bunting Situations

Everyone knows about a sacrifice bunt to move a runner along and a squeeze bunt to score a run, but for many teams that's the extent of using a bunt. In this section we'll cover other situations when a bunt can be an effective play.

Runner on First

Late in a game a sacrifice bunt is used to move the runner into scoring position. Early in the game you can combine the bunt with a steal to move a runner to third base. Have the hitter bunt the ball down the third base line. Most third baseman will automatically field the bunt and throw to first. In most cases the runner stealing second will be able to continue on to third. In 12 and under leagues, a drag bunt can be used in place of a sacrifice to achieve the same result as often third base will be left uncovered on the play.

Runner on Second

A good way to get a runner home from second without the benefit of a base hit is to have the runner at second steal third on a bunt. Again, the third baseman will most likely field and throw to first without thinking about the runner rounding third.
A fake bunt can provide an easy steal opportunity for the runner. Watch how aggressively the third baseman charges. You may see this is an easy way to steal third.

When to Use a Bunt Play

Most coaches and players will look at the third baseman when trying to determine a good time to bunt. In non-bunting situations where the other team isn't expecting you to bunt, the pitcher and catcher are more likely than the third baseman to field the bunt. A pitcher that doesn't field his position well will be vulnerable to a good bunting team. Add to that a catcher who doesn't move quickly from behind the plate and you have a combination that you can take advantage of. Bunting does two things that I really like. First, it puts the ball in play and as you know when the ball is in play, anything can happen. Second, it puts pressure on the defense. Most bunts are difficult plays that require the defense to act quickly and make good throws.

A Pitcher In A Groove

I really like to use bunting as a way to disrupt a pitcher that is in a groove or is simply overpowering the hitters. The threat of the bunt changes the thinking of the pitcher in much the same way that a baserunner who is a threat to steal can. If a pitcher thinks a bunt is coming he is suddenly concerned with getting off the mound to field and loses some concentration on pitch location. Next time you feel that your team is really struggling to hit or make good contact against a pitcher try the following. Send up your first batter and have him drag bunt. If the batter gets on have the next batter go up and fake a sacrifice until the pitcher throws a strike. Sometimes something as small as that can change the rhythm of the pitcher and the flow of the game.

Bunting - Sacrifice

What Technique Is Right For You?

The purpose of the sacrifice bunt is to move a runner into scoring position. It's often used in late innings and critical situations. So why is it that so many players are not very skilled at laying down a sacrifice bunt? The primary reason is poor technique.
There are basically two methods of laying down a sacrifice bunt, either pivoting or squaring around towards the mound. The most important thing is balance, comfort, and confidence. Experiment with both methods to see which technique works best for you. No matter which method you use, the way you grip the bat will be the same.

Grip

Most younger players are taught to grip the bat with the upper hand by sliding the hand up the barrel towards the trademark and gripping the bat between the index finger and thumb. This keeps the fingers behind the bat and reduces the chance of the fingers being hit. The negative part of this grip is the loss of control over the bat. As you get older you will want to change your grip to one that puts the bat in the palm of your upper hand. Your fingers and thumb will be wrapped around the bat and you will have greater bat control but your fingers will be exposed to being hit by the ball. Once you become a confident bunter you won't worry about your fingers being hit by the ball.

Experiment With The Bottom Hand

Many times players will leave their bottom hand on the knob of the bat. While this may work for you, experiment with sliding the back hand up on the grip 5 or 6 inches. You may find that this will increase your bat control and with it your ability to have the bunt go where you want it to go.

Pivot

With the pivot method, you will pivot on the foot closest to the mound and take a small jab step towards the plate with the back foot. At the same time you must get the bat in the proper position to bunt (Barrel of the bat higher than the grip, top of the strike zone, not to close to the body). One method of getting the bat in the proper position is to swing the bat forward from your back shoulder like you were using an ax. It's a small movement that will get the bat out in front of your body at approximately the right angle and at the top of the strike zone.
   
Below is a few reminders of good bunting technique:

1. In each image the player has taken a jab step with the back foot towards the plate. In both cases the player might want the foot turned more toward the mound and his weight on the ball of his foot. This would put him in better position to bend with the height of the pitch. Check your players to make sure they don't step to far and step out of the batters box or on the plate.
2. The arms should be out in front of the body and slightly bent at the elbows. In the incorrect image you can see the elbow is right against the body and will not allow easy movement.
3. The bat should be angled as shown in the correct image above. This will prevent a foul ball from growing straight up and right into the catchers hands.
4. The head of the bat should be placed at eye level and at the top of the strike zone. By putting the bat in this position, you can coach the player that any pitch higher than the bat is a ball and they should pull the bat back and take it. It also puts the player in a position where they can adjust down to bunt the ball. This will make it easier to bunt on the ground. If they start with the bat low and come up to bunt the ball, the result is often a pop-up.
5. Notice that the knees are bent. It's critical to being a successful bunter that the player uses his knees to adjust to the height of the pitch. Obviously on a low strike the player will still have to use his arms to adjust to the height of the pitch, but by using his knees he will reduce the amount he will have to drop the bat to bunt the ball. This can help in 3 ways:
1. His eyes will be closer to the height of the pitch allowing him to more easily follow the ball all the way to the bat and bunt the top half.
2. He can keep the bat close to the same angle and drop both hands to bunt the ball. This again will reduce the chance of an easy pop-up to the catcher.
3. He will be able to bunt the low pitch successfully. It's almost impossible to bunt a low strike by only dropping the hands and not using the knees.

After getting in position the player should use his knees, waist, and bottom hand to adjust to the pitch and determine where to place it. In the image above the top hand (1.) is kept in approximately the same position, but notice the position of the bottom hand; To bunt the ball the opposite way, the bottom hand is pushed out (2.) and to bunt the ball down the line the bottom hand is pulled in (3.). In addition to using the bottom hand for determining the direction, player should also rotate the body at the waist.
The player should use his knees to bend down to get to a low pitch. The bat head will still have to drop on a low pitch, but it should be kept to a minimum as dropping the bat head only to bunt the ball is very difficult to do successfully. When dropping the arms to bunt a low pitch it's important to try and drop both hands in order to keep the bat head above the handle. This will prevent a pop-up directly to the catcher.

Bunting - Sacrifice

Square around

With the square around method, you will want to again pivot on the front foot but instead of using a jab step with the back foot, you will move the back foot forward, even or slightly forward of your pivot foot. This will square up your shoulders toward the pitcher. The advantage to using this method is that it's easier to bunt the inside pitch. The disadvantages are that it takes longer to get in position and you must be careful not to step out of the batters box or worse on the plate.

Stance

Whether you square around or pivot, you want to make sure you are in a comfortable and athletic position to bunt the ball. Your knees should be bent and your bat should be held out in front of your body. The barrel of the bat should be at the same height as your eyes and at the top of the strike zone.

As the ball approaches use your knees to adjust to the height of the pitch. Many people believe it's difficult to bunt a high pitch. In actuality, the opposite is true. If you remember not to bunt any ball that is higher than the bat, then you are in great position to bunt the high strike. The lower pitch on the other hand requires you to drop down to be able to bunt it. To keep the barrel of the bat higher than the grip of the bat, you must use your knees to adjust to the low pitch. Never drop the bat head to bunt the ball. Use your knees and both arms to put the bat in the proper position to bunt the low pitch.
While a left-handed hitter may find it more comfortable to jab forward with the back foot, the right-handed hitter may find it more comfortable to drop the back foot. Again the most important thing is comfort and balance.

