Batting Tips
There should be the same tip atop all lists of batting tips and that is: there are no absolutes in hitting. You can take some batting tips to heart but there is no one piece of advice that is going to hold true for any batter all of the time. Every single person needs to develop what works for him and sometimes it’s inevitable that what works for you will go against all conventional batting wisdom.
Begin with equipment. Choose a bat that is just right for you. Major league players all have different bats for a reason. No one bat can work for everyone. Test out as many different bats as you possibly can before choosing the bat that is just right for you.
Once you have chosen the right bat for you, develop a pre-batting routine you are comfortable with and stick with it no matter what. It can involve swinging the bat a certain number of times, adjusting the gloves, pounding the tip of the bat on the ground or against your cleats a few times before stepping into the batter’s box--anything that can give you a set routine that you can use every single time you go to bat.
It is setting up this type of ritual for every single at bat that will help you approach the plate the same every time. It doesn’t matter if your team is a dozen runs behind or you are tied in the bottom of the ninth, a ritual will center you and allow you the utmost concentration at the plate. You can see it by watching Major League hitters. They go through the same little pre-batting routine every time whether the team is ahead or behind, whether it is the first game of the season or the last game of the World Series.
Don’t swing at bad pitches. All really good hitters can work the count in their favor at least some of the time. Whether knowing the strike zone is a natural instinctual gift or it can be taught is a dilemma sometimes even among batting coaches. But there is no question that the more you work on hitting baseballs that are undoubtedly in the zone and not swinging at pitches obviously way outside or high heaters at eye level, the more chances you will have at getting solid swings and solid hits.