How to Get Better at Batting

Whether you're on a little league team or in an adult baseball league, becoming a skilled batter is crucial to your game. To hit well you must develop power, the proper form, rhythm, reaction time and quick hands. You must also study the strike zone so you know when to swing. Practice your stance and swing, then perform some drills that are designed specifically to improve your batting. You can practice some of these drills alone, but for others you'll need the assistance of a pitcher and catcher.

Things You'll Need

  • Bat
  • Batting tee
  • Wiffle balls
  • Flat soccer ball
  • Colored baseballs
  • Bucket
  • Catcher's glove
  • Pitcher
  • Catcher
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Instructions

    • 1

      Incorporate a decent strength and conditioning program into your training, no matter what your age. Perform exercises such as crunches and push-ups to increase your bat speed, power and overall strength.

    • 2

      Pick a bat you can handle well, according to Cal Ripken Sr. on Baseball Corner.com. Stand with your feet placed slightly wider than shoulder width apart for optimal balance. Keep your chin and front shoulder tucked in. Hold the bat at a 45-degree angle to avoid unnecessary movement while you swing. Hold your back elbow close to your side to aid your hands and bat in swinging through the ball. Take a short stride when you swing to help with balance. Stay on top of the ball by swinging through with a slight downward angle, as this will help eliminate uppercutting.

    • 3

      Practice your batting technique by repeatedly hitting wiffle balls off a batting tee with your bat. Your batting will improve if you can hit the wiffle balls cleanly off the batting tee. If the ball spins a lot, make adjustments to your swing until you hit the ball straight and can hear the air going through it.

    • 4

      Increase your batting power by repeatedly hitting a flat soccer ball off the batting tee with your bat. Attempt to strike the ball with no bat deceleration at the point of impact. Concentrate on the proper mechanics as you swing and accelerate the bat to power through the heavier ball. Keep the ball's flight path level and remember that your hitting power is a result of the speed of the bat at the impact point.

    • 5

      Improve your thinking and reaction time at the plate. Place several different colored baseballs in a bucket behind the pitcher's mound. Have someone pick a ball to pitch to you without letting you see the color. He should yell out a color and then pitch you the ball. If the color he shouts out is the same color as the ball, you can swing at it (if it's in the strike zone).

    • 6

      Improve your strike zone recognition by calling the pitches instead of swinging. Take your batting stance at the plate and have someone pitch baseballs to you from the pitcher's mound. Place someone else as the catcher behind you. As each ball is thrown, take your stride and follow the ball with your head. Instead of swinging, call out whether the pitch is a strike or a ball as it hits the catcher's glove.