Making Contact

Focus on the top half of the ball as it approaches. Many people will talk about deadening the ball with bat as you make contact. All this means is that you will allow your arms to act as shock absorbers as contact is made. This is something to work on as you become more confident, but is secondary to being able to lay the bunt down in the direction you want. Determine the direction of the bunt with your lower hand. This keeps the location of the barrel of the bat in the same approximate location, no matter where you are going to bunt. This will help for consistency. If you're a right-handed hitter and you want the bunt to go towards third base, then pull your lower hand in towards you to provide the proper angle. For first base, push your lower hand out towards the mound to give the bat the proper angle.
Finally, be sure to always bunt the ball first and then run. When a sacrifice bunt is called, your job is to move the runner not to get a base hit. Lay down a good bunt and then run.

Drag Bunt

Purpose

The purpose of the drag bunt is to get a base hit. Even the threat of a drag bunt puts pressure on the defense and can open holes in the infield. If you become known as a player that has the ability to drag bunt, you get the added benefit of having other teams play the third baseman in close to defend against you. While this won't help in laying down a drag bunt, it will increase your chances of hitting the ball past the third baseman. This bunt brings the third baseman in to defend the drag bunt, and gives you a better chance of hitting the ball by him. Often, faster players use the drag bunt, but a well placed drag bunt provides a base hit for even slower players, especially at the high school level and below. Let's say you successfully laid down 5 drag bunts out of 10 during the course of a 20 game season. Those 5 bunts could turn a .300 batting average into a .325 batting average. 5 out of 10 is a conservative number; most good bunters would be closer to 8 or 9 out 10.

When to Drag Bunt

Defense dictates the opportunity to drag bunt. If you have a drag bunt in your offensive arsenal, pay attention to both the third baseman and the pitcher during the pregame infield and ask yourself these questions:

1. How well does he field and throw the ball?
2. Can he charge the ball and throw well on the run?
3. Is the pitcher a good athlete that can field his position well?
4. Does he fall off the mound toward the third base or first base side of the mound?
5. Is he in a good fielding position when the ball crosses the hitting zone?

All of these questions can help you decide if this is a good day to lay down a bunt.
During the game, study the position of the defense. If you are a right-handed hitter, look to drag the ball down the third base line and check the position of the third baseman. If you are a left handed hitter, look to drag down the first base line or directly toward the second baseman and check the positions of both the pitcher and first baseman. If the first baseman is playing deep and the pitcher falls off the mound towards third, then placing the bunt down the first base line may give the best opportunity of success. If the pitcher doesn't fall of the mound toward third or the first baseman is playing close, then bunting it hard past the pitcher and toward the second baseman may be the best way to get a hit.

How

The successful drag bunt depends on the element of surprise. Do not give away your intentions until the very last moment. With that in mind, enter the box with the same routine you always use. The only subtle change you make is to move up in the box a little. Bunting the ball with your bat in front of the plate increases the chance of it being a fair bunt.

Look For The Right Pitch

The most common mistakes when bunting are (1) trying to bunt a ball that is either not a strike; (2) a pitch that is difficult to bunt successfully. Apply the same philosophy you do when you're ahead of the count; shrink the strike zone and look for a pitch in the zone that you are comfortable bunting. If it's not in that zone, don't bunt. Pull the bat back and take the pitch, even if it's a strike.

Right-Handed Hitter

When attempting to drag bunt, pull your right foot back and move your right hand up the bat. Place the bat in front of the body and the barrel pointed towards first base. This provides the proper angle to bunt the ball down the third base line. By placing the bat in front of your body, you increase the chances of bunting it fair. A common mistake in drag bunting is attempting to deaden the ball as you do in a sacrifice bunt. With a drag bunt, it's much more important to be accurate by bunting the ball down the line.

Once in position to bunt, make sure you have a good pitch to bunt, otherwise pull back. Do not bunt any pitch inside of your current bat position. That pitch forces you to lean back and prevents you from getting a good jump. Take any pitch that is higher than your current bat position. The best pitch for a drag bunt is from the middle to the outside part of the plate.

Left-Handed Hitter

The drag bunt for the left-handed hitter is done stepping with your right For left handed hitters, step in with your right foot toward the pitcher while moving your left hand up the bat and bringing the bat forward. Point the barrel of the bat toward third base and be out in front of your body on contact. Look for a pitch from the middle of the plate in to bunt. A common mistake is to crossover and try to get a great jump while bunting the ball. Again, bunting the ball accurately is more important than getting a great jump.

Push Bunt

Purpose

The purpose of the push bunt, like the drag bunt, is to get a base hit. For right-handed hitters, look for the same situation that left-handed hitters look for when performing a drag bunt. Look to push the bunt past the pitcher toward the second baseman.
For left-handed hitters, look for the same situation right-handed hitters look for when laying down a drag bunt. Push the bunt down the third base line.

Squeeze Bunt

Purpose

Use the squeeze bunt in a close game to score a tying, go ahead, or insurance run. The squeeze bunt places more pressure on the hitter than any other play in baseball. There are two types of squeeze bunts: the safety squeeze and the suicide squeeze.

Safety Squeeze

With the safety squeeze, the runner on third does not break for home unless he sees the bunt successfully laid down. While this takes the pressure off the batter to successfully bunt a ball, it puts more pressure on you to make a good bunt that the pitcher cannot field. Either pivot or take a small jab step in order to quickly get into position to bunt. Do not show your intentions to bunt until the pitcher's arm comes forward and he cannot change the direction he is throwing. Since the runner is waiting for a successful bunt, don't be afraid to take the pitch. Bunt the pitch either down the first or third base line. You may find that you want to go with the pitch or whatever side you are most confident bunting. Make sure you don't try to get a good jump out of the box. Your job is to lay down a good bunt to score the man from third, not to get a base hit.

Suicide Squeeze

For the hitter, the suicide squeeze is much like the safety squeeze in that you must wait until the pitcher cannot change the direction of the pitch before you pivot to bunt. It's much more difficult in that the runner is not waiting to see if you have bunted the ball successfully before breaking from third. The assumption is you will bunt the ball no matter where it is pitched. The runner from third must wait until the pitchers arm is coming forward before making his break for home. Unlike the safety squeeze where the location of the bunt is of primary concern, in a suicide squeeze, you want to make sure you bunt the ball fairly. It's very difficult for this play to be defensed if the ball is bunted.

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Baserunning

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Every Player Can Be Good At Running The Bases

Good teams are often judged on their ability to manufacture runs. What this means is they didn't string together enough hits (or any hits for that matter) to score a run. An example would be a hitter reaching on a walk, stealing second base, going to third on a ground out hit to second, and scoring on a fly ball. In this case a run was scored without the aid of a base hit. Other skills are important in a teams ability to manufacture runs, but one thing for sure, poor baserunning will inhibit a teams ability to manufacture runs on a regular basis. Worse than that, poor baserunning will take your team out of scoring opportunities. There may be no worse feeling in baseball than being picked off a base or making a mental baserunning mistake. There is no where to hide when this happens and it can be a long walk back to the dugout.
You may consider yourself a base stealing threat every time you get on base, or maybe you look for certain situations to take an extra base. Whatever your running ability, your value as a baserunner is important to your team.

