bat
selection: When selecting a bat, it is imperative that you choose
one which can be easily handled by the hitter. In most all cases, it
is better to get a lighter bat that can be swung at a higher bat speed.
(See Kinetic Energy). Parents
start kids at early ages with great expectations of stardom. They march
down to the local sporting goods store to buy their kid a bat. Since
this is their little budding star, normally, its nothing but the finest.
What do they look at first when choosing a bat? No, not the weight,
but the price tag. Yes, it’s important that they only have to make this
type an investment once every several years, so they will buy Junior
one he can grow into. This scenario happens repeatedly and has done
more to hurt young hitters swings than no instruction at all. Since
young hitters are weak physically in their hands, wrists and forearms,
they must use the larger, stronger muscles in their upper back and trunk
muscles to swing their new investment. This results in the front side
leading the swing by opening up in order to drag the hands and bat through,
normally resulting in contact that is weak and late. Couple this with
a horizontal bat angle, with the torquing effect of gravity on the barrel,
and Junior not only has a problem with his front side flying open, but
now has a problem with the barrel dropping as well. Sometimes Junior
is just a better athlete than the kids pitching to him and can be successful
with these swing mechanics. However,
as Junior grows older with these mechanical flaws, the pitchers age
as well. They develop arm strength and throw harder, forcing Junior to
start his swing earlier to hit their fastball. But still another problem for Junior occurs at this age-- pitchers bregin to throw breaking balls and change speeds. Now Junior, an all-star since birth is starting
to struggle at the plate. He can’t seem to hit the breaking ball because
his front side flies open too soon. Pitchers that Junior normally owned are now jamming or throwing it past him. Now Junior is frustrated
and mom and dad can’t understand what the problem is. Junior now thinks
the game is not as much fun as it used to be, so he thinks he will quit.
The point is, select a bat a kid can swing, not one that he has to grow into.
bat speed: A
term that is used to describe bat head velocity. Developing bat speed
is crucial to hitting for power.
bat,
vertical: A
bat angle that is approaching perpendicular
to the ground. Starting with a vertical bat moves the center
of gravity of the bat directly over the hands, eliminating the torquing
effect in the wrists of gravity. However, the barrel must go through
a loop to get on plane through the contact zone. A more vertical bat
angle is more desirable for rotational style hitters.
Click for Illustration
batters
box: A
rectangular box adjacent to the plate on either side in which the hitters
takes a stance. Both feet must be
inside the box (or on the line) when contact is made or the hitter is
out. The size of the box varies according to level of competition, however
the middle the box is centered on the middle corner of home
plate. A hitter sets up forward or in the front of the
box if he sets up toward the pitchers end of the box. Likewise,
deep or the rear of the box is the end next to the catcher.
Away from and closer to refer to distance from the plate.
The position a hitter takes in the box varies between baseball and softball.
Normally, when facing a hard thrower in baseball, a hitter moves deeper
in the box to have longer to see the pitch and give him a fraction more
time. Hitters may move forward in the box if they face a pitcher
who is not overpowering, but has an exceptional breaking ball. In fastpitch,
hitters normally set up foward in the box in order to hit the
rise ball before it moves too high after passing the plate. Although
a fastpitch hitter is cutting down the distance by moving foward,
this maneuver is almost a must against a quality pitcher.
Click for Illustration
bisect
the head: A
term used to describe a range of bat
angles between approximately 45-75 degrees. When observing a hitter
from behind the catcher, the barrel of a bat in this range would “bisect
the head”.
Click for Illustration
bottom
hand: Refers
to the hand on the bat that is nearer the knob.
Click Red Dot for Drills
to Develop the Bottom Hand
bottom
hand pulls: A
term used to describe the bottom hand action
in the swing as the hands begin to move forward.
Click for Illustration
Click Red Dot for Drills
to Develop the Bottom Hand
bunt:
A
form of contact in which the hitter intentionally restricts his swing
and attempts to "deaden" the ball off the bat, reducing the
distance the ball travels when struck.
bunt,
drag: A
bunt in which a hitter delays showing in an attempt to reach base safely.
The ball is bunted in a direction to the same side as he bats from.
i.e., left handed-hitters drags down the first base line.
bunt,
push: A
bunt in which a hitter delays showing in an attempt to reach base safely.
The ball is bunted in a direction to the opposite side as he bats from.
i.e., left handed-hitters pushes down the third base line.
bunt,
sacrifice: A
bunt in which a hitter intentionally gives himself up at the plate in
order to advance a runner into scoring position. Under
normal conditions, if the runner is on
first you are trying to advance, bunt to the first base side unless
special defenses dictate otherwise. If the runners occupy second, or
first and second, you should bunt to the third base side, attempting
to make the third baseman field it. Unless special
defenses dictate otherwise, this is accepted as a standard.
bunt,
suicide squeeze: A
bunt that is used as an offensive weapon to score a run. The runner
on third breaks to steal home as soon as the pitcher’s arm has started
down in the delivery. The batter also waits to show bunt until
the pitcher has committed, or the pitcher could alter his arm path and
throw a pitch that is not buntable. The hitter has a responsibility
of getting the ball on the ground, regardless of where it is pitched
or the runner will be tagged out easily. He must avoid stepping on the
plate while making contact or he will be out. Normally upon receiving
a suicide squeeze signal, the hitter will have a return signal to indicate
the play is on. A suicide squeeze is usually executed with a good bunter,
and one out. Squeezing with no outs could possibly take you out of a
big inning.
casting:
A
term used to describe the hand path
moving in a circular pattern away from the body during a swing. The
action leads to a long, round,
sweeping swing.
Click for Illustration
Click Red Dot for Drills
to Correct Casting
center
of gravity: The
point of a body in which its weight is evenly balanced.
centering,
fine: A
visual term that describes a hitter’s eye focus being shifted from some
feature on the pitcher (eyes, head, etc.) where depth perception and
focus have been established, (soft centering)
to the release point to pick
up the ball out of the pitcher’s hand.
centering,
soft: A
visual term that describes a hitter’s eye focus set on some point on
the pitcher’s body, such as his eyes or head, in order to establish
depth perception.