Skip to main content

Reply to "Hitting Tips"

The first thing to avoiding a HBP relates to vision. As a hitter are you seeing the ball well? Do you wear glasses? Have you had your vision checked. The key to hitting is seeing the ball well and the same with avoiding being hit by a ball. If you pick up the ball as early as possible you have more reaction time and this is the whole key to confident at bats. If you are sure vision is not an issue then you MUST practice getting out of the way of the ball to become empowered with the knowledge you possess the skill to get out of the way. You MUST remove this fear or you will never have effective at bats. The best way to practice this skill is to stand in the box and have a friend pitch to you throwing tennis balls as if he is pitching for real and you are hitting for real. Where a helmet, wear eye protection. Have him throw at closer range, to match reaction time from normal distance and then occasionally, throw a ball at you. There is actually proper technique and it involves turning AWAY from the ball, (not into it!) while pointing the bat towards the backstop and tracking the ball while you avoid it. One of the important things is to not lose sight of the ball until you know it's trajectory, then avoid getting hit by it. Occasionally practice taking a slow breaking pitch off the body safely, avoiding bone contact and this helps you realize a HBP may sting but you'll be OK. Always maintain your normal approach expecting strikes and swing at tennis balls that are strikes. Remember- Good hitters avoid HBP and are good at hitting because they are skilled at seeing the ball well. 

×
×
×
×