Know The Value Of Your Run

As a baserunner you always need to be aware of the value of your run. This is dependent on the game situation and your ability. Your strategy on the bases will be different depending on the inning and the score. Have you seen a player being picked off first base when their team is down by 4 or 5 runs? It can be the nail in the coffin for the team. It's a mental error and should never happen, but it does, even at the major league level. This next section will cover many of the fundamentals necessary to be a good baserunner.

Baserunning - Home To First

Getting Out Of The Box

Regardless which side of the plate you hit from, your first step out of the box is a crossover step. Drive out of the box as if you were stealing a base. Get in the habit of getting out of the box quickly; this helps you at the close play at first and may just turn that long single into a double.
As you take your first couple steps, pick up the ball. Assume there will be a play at first base on any ball hit on the ground or on a line. Once you know where the ball is heading, focus in on where you are going.

Run Every Ball Out! Hard!

Few players in the Majors run out every ball. As with many things in the big leagues, it may okay to do it when you get there but you shouldn't do it when you're working to get there. Lead by example, run every ball out and run it out hard. It doesn't matter if it's a slow roller to the pitcher or a pop fly to the center fielder, get your legs going and hustle down the line.

Run Through First Base

Once you've determined that the ball is going to be fielded by an infielder, focus on the front part of first base. As you hit the base, start breaking down. This gives the illusion to the umpire that you were at the bag sooner than if you breakdown after you pass the base. After you have crossed the base, slow down and look to your right to see if there was an errant throw.

Take A Turn

If the ball is going to make it past the infield, get ready to round first base. Do this by moving off the line and into foul territory to set yourself up for the turn at first. Try to hit the inside corner of the bag with your left foot. Be aggressive with your turn, put pressure on the outfield to field the ball cleanly and make a good throw. There's a fine line between being aggressive and being stupid. Put yourself in position to take advantage of any mistakes but don't get caught being too far off the base.

Baserunning - First To Second

Leading Off The Base

Once you have reached first base, your first priority is to look over to your third base coach for signs. There is nothing more frustrating for a coach than to try and give a sign and not have the player on base or at the plate looking at the same time. Get in the habit of looking to your coach for the sign right after each pitch.
Stay on the base until you have received the signs from your coach and the pitcher has made contact with the rubber. Once the pitcher has made contact with the rubber, you can start taking your lead.
When taking your lead, remember the following:

• Stay in an athletic position. Don't walk to take your lead.
• Keep your eye on the pitcher the entire time.
• Do not crossover with your left leg going in front of your right. If you do so, your back will be toward first; then you are not in a position to dive back. Pitchers are trained to look for a crossover step by the runner and make a pickoff move the moment they see a runner crossover when taking their lead.
• Assuming you are not stealing.
• Do not get picked off if you are not attempting to steal second. Always know the value of your run. You worked hard to get to first base, make sure you are not picked off because of a mental mistake. (ex. taking a larger lead than necessary, not paying attention)
• Early in the game, if the pitcher has not made a move to first, take a larger lead than you normally would and try to get the pitcher to throw over. The entire team should pay attention to see what kind of move the pitcher has. It is essential when you do this that you expect the pickoff move and are ready (actually anticipating) going back to first.

Shuffle

Once the pitcher has started his delivery, you want to take your secondary lead. The purpose of the secondary lead is to shorten the distance to second base and have some momentum going toward the base. To get to your secondary lead, you want to take two shuffle steps toward second base. The goal is to complete the second shuffle step as the ball crosses the plate. If the ball is hit on the ground, you just crossover and continue to second base. If the catcher catches the ball, return to first base quickly.

On Contact

When the ball is hit, you quickly need to read the trajectory. If it's a ground ball, perform a crossover and run hard to second. If the ball is hit on the line, freeze and make sure it makes it past the infield before continuing on to second.

Baserunning - Stealing Second

Leading Off

After you get your sign from the third base coach, make sure you act exactly the same as you do when you don't plan on stealing. Often young players get a sign from the coach and then they change things.

What To Look For

Once you take your lead, your focus is solely on the pitcher. What you look for depends on whether the pitcher is a left-handed or right-handed pitcher.

Head

A pitchers head position and movement will often tell you what he is going to do before he does it. There is nothing as specific like there is with the heels to look for. What you want to look for is patterns or a movement that gives away his intentions. It may be the 3rd or 4th inning before you discover something, but if you do you can use it to your advantage. An example would be a pitcher that always glances towards a certain location when he is going to make a move to first but focuses on a different location when he is going to the plate.

Rhythm

Some pitchers fall into a rhythm when pitching, especially if they are throwing the ball well. They want to get the ball from the catcher, get on the mound, take their stretch and throw the ball. You can often time them when you are on the bench or in the batters box. If you think you have a pitcher timed and you want to use this method to get a good jump, you may not want to take your maximum lead. You want to take an average lead to give him the impression that you are not a threat to steal.

RIGHT-HANDED PITCHER

Heels

The most common focal point to watch on a right-handed pitcher is his heels. If the pitcher lifts his left heel first, he is throwing home. If he lifts his right heel first, he is throwing to first. When using this method you may find it easiest to concentrate harder on the right heel than the left. The reason is if you see movement with left leg but the right heel remains still you know he is going home. If you concentrate on the left heel you may anticipate any movement as the pitcher going to the plate.
So if watching the heels is so cut and dried, why focus on anything else? The pitcher may give away where he is going to throw the ball before he lifts either heel. If you can find out something that gives away what he is going to do before he lifts a heel then you are greatly improving your chances of being able to steal second off the pitcher.

Shoulders

This often is a good place to focus with a pitcher that comes set with an slightly open stance. He does this to get a better view of you as you take your lead. The advantage to you is the pitcher will often close his shoulder before he lifts his left heel as he goes to the plate. So, when you see the shoulder close...you're gone. If the shoulder comes toward you, then he is throwing to first.

Baserunning - Stealing Second

LEFT-HANDED PITCHER

Leg Kick

Often a left-handed pitcher will have a higher leg kick when going home then when coming to first. This can enable you to get a great jump as you can actually start stealing as the leg moves up past the point where he normally would make a move to first. When using this as a key, make sure you don't anticipate what he will do. You will get a good jump if you simply wait for the leg to get past the position and then move.

Foot

You may be able to tell which direction the pitcher is going by looking at his foot. When going to first, the toe will be pointing down and you won't be able to see the bottom of his shoe. When going home the toe will be pointing up and you will be able to see the bottom of his shoe.

Shoulders

The shoulders on the pitcher can also be an indicator. Some pitcher's will keep their shoulders perpendicular to you if they are throwing home. On a move to first they will rotate their upper body toward first in order to get more on the throw. You can think of them as pointing where they are throwing. If you see the right shoulder rotating toward you, get back.

Conclusion

These are a few of the most common indicators that can be used when leading off first base. With a good left-handed pitcher it can be difficult finding a good indicator. The runner, the first base coach, and the team on the bench should all be looking for keys that the baserunner can use.

