Learning baseball as a sport is something that happens over time. You might even switch positions at some point, and you definitely need to know what your teammates are up to as well right? Baseball is a team effort, and you’re about to find out some things that can help you improve your game.
There is a lot of sprinting in baseball. Whether you need to steal a base or run to home plate, sprinting is essential. To help increase the speed of your sprinting, run short drills. Time yourself running from home plate to first base. When you begin, power off to gain the maximum speed.
One of the best things you can do before any game is to drink plenty of water. Baseball is generally played during the Spring and Summer months, meaning the weather is quite warm. Baseball players use a lot of energy running bases and running after balls. Therefore, it is important that you stay hydrated to avoid a heat stroke.
Be aware of the location of each baseball player. Usually, collisions can be prevented when you are always aware of your teammates’ locations. Players can receive head injuries if they collide too hard. To avoid a collision, let your teammates know when you’re going after the baseball.
Become the number one hustler on your baseball team. Your ethics could easily rub off and improve those of your teammates. A hustler can change a losing team into a winning team. You can be the difference maker and team leader that people look to for answers.
When catching a fly ball, use both hands on the glove. It may be tempting just to use your glove hand, but that may lead to an unforeseen error if you’re careless. Your better bet is to position yourself under the ball, and trap the ball in your glove with your free hand once it hits the glove.
When swinging a bat in baseball, make sure that you follow-through with your swing. Your bat’s momentum, whether or not there is contact, helps you follow through. Without following through, there won’t be much power since the swing may slow down prior to making contact. This is why the follow-through is essential.
To field a ground ball properly, make sure that you start with your glove on the ground. Shuffle to one side or the other to get the ball in front of you, and then move the glove up if necessary. If you start with the glove up, the ball is likely to go under it.
When trying to catch a ground ball, always avoid reaching across your entire body. A quick shuffle to either side to keep your glove ahead of the ball is more effective. Otherwise, the ball may graze the side of the glove when you attempt to catch it.
Stay relaxed when trying to catch a ball. A stiff hand always leads to a missed catch. To keep your hand relaxed wear the glove until it feels like it is a part of your hand. If the glove doesn’t fit right, you will miss a lot of catches.
To lay down a successful bunt, keep the head of the bat above the handle. If the head dips down, you are more likely to pop your bunt up. Keeping the head up allows you to bunt the top half of the ball, pushing it down toward the ground.
A knuckleball can be thrown by gripping the seams. That will ensure the ball is spinless, following the wind and moving at the last second. The pitch is a success when the batter swings and misses.
As a pitcher, it is important to listen to what your body is telling you. Shoulder injuries are common when a pitcher continues to overuse his arm. Try to practice three times or less a week to reduce the chance of shoulder injuries. That way, the shoulder can rest often.
As you now know a few more things about baseball, it’s time for you to use them on the field. The more you know about the sport, the more fun you are going to have playing. And, the more you are going to be helpful to your team as well.
