Thursday, June 23, 2011

Advanced Baseball Tactics Used by the Pros

By Athena Hunter


There are no shortcuts to excellence in any sport, and of course that includes baseball as well. It takes years of practice and hard work. Yet the learning curve can be reduced by absorbing the wisdom of time tested strategies. There are many nuances in everything, and baseball is no different. The playing of the game is not an issue because hopefully you want to play it. Enjoying a baseball game on TV is more than entertainment because you are watching to learn, as well.

The double play is generally fun to achieve and even though experienced players seem to do it with ease, it is very difficult for inexperienced players to accomplish. To prepare for the double play, which means a runner is on first, the first and third basemen remain where they normally are. The second baseman and shortstop, however, should both position themselves closer to second base than usual. This is because if a ground ball is picked up by either of them, the other one can get the play done on second base and then throw the ball to first base and finish off the double play. This is a play that should be regularly practiced in drills. Hitting is one of the most crucial as well as hardest component in baseball. It does not matter if you play in the little leagues or the minor leagues, you have to make solid contact with the ball if anything good is going to be accomplished. The batter has to have a good stance and be balanced and very relaxed while standing on the plate. The most critical thing about being an exceptional hitter has to do with the ability to keep your eye on the ball at all times. Relax your shoulders as your turn to hit the ball and keep a solid, but not rigid grip on the bat. Swinging drills can aid players to watch the ball as they swing and make their ability to perform better.

The double play is always fun and even though pros make it look simple, it can be very hard for inexperienced players to learn. To get ready for the double play, this means that a runner stands on first base and the first and third basemen stay in their regular places. The second baseman and shortstop, however, should move closer to the second base than in regular play. This way, if a ground ball is hit to either of them, the other can cover second base and then throw to first to complete the double play. This is a practice drill play that should be done constantly. All players should be knowledgeable about the tagging up practice. If there are players currently on the bases and there are no more than two outs, a runner can tag up or run to the next base when a fly ball is caught. It is important that you understand that the play cannot run until the after the ball has been caught. This difficult run is many time attempted when a player is on third base trying to get home and the ball is very far out in the outfield. This can be a scoring run. Whereas the player in the outfield could have a good arm, which means the runner had better be very fast in order to get to home plate.

While some hitters have more natural talent for making contact with the ball than others, the best way to improve hitting skills for everyone is practice. A batting tee can be a useful training device for anyone from young children to adults. This is a resource that can be used during the off season just as much as the regular baseball season. So it will help a batter to improve and practice his swing all year round. Even practicing your swing in the air can be helpful, especially if you visualize hitting the ball. Coaches should also try monitor every batter very closely and see if there are things that need to be improved. This is because a few hitters should chance the way they stand or grip the bat.

There is no substitute for hard work and practice if you want to play better or learn how to coach others. Remember that those who have a passion for the game are often the ones who make it to the big leagues.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...