Getting Back To First

It's bad enough getting picked off at first. It shouldn't happen often, but it does happen. Getting picked off at first because you went back to the base standing up instead of sliding simply shouldn't happen. It's a sure sign of laziness and proof you're not paying attention. Sliding back to base is the one time a head first slide is the preferred method. On the pitcher's move to first, you will make a crossover with your right leg and dive towards first.

First Steps

There is no substitute for a good jump when stealing base, but many runners lose time with the first few steps they take toward second base.

Crossover Step

The first move towards second should be a crossover step. Often a baserunner will move their right foot first, picking it up and moving it an inch or two. All this does is take time and gets you no closer to second base. Whether stealing a base or playing defense, picking up and putting your lead foot back down will cost you time. It's a bad habit and one you need to break.

Stay Low And User Your Arms

Want to be more explosive towards second? Start with your arms. As you pick up your left foot to start your crossover, also use your arms to get your movement toward second started. Take your left hand and throw a punch toward second base. This will get your upper body twisted quickly toward second base and get you moving quickly. Stay low as you start, standing strait up will only slow you down.

Take A Glance

If you are stealing on your own or a run and hit has been called, you will need to take a glance toward home plate when you anticipate the ball will be crossing the plate. The reason is to pick up the ball as it crosses the plate. If the hitter hits a pop fly, you need to see it and quickly stop. You may find you want to do this on every steal. The batter may have missed the sign and is swinging when you expect him to be taking. The glance can also help you decide on how you are going to go into second base.

Slide

The main thing to realize is that the quickest way to second base is a strait line and slide that is strait into the bag. Many players learn to hook slide in addition to a strait slide, in reality the only reason to use a hook slide is to avoid being tagged when you are sure to be out if you slide strait in. If you are sure your going to be tagged out, you may find a strait slide to the back side of second base is your best chance to get in safe. This works best when the infielder covering the bag is not straddling the bag but is to the inside.

Baserunning - First To Third

Make Sure The Ball Gets Through The Infield

After you determine from first that the ball will land safely in the outfield or make it past the infield on the ground, you need to analyze your chance of making it to third base on the play. Start to flair out on your way to second to prepare yourself for the turn towards third.

Ball Hit To Center Or Left Field

If the ball is hit from center to left field, you will have the play in front of you and it will be up to you to determine if you are going to attempt to make it to third or not. Remember, by making it to second, you are in scoring position. Do not take chances going to third if an average to good throw will get you out.
If you determine that you are going to try and make it, make sure you focus on hitting the inside part of the bag as you turn the corner. Once you have made it past second look up and pick up your third base coach. If you look over your shoulder trying to pick up the ball, you'll only slow yourself down. The third base coach will let you know whether to slide or go in standing.

Ball Hit To Right Or Right Center Field

If the ball is hit from right center to right then you must rely on the third base coach to let you know whether to stay at second or go for third. This often happens after you have rounded second base! When you're about 3/4 of the way toward second, you should have already picked up the ball and the position of the outfielder and determined whether you will try for third on the play. Since you only get one chance to take a look, you will want to pick up the third base coach. He may be giving you a sign to stay on second, or to keep running, or he may not know at that point. If you get no sign before getting to second, you must use your determination from the picking up the ball. If it looks like it was hit hard and directly to the right fielder, you will want to go strait in to second base and pick up the right fielder or third base coach as you do so. If the ball was hit down the line or in the gap and you are anticipating trying for third, take an aggressive turn. You must pick up the third base coach immediately after touching second. He will be able to let you know whether to continue on or to stay at the bag. The big difference between scenarios is in the first, you plan on staying at second unless the coach lets you know otherwise; in the second scenario, you plan on going to third unless the coach signals you to stop.

Baserunning - Stealing Third Base

Steal Off The Pitcher

A cardinal rule of baseball: You never want to make the 1st or 3rd out at third base. How does this effect making the 2nd out at third base?
This means you're extremely valuable as a runner when you get to second base. You're in scoring position and just a base hit away from scoring a run. So, why risk stealing third base when it's such a short throw for the catcher to make? You or the coach may risk it when it increases your chance of scoring and you're confident in your ability to make it. Even though it's a shorter throw for the catcher, there are a couple of things that can give you the advantage.

Rhythm

You usually steal third in this situation because of what the pitcher is doing, not because the catcher has a weak arm. Even a catcher with a weak arm can throw out a base runner if they get a poor jump from second. Pitchers, especially young pitchers, often get into a rhythm on the mound. They get the ball, get into stretch, set, ?one-thousand-one? and pitch. When stealing third, lead off in the same way you would when not stealing. You don't want the pitcher or infielders to notice anything different. However, your jump is different. In the timing described above, once the pitcher sets, it's 'one-thous' and you're off. That half second gives you a couple of steps toward third and a great chance of making it. Make sure you don't break too early as the infield will notice and call for the pitcher to step off.

Pitch Count

Another key about the pitcher to observer when stealing is the count and the pitcher's tendency with that count. For example, if the hitter has 2 strikes and no balls and the pitcher likes to try and strike batters out with a low and outside curveball, you have, if he throws that pitch, a great pitch to steal on.

Right-Handed Hitter

Finally, when stealing third, it's a big advantage to have a right-handed hitter at the plate. When the catcher receives the ball and has to throw, that throw becomes much more difficult when he has to throw around a batter.

Baserunning: From Third to Home

Leading Off

Get the signs from your coach while you are standing on the base. This is more critical than at any other base because your back is toward the pitcher. Once you have received the signs, take your lead. The biggest difference in taking your primary lead from third base rather than from first base is your need to stay clear in foul territory. You don't want any question if you are hit by a batted ball, you are in foul territory. Another difference is the pitcher may be pitching from the stretch or from the windup position. It's easier to be more aggressive in your secondary lead if the pitcher is pitching from the windup; regardless, the goal of the secondary lead is to get your momentum moving toward home plate to maximize your jump on a batted ball. Make sure you don't move into fair territory when taking your secondary lead. Strive to have your right foot hit the ground as the ball is entering the hitting zone. Always watch the ball all the way from the pitchers hand to the plate. The trajectory of the pitch will give you a good indication of what might happen.
Another important point when taking your secondary lead is to make sure you keep your hips and shoulders square to the field so you can easily continue towards home or get back to third quickly if necessary. A good catcher who sees the shoulders squared towards him will make a throw to third. This position therefore will not only cause the runner to be slower getting back to third, but will encourage more throws from the catcher.

Getting Back

Once the ball has entered the hitting zone, it will either be hit, fouled off, get by the catcher, or be caught by the catcher. If the catcher catches the ball, have your weight on your right side. Push off your right foot and crossover back towards third base and fair territory. Even though you took your lead in foul territory, you want to return to the bag in fair territory. The reason is if the catcher is going to attempt to pick you off, he has to throw the ball accurately to the inside of the bag. This makes it more difficult for the third baseman to make a quick tag and it may result in a bad throw that either hits you or ends up in left field. Whatever the end result, you have placed more pressure on the catcher by returning in fair territory.
Any ball hit in the air, you should start back towards third base. The general rule of freezing on a line drive doesn't apply at third. If it's a line drive that gets through the infield, you'll score easily even if you start back towards third. If it's a fly ball, then you need to return to third to tag up.

