The first thing you have to have is concentration and perception. How do we achieve this . First you have to set the drill by getting a pitcher on the plate and a catcher ready to take the catches as in a game situation. Have the batter take his or her normal batting stance in the batter box. Have the pitcher pitch as in a game a variety of pitches to the catcher. The object is not for the batter to hit the first five pitches but watch how they come down the the zone. The batter starts by getting in position in the box and then with a soft vision look towards the pitcher not focusing on any one thing At around two to three seconds before the pitcher starts their wind up the batter takes a hard vision to the release point of the ball from the pitchers hand, Recognizing the spin on the ball will tell the batter what kind of pitch is being delivered are important perception skills Concentration is keeping your mind focused on one or parts of the task that will make you successful. Telling the batter concentrate on the release point defines the task. You have to have your mind locked on a single task to get the full concentration that you need to be successful
MY TIPS FOR MORE SUCCESS AT THE PLATE
I see an awful lot of batters wasting their time while in the on deck circle, for instance looking down and messing around with their gloves or doing fake swings with totally bad mechanics and all manner of non preparing for bat things they should not be doing so I will let you into a few coaching secrets to help you have more success at the plate. Some players simply look at the coach ask what he or she wants and then goes into the batters box totally unprepared. So what should you be doing different? Firstly when you are in the on deck position you should be concentrating on the pitcher, What are they throwing? Wow look at that three low balls on the trot I better look out for that could be usefull.While on deck time the pitches as soon as you see the ball say to yourself ball and when it gets to the hitting position say hit, so its like ball hit and the time it takes in between is the timing and you will have more knowledge of how fast it will be coming to you. Now it is your turn at bat, but before you move out of the on deck position scan the field and see what they are doing now you have come up to bat. For instance is the outfield moving out or if they know you are a line driver are they moving over. Now you know what the field is expecting of you and you can now see if there are gaps in the field made by their decision. You look to your coach and its a hit signal but what kind of hit is the best for your team? Things to consider are. How many runs are needed do they need 1 or 3 Are you required to just get on a base safely? Do you need to simply advance a base runner? Are you needed to score the runner on third even if it means you are out How many outs are there are you to score the runner and keep the inning alive You have to know what your team needs otherwise your out was a futile waste of a term at bat. Be calm and confident in the batters box. If you are confident your muscles are more loose which will give you a good smooth swing and it will send signals to the pitcher that you are not going to be a easy out. Look for the pitch that suits you, if the pitcher sends the first pitch and it’s a strike you do not have to hit it if it is a pitch that you find hard to hit. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses in the box and working with them will give you more success in the box .Choose a pitch that you know you can hit well, instead of swinging at everything that is close to the plate. Unless you are in a 2 strikes on you situation, then you have to protect the strike zone and your options are far less but with no strikes on you and you are ahead on the count then your options are good and you should take advantage of it. Looking and feeling confident is so important. As I said before it sends signals to the pitcher that you are not an easy out and any mistake on their part will be costly. Confidence is a positive attitude and sends out the felling that you are in control and nothing is going to stop you having a good turn at bat. Look like you are going to be that pitchers horror story and then they are the ones under pressure not you. Clear your mind of anything that has gone before good or bad it is history and you cannot change that, it is here and now that is important the only thing that matters is the ball Now its just you and the pitcher, Take a soft focus in the direction of the pitcher and just a few seconds before the wind up hard focus on the pitchers release point so that you can identify the spin on the ball to tell you where it is going and enjoy the sensation of seeing it get smaller in the distance after you have hit it. There are few feelings to equal that on the diamond. Enjoy your time in the batters box as runs make wins and wins make champions
HITTING CHANGE UPS NOTE: There are many similarities between hitting a change up and hitting a curve ball. Recognize it early - the sooner the better. This is often difficult if it is thrown properly. Don't try to do too much with the pitch. Shorten your swing. Look to hit the ball opposite field. Stay with the ball longer. Keep your head, front shoulder, belly button, and front toe in. Keep your hands back. Let the barrel of the bat trail behind your hands. Let the ball travel deeper into the hitting zone. Keep your hands in a bottom-hand palm down and top-hand palm up position through the hitting zone. Soften your trunk rotation. Keep it toned down, slower, less explosive. Finish with your belly button pointing toward center or right-center field. Transfer your weight but not onto or over the front foot. Hit against the front foot. Try to keep your bat in the plane of the ball as long as possible.
Look for tell-tale signs (tips): Pushing the throwing hand deep in the pocket of the glove to get a grip, or taking longer than usual to get the grip. Finger positions that are revealed during the pitcher's pre-motion, wind-up, or release. A faster backswing. A delivery arm speed that is slower than normal. A suddenly slowed arm or body motion. Less explosiveness and intensity (reflected in facial expression, body language, etc.) Lack of customary grunt/squeal
GOOD BATTING TECHNIQUES 1 Good batters are always balanced even in awkward positions.The more you are balanced the more solid your swing will be and in a comfortable position you put less tension into the whole act of batting so keeps you smooth.
2 When at bat you have to have a good rhythm and a slight almost unnoticeable movement in your stance.This will give you the primed feeling for when the ball is released from the pitchers hand. If you look at all the top batters there is always that little movement in their stance.This is to have you in the ready position and not stationary then snap into action which will give you a very jerky swing and sometimes looped.
3 A slight but smooth weight shift from back to front will give you a good firm stance in the box and enable you to hit the ball harder.
4 The front foot is often ignored or simply not noticed when it is open to the pitcher.It is important to keep it closed to the pitcher both in your stance and if you stride to land with it closed to the pitcher as it prevents your shoulders opening to early and throw off your swing.
5 Because both the bat load and the stride are two seperate movements make sure the bat is in the loaded position before you complete your stride,and make sure your foot is planted at the release of the ball.
6 Never be afraid to go to the ball and always be positive as a hesitation can go against you in the count.Open early and line drive those inside balls but let the outside balls come to you a little more for you to line drive.Good pitch choice will enable you to hit to all the field.
7 I know it is easier said than done but try to relax in the box you will have a much more smooth dluent swing if you are not tense.Being tense will tighten the muscles you are about to use.
8 Keep you head down even after hitting the ball,you will see the ball for longer and give yourself better balance in the swing.
9 If you hit the ball where it is pitched you will use the whole field which will make you a less predictive batter.Good pitch choice is important so hit the pitch to your strengths and leave the balls to the catcher as a walk is as good a a base hit.
10 Remember to swing through your hit even after contact or you will end up with softer easier to catch hits.