Ground Ball

Knowing when to run home on a ground ball with 0 or 1 outs is very difficult. The depth of the shortstop and second baseman will let you know if they are willing to give up a run for the out or not. If they are deep you should be able to score on any ground ball hit to them. Most third base coaches will let you know what to do depending on the situation, he may tell you to hold if it's hit to the pitcher or third baseman and run if it's hit anywhere else. Even if those instructions are given, you must still read the play and determine what you will do.

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Baseball Pitching

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If you love to compete, then pitching may be for you. While you love to compete you must also be the type of person that can easily put aside failure and concentrate on the task at hand. It's rare for a pitcher to have many 1-2-3 innings. You're going to give up hits, walks, and deal with fielders making errors. If you can't get over these plays and focus completely on the next pitch, you're going to struggle and not reach your baseball pitching potential.
Pitching, just like hitting, will bring advice from almost everyone, especially if you're struggling. Handling the "advice" will often take as much mental toughness as pitching in a game. Most pitching problems are caused by poor mechanics. The mechanics of the baseball pitching motion can be difficult for a coach to dissect at full speed. Often advice will be given relating to one particular aspect of the motion. Much like a golf swing, if the fundamental mechanics of the pitching motion are flawed, changing one aspect of the motion will not fix the problem. As a pitcher it's your job to realize when your motion doesn't feel right. Lack of control can certainly be one of the most important signs that something is wrong. Pitching isn't something that you can do once in awhile and be successful. It's something you have to practice and continue to work at. Being able to work on your pitching motion while throwing less than full speed will be an important ingredient in determining your progress in developing sound pitching mechanics.

It's rare to find a young pitcher with good mechanics. Roger Clements once told a young pitcher during spring training that when he no longer had anything to work on he would no longer be pitching in the Majors. That should tell you pitching is something that requires hard work and a lot of it. You must dedicate yourself to being in good shape, taking care of your arm, and working on proper throwing mechanics to reduce the odds of hurting your arm. How much you pitch is also important. I believe that young pitchers need to throw a lot to build up arm strength, but have to be careful not to be throwing at full speed too much. There is some information on Pitch count in the Philosophy section of the Web site that addresses the issue of how much young pitchers should throw.
I think it's also important to realize that while good throwing mechanics are important, it shouldn't require a masters degree and slow motion video to figure it out. Baseball pitching has been analyzed to the point where it has become more complex than it should to be. As with hitting there are some basic fundamentals that should be followed, but beyond that don't try to throw exactly like someone else. Experiment and find out what works for you.

Baseball Pitching - The Mental Side

While the physical part of pitching is important, the mental part of pitching is of equal importance. Simply put, you must be mentally tough to be a good pitcher. This is something that you will develop over time and you must be able to analyze your performance each time out to improve in this area. Your ability to respond to adversity and focus on the hitter will often define how you perform in a game. If you get upset and lose focus once you give up a hit or an error is made behind you, then big innings by the opposing team will probably follow. The successful pitcher is the one who realizes that he must continue to focus on each hitter regardless of what has happened up to that point. He will learn from each at bat, but not dwell on the result.
This section attempts to cover the fundamental baseball pitching mechanics that are important to the success of a young pitcher. Sound pitching mechanics are essential to the success and health of the pitcher. Pitching injuries have been shown to build up over time. The large number of pitching injuries at all levels of the game is proof that pitchers aren't being taught or handled properly. Your first concern as a player should be to work on developing sound mechanics and taking great care of your arm. As a coach your primary concern should also concern the health of your pitchers. No victory or league championship is worth damaging the arm of a pitcher on your team.

Baseball Pitching Topics

Pitching - Windup

Stance

As hitters have many preferences when it comes to position in the batters box, so do pitchers when it comes to position on the pitching rubber. Some will pick one spot and some will move around depending on the mound or the situation. Whatever the preference the most important factors are comfort and balance.
Some pitchers will stand with both feet lined up and some will stand with the stride leg slightly behind.
The position of the glove and pitching hand also changes from pitcher to pitcher. Some will hold the ball in the glove with the pitching arm dangling by their side. Others will have that same position but keep the ball in their hand (If any of your pitchers choose this method, make sure they use the same grip every time so the don't give away a pitch). Others will have their hand inside their glove. For the majority of pitchers the glove is held somewhere between the waist and the chest.
Most young pitchers don't have any idea how the stance can affect the final outcome of the pitch by either allowing or taking away from a smooth efficient delivery. For young pitchers, try to get them comfortable with the least amount of movement. From the stance to the windup, the least amount of movement is to have the hand in the glove gripping the ball at about chest high.

Take A Step Back

If the pitcher starts with one leg back this can be a weight shift back.

Not So Big

A common problem is taking to large a step back. Again, the more movement the more difficult it will be for the pitcher to be balanced during the windup. Watch most major league pitchers and you will see they take a very small or no step back to start their windup.
As the weight is transferred to the back leg, the front foot will be turned and placed parallel to, in contact with, and in front of the rubber. The feet are now in position to begin the kick.

The Arms

At the same time the pitcher takes the step back, the arms will also move. Pitchers will either swing both arms over the top of their heads as they step back and begin pivoting their front foot, or they will keep their hands at waist level and move directly into the top of the kick from that position.

Top Of The Kick

Once the front foot has pivoted and the hands have reached the top of the pump. The pitcher will shift his weight onto the pivoted foot and pull the back leg forward and up swiveling as he does this until the his thigh is parallel to the ground or a little higher. His body should be sideways to the plate. Make sure your planted leg is not locked at the knee, it should be slightly flexed. Again the critical element is balance. The pitching motion is a combination of many movements that need to be executed exactly the same way with every pitch. Without balance at this point consistency in the pitching motion is impossible and with it good control.

Pitching - Windup

Reaching Back

When an outfielder is fielding a fly ball and needs to make a throw, to the plate for example, the outfielder will try to get a few feet behind the spot where he will catch the ball and then will move in to it to gain momentum toward the target while catching the ball. Pitchers don't have this luxury on the mound. That doesn't mean there isn't a way to gain some momentum towards the plate.
A common mistake with young pitchers is to simply starting falling forward from the top of their kick toward the plate. Not only is this going to cause a common problem of the arm falling behind in the windup, it will also cause a loss of velocity. The arm will receive little benefit from the body when this happens.
From the top of the kick position the pitcher needs to do a few things that all must come together in order to gain momentum towards home. As the throwing arm drops the pitcher needs to reach down and back towards 2nd base. Again the throwing motion is circular and the pitcher wants the largest circle possible when pitching. Balance is still essential at this point. Reaching down and back with the throwing arm will naturally tilt the front hip up higher than the back hip. The pitcher is now in a position to stride forward toward the plate.

Push and Rotation

Both legs play an import role at this point in propelling the pitcher toward the plate. The front leg is lowered and driven forward towards the plate in a circular motion that swivels the hips open. At the same time the back leg is pushing off the rubber propelling the pitcher forward to the batter. The combination of these two motions performed correctly will not only add velocity to the fastball but also take pressure off the throwing arm.
It's important to note that most of the power will be generated from the rotation of the hips and a natural stride toward the plate. Many times young pitchers will try to gain velocity by dropping down further on their back leg and driving hard off that leg towards the plate. This will cause fatigue in the pitcher and can also result in the arm not being able to catch up with the body, the same problem that pitchers have who fall off the mound.

The Stride

The stride should be a comfortable distance, not too short that your not getting the benefit of your lower body in your delivery and not too long that you land on your heel.
You should land on the ball of your foot with your leg slightly bent. Your foot should land in the same spot on every pitch and be positioned a few inches to the glove hand side of your back foot. This will ensure that you get the full benefit of the hip rotation.
The arm should follow through naturally across your body and the back leg should come forward and land parallel to your lead foot. This will put you in a good position to field your position.

Pitching - Stretch

Stance

The stretch position is used whenever there are runners on base. You start with your back foot against and parallel with the rubber. Your feet should be approximately shoulder width apart with most of your weight toward your back leg. You move into the set position by bring your hands together in the center of your body. Some right handed pitchers will have a slightly open stance when they come set, this allows them a better view of the runner at first base. While the view may be better, it will open up your left shoulder and make for a longer delivery and could cause poor rotation. Strive to be in a good position to pitch from and work on your ability to see the runner by turning your head.

Motion

From the set position, lift your leg to its highest position and make sure to have your back knee flexed, not locked. If you're a right handed pitcher you will want to develop a slide step to help out your catcher in trying to throw out a runner trying to steal. The slide step will require that you don't lift your leg as high before striding. The slide step is difficult to master and younger players shouldn't worry about it. A common mistake when trying to deliver the ball quickly to home is falling towards home in one motion from the stretch. If you want to deliver the ball quickly to home you must still remember to bring your leg to its highest position before you go forward. Once you have reached that position you will throw the ball with your normal pitching motion.
Left handed pitchers are at an advantage with a runner on first in that a normal leg kick will allow them to go to the plate or to first base. A slide step isn't necessary with a runner on first base.
It's essential to remember that pitching from the stretch doesn't require a different pitching motion. Once you get to the highest point of your leg kick everything should be exactly the same as when you pitch from the windup.

Pitching - Strategy

When you get on the mound, have you thought through how you are going to pitch to the opposing team?
You may have a plan for certain hitter, but you must also have an overall plan that you can use throughout the game. You need to think through your strategy and have a basic philosophy that you can modify for each game.
The main purpose of the plan is to keep the opposing team off balance. They shouldn't step into the box and know that the first pitch is going to be a fastball, or if you get ahead in the count you usually throw an off-speed pitch. You want them to off balance and not sure what you are going to throw in any given situation.
So what are some things you can add to your basic pitching strategy?

• Get ahead of the hitters!!! Hitters start drooling when they step in the box with a 2-0, 3-0, or 3-1 count. They know you are limited with what you can do and you have to throw a strike. They will often shrink their zone and if you throw it in that zone, look out. Your pitching strategy should always be to get ahead of the hitters.
• Change speeds often, but don't fall into a pattern. Your goal shouldn't be to change speeds on every pitch, but to keep the hitters guessing. If you always follow a fastball with an off-speed pitch then the hitters will learn that pattern and be expecting an off-speed pitch after each fastball.
• Vary pitch location. In addition to varying the pitches you throw you'll also want to vary the location. It's nice if you have the control to throw the ball at the knees on a consistent basis, but being able to run the ball up in the strike zone can be effective and keep the hitters off guard. The same can be said for pitching on the inside or outside part of the plate. If you consistently throw the ball over the same half of the plate, the hitters will adjust and look for the ball in that location.
• Pitch inside with your fastball. See if the hitters can handle the inside heat. This is a difficult pitch for most hitters to handle and it is the pitch they will be forced to look for on every pitch if you establish it. As you can imagine, if the hitter is looking for the inside fastball, all other pitches and locations will have a better chance of keeping the hitter off balance.
• Throw your fastball with different grips. Come in sometimes with a 4-seam fastball and sometimes throw a 2-seam fastball to get some movement. Hitters can adjust to a pitcher that always throw a 2-seam fastball that breaks the same way each time. Give them different looks to your fastball and they'll think your fastball is jumping.

Once you have a basic pitching strategy, then you can adapt that for each game. Why would it change from game to game? The primary reason will be the type of stuff you have on a particular day? Each day is different and you need to be prepared to battle on days when you don't feel like you're throwing the ball very well. One day you may have all your pitches and you can throw them all for strikes. On another day your fastball may be average and your having trouble throwing your off-speed pitch for a strike. Days like that are going to test your mental toughness. Can you battle on those days and still be successful and give your team a chance to win? Mentally tough pitchers will.

Game Day Strategies

We'll lump these into two categories, you either have it or you don't. You can figure out the variations on your own.

You Have It

On the days you have good stuff and are throwing strikes things can seem pretty easy. When you have it, concentrate on your pitching strategy. These are the days that you can really keep the hitters off balance because you can throw any pitch at any time. The biggest problem you can get into on days like that is over confidence and lack of concentration. Have you ever seen a pitcher throw shutout ball through 4 or 5 innings and then start getting drilled? It happens at every level. It may be that he is tired and has lost velocity, but it may also be that he has been so successful that he has lost his concentration and fell into a pattern that the hitters have caught on to. Here are some ways to avoid losing your concentration during a game:

• Have someone keep a pitching chart. It may be another player on the bench or someone in the stands. Review it each inning and see what you are throwing and when. Compare that with who is coming up in the next inning and decide how you're going to approach those hitters. This will keep you in the game and your pitching philosophy in mind during the game.
• Don't pitch the same way to a hitter multiple times, unless he is completely overmatched. You may be able to blow 3 fastballs by someone in the first inning, but you probably won't be able to do that each time he comes up.
• Keep reminding yourself of what's at stake. Make it a personal challenge to battle every hitter that comes up to the plate. Don't start thinking about what a great game you've had; there will be plenty of time for that after the game.

You Don't

These are the tough days, but they can also be the most rewarding if you're successful. Here are some things to think about when you don't have your best stuff.

• Have confidence. Believe in your ability to get hitters out by pitching a smart game.
• Get ahead of the count. This is always important, but especially on days when you're having trouble finding the plate. If control is a problem, don't try and hit the corners with the first pitch.
• Keep the ball low in the zone. Use a 2-seam fastball over a 4-seam fastball. If you lack velocity you'll find that this can actually make your 2-seam fastball to move more than usual. Throw it low in the zone and try to get groundball outs.
• Don't abandon your pitching strategy. This really comes down to concentration. Some pitchers simply hope the hitter doesn't do any damage when they are not throwing well. They try to throw a strike and hope it works out. Others use it as motivation to focus that much more each hitter.

Individual Hitters

Now were down to the level of a hitter stepping in the box. How do you go about pitching to him? First, use what you know about the hitter to try and give you an advantage. If you've never faced him before, watch his practice swing. The practice swing will tell you what location he likes the ball. If a left-handed hitter comes to the plate and he takes a practice swing at what would be a low inside pitch, you can bet that's the pitch he likes to hit and will be looking for. Try to start him out with a fastball out and up.
When you have faced the same hitter more than once, you will have some experience to draw from. How does he handle my fastball? Does he have trouble adjusting to off-speed pitches? Does he have a tendency to chase pitches out of the strike zone?
Good hitters adjust very quickly to a pitcher. If you always throw your fastball with 2-seams and it always breaks down and in to a right-handed hitter, you may get the good hitter to miss it once or twice, but he will learn the action on the pitch and adjust to it. It's much more effective to have a 4-seam fastball, a 2-seam fastball that breaks in and a 2-seam fastball that breaks away, and be able to use them all. That way you can give that hitter 3 different looks with just your fastball.
Goal: Make the hitter uncomfortable.
Approach:

• Change speed
• Change location
• Change the break on the ball

The following are some strategies that you can use with a particular hitter:

• Find out if he can handle the inside fastball. There is nothing that makes a hitter more uncomfortable than knowing he can't handle the inside heat or that he has to commit himself early to hit this pitch. We're not talking about knocking the player down or brushing him back, but establishing the inside part of the plate and letting the hitter know that you will throw there.
• Make the hitter change some aspect of his swing from the pitch you just threw. You throw and inside fastball just above the belt and the hitter fouls it off and was a little behind. What is the hitter thinking when he is getting ready to get back in the box? Most likely he is thinking that he needs to be a little quicker. If you come back with the same pitch in the same location, you have given him the edge because that is the pitch he is prepared for. Given that situation, you could:
• Throw a fastball outside and down.
• Throw a curveball outside and down.
• Throw a low inside changeup.
• Or you could throw something else, remember you don't want to be predictable.

In all these cases you have changed speed and/or location from what the hitter was prepared for. Strive to work inside and outside along with up and down. If you can do this while changing speeds effectively you'll have a hitter that doesn't know what to expect and that will make him uncomfortable.
With all strategies, there are exceptions to the rule. If a hitter looks completely uncomfortable with a pitch, don't be afraid to throw it again. The thing to remember is to try and make it more difficult than the time before. For example, if you get a hitter to swing at a high fastball and he didn't even come close, you may want to come right back with it but try and throw it an inch or two higher.

• If the hitter is willing to swing at a pitch outside the strike zone, exploit it. Don't waste pitches when you get ahead. Wasting pitches is when you throw a ball so far out of the strike zone that there is no way the hitter will swing. It accomplishes nothing. It does nothing to the hitter but make him feel better about the count. All hitters would rather be 1-2 versus 0-2. You certainly don't want to give up a 0-2 hit, but on that count you want to stretch the zone with a good pitch that he may swing at.
• Constantly analyze. What are the hitter's strengths? What are his weaknesses? What adjustment is the hitter going to try and make based on the pitch I just threw? How can I take advantage of that? What's the count? What runners are on base? How many outs?
• Don't be afraid of failure. Try to make the best pitch you can and don't worry about the rest. Sometimes it will go your way and sometimes it won't. Don't dwell on things that don't go your way. Simply bear down and focus on the next hitter.

Visualization

It takes practice to become comfortable with your pitching strategy and how you are going to handle game time situations. One tool you can use to help prepare yourself is visualization. The night before a game (or anytime for that matter), sit in a quiet spot and simulate a few innings in your mind. Imagine different types of hitters coming to the plate, go through the lineup a few times and see how well you can remember how you are handling the opposing team and each hitter. This exercise while only in your mind will help you prepare for the mental part of the game. Make sure you picture yourself being successful. It doesn't mean you need to throw a perfect game, but put yourself in difficult situations and then visualize yourself successfully handling those situations.

Pitching - Pickoff Moves

Be Unpredictable

The key to keeping the opposing team's running game under control is to keep the runners uncomfortable when they are on base. Many pitchers fall into a rhythm and make it easy on the runner to get a good jump. Or they do the same thing each time they are going home and something different when they are making a move. Left-handed pitchers for example, often look at first when they are going home and look at home when they are coming to first. When you are on the mound, do what you can to keep the runner from knowing or having a good guess what you will do on any particular pitch. You can accomplish this by:

1. Vary the time you stay set before delivering the ball.
2. Step off the mound occasionally.
3. Throw over to the base using a variety of speeds. (i.e. You're intention should be not always be showing your best move. Use your best move when you think you have a real chance to pick someone off.)
4. Once in awhile, (Not often and only if you think the runner is going to steal and you have thrown over a couple of times) stay in the set position for a long time, until the batter has called time or you count to 7 for example. It's hard to get a good jump when you're sitting still in the leadoff position for a long time.

Runner On First

Right-Handed Pitcher

For the right-handed pitcher, you'll either have to step off the mound and then step and throw to first base or do a quick jump pivot move. The pivot move will be used the majority of the time, but the step off move should be used occasionally, even if you don't always complete it with a throw to first.

Left-Handed Pitcher

The left-handed pitcher has a distinct advantage over a right-handed pitcher on a move to first. You can step off the mound and throw to first, and unlike the right-handed pitcher you can throw to first from your delivery. The key is to appear to the runner as if you are going home, but not stepping too much toward home as to have a balk called by the umpire. As you pick up your leg, you want to make sure you don't cross your leg or foot back over the rubber. This will be called a balk if you attempt to throw to first. It's a good idea to not crossover even when you are throwing home. This will keep the runner from getting a good jump as he will have to wait longer to determine whether you are going home or to first. Try to make your kick the same for both your move and throwing home. When your leg is at the top you will want to drive your shoulder at an angle toward the home plate side of first base. Your leg will come down in the same direction and you can make a quick throw to first.

The step off move also has an advantage over a right-handed pitcher in that you can develop a very quick step off and throw move since you are facing first base.

Runner On Second

Stealing third requires a great jump off the pitcher. Most good base runners look for pitchers that either don't pay much attention to them and/or fall into a certain pattern - come set, one-thousand-one, then deliver. This type of pitcher is inviting the runner to steal and a good baserunner will take advantage.

The good news is that since stealing third requires such a good jump, you as a pitcher can make the runner feel very uneasy at second if you pay attention to him. Besides pickoff or fake pickoff moves, other things you can do to keep the runner uneasy are:

1. Vary the time you stay set.
2. Look at second as you start your leg kick instead of always looking back towards home before you start your kick.
3. Step off the mound occasionally and just hold the ball, looking the runner back.

In addition to those strategies, you can also attempt a pickoff move or fake a pickoff. There are a few methods for making a pickoff move to second. One is to spin towards your glove hand side after you come set, or you can come set and then as you pick up your leg you simply let your leg continue back towards second, planting it and making a throw. Finally, you can step off the mound and then whirl which ever way you are most comfortable with.

Runner On Third

With a runner on third or second and third only, you may prefer to work out of the windup instead of the stretch. Most teams don't attempt to steal home, but if you take a long time delivering to home from the windup, you may want to work from the stretch with a runner on third. No team will attempt a straight steal of home with the pitcher working from the stretch.

Pitching - Fielding

Position

When you have finished delivering the pitch your follow through should put you in a good position to field the ball. Have your hands out in front of you and ready.

Ball Hit Directly At You

If there are no runners on base, catch the ball and take a few steps to get off the mound. This will save you from the embarrassment of catching your cleats in the divots that are naturally made on the mound. Once you have done this, set yourself and make a good throw to first.

The same will apply with runners on base but you are still making the play at first. If you are going to throw the ball to second, third, or home, you won't have the time to take the extra steps. Just be carefull to lift your feet when you make your throwing motion.

Bunts

You will be required to field bunts on both the third base side and first base side depending on the situation. When a good bunt is laid down, don't worry about trying to get the lead runner, simply focus on trying to get an out at first. Concentrate on fielding the ball first and then throwing.

Covering First

You must cover first base on all ground balls hit to the first baseman. You should also cover first on ground balls to second when the first baseman has to leave his position. When covering first, you don't want to run in a straight line to first base. It is very difficult to run with your back to the play, turn quickly at first and catch the ball. So, when covering first, run towards the first base line about 20 feet from first base. As you get close to the line you want to round off the corner and start heading toward first. This will put you in position to see the play and make the catch on the run if necessary.

Covering Home

Don't be a spectator with a runner on third base. You must be ready to cover home plate on all passed balls and wild pitches. The catcher is going to bust his butt to get to that ball as quickly as possible to save a run, do your part by running quickly in to cover home.

Backing Up

Overthrows will happen from the outfield and cutoff men on plays to both third and home. Expect an overthrow by backing up third and home on any throws from the outfield to those bases.

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Catching - Signs

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Giving Signs

The catcher gives signs to the pitcher and the team for what defense to play. This may be a specific bunt defense or 1st and 3rd defense or a pickoff play. All fielders should watch the catcher before each pitch to pick up any signs.

Pitch Signs

When you give signs to the pitcher, be careful that only the pitcher sees them. Place your glove on the outside of your knee to help block the view of the third base coach. Since you cannot do that with your right knee, make sure that your knee points in the direction of the pitcher to keep the first base coach from seeing the signs. As you give the signs, make sure your fingers are well spread so the pitcher can easy see them. Keep your fingers at cup level -- if you drop them too low, the opposing team may pick them up.

No Runners On Base

With no runners on base, flash one sign. If the hitter looks back to try and pick up the signs, move to the signs that you use when runners are on base.

Runners On Base

Runners on base will try to pick up the signs for the pitcher. Obviously, a runner on second has the best view of the signs, but a runner a few steps off first may also be able to see the signs. To combat this, have different methods of delivering signs. Remember to keep it simple and have a few different methods for delivering signs. For example, flash three or four signs with the second sign as the pitch. Or, have one sign as the indicator and the next sign given after that as the pitch. If three fingers is the indicator, and the next sign delivered is the index finger, a fastball is the pitch. By having a couple of simple methods to deliver the signs you can quickly change methods if you feel the other team has picked them up.

Defensive Signs

Normally, the first sign given is the defensive sign. The coach relays this sign to the catcher and then the catcher gives it to the team. Have a default defense in place for each situation so the catcher doesn't have to give a defensive sign each time a runner reaches base or the on base situation changes. The defensive sign cannot be given in the same manner as the catcher uses for the pitch. All players must be able to see the sign being given.
EXAMPLE: Let's say with a man on second, you have two bunt defensive plays and one pickoff play that the coach can call. You may determine that going to your mask with your throwing hand is the first play, chest protector is the second play, and your right knee is the pickoff. Then all you need is an indicator (say wiping the ground with your throwing hand) to let the defense know a play is being called. You can add other things to make it difficult for the opposing team to pick the signs. Maybe it's the second sign after the indicator is the play.

Catching - Throwing

Your ability to throw out a runner is influenced not only by the speed of the baserunner, but also by the ability of the pitcher to hold the runner close and deliver the ball quickly to the plate. While it's important to work with the pitcher to make sure this is done, once he has started his delivery, it's out of your control.
To have a chance to throw out runners on a consistent basis, work on delivering the ball quickly and accurately to the base. This requires good fundamentals on transferring the ball from your glove to your throwing hand, footwork, and throwing mechanics. Sound fundamentals can make up for a lack of arm strength.
Adjustments will need to be made depending on the location of the pitch, but for now assume the pitch is a fastball down the middle of the plate.

Prior To Catching The Ball

As the ball approaches, start setting yourself up for the throw by pointing your right knee toward the first base dugout. This causes your hips to rotate to the right and gets you closer to having your hips closed when you throw the ball.

Grip

As with all positions, try to grip the ball across all four seems. Throw the ball with a 12 - 6 rotation. Why is this essential? When throwing the ball, any tail pulls the fielder off the base and into the line of the runner. This is not only a dangerous situation for the fielder but the ball often ends up in the outfield.

Three Methods

There are three primary methods for throwing the ball from the catchers position.

Shuffle And Throw

As you catch the ball, pop up and forward to throw the ball. As you do this, shift your feet from parallel to the mound to perpendicular to the mound. Land your right foot first and complete your throwing stride toward the base with your left foot.

Pivot And Throw

This method takes a very strong arm and because of this, shouldn't be used by younger players. Simply pivot on your right foot, step with your left and throw. While it is faster than the Shift method, it's more difficult because to achieve that quickness, your weight can't be transferred fully to your front leg. You end up using your arm primarily to throw the ball without getting your body behind it.

Step And Throw

Younger players tend to use this method due to lack of arm strength as required for the Shift method. With this method, take a small step with your right foot towards the target as you transfer the ball. This gets your momentum moving in that direction. Once you have planted your right foot, point your left shoulder toward the target step with your left foot and throw. This method is slower but helps younger player make a stronger and more accurate throw.

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Playing First Base

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Defensive Position

Not Holding a Runner On

You want to play deep enough that you can cover as much ground as possible, while being shallow enough to make it to first base prior to a throw being made from a position player. It would be difficult for a shortstop for example to have to make a throw to first base if you are still running there while he is delivering the ball. You need to get in position to give the position player a target to throw to.
Even though we want to be able to depend on the pitcher to cover first base on a ball you field to your right, we don't want to have to depend on him for every ball hit your way. Young pitchers will often forget to cover the base. Make sure you are shallow enough that you can catch the routine ground ball and tag the base yourself.

Holding a Runner On

Right-handed first baseman: Position your right foot against the bag with both heels about parallel to the base line. You want to be in an athletic position with your knees bent.

Left-handed first baseman: Position your right foot against the bag. Since you will be sweeping a tag with your right arm, you can open up more toward the pitcher.

As the pitcher goes into his stretch give him a target.

If he goes to the plate shuffle a few steps toward second base and get ready to field any ball hit your way.

Receiving The Throw

When catching the ball from infielders, you need to get to the bag as quickly as possible. Once there, turn and face the direction the ball is coming from. Make sure you do not stand on the bag in a position that doesn't allow the runner room to run by. Place your throwing hand foot on the edge of the base. Make sure you are in an athletic stance ready to move (don't assume the ball will be thrown right to you). You shouldn't stretch for the baseball until it is well on the way.

Example: Ball Coming From The Shortstop

If the shortstop throws the ball directly at you or to your glove hand side, step out with your left foot (for a right-handed first baseman) in the direction of where you want to catch the ball. So, if the ball was thrown a few feet on the home plate side of first, you may need to step towards home (not directly down the line) to make the catch.
On a ball thrown to your throwing hand side, step across your body and catch the ball backhanded.Sometimes the throw is so off line that the first baseman must leave first base to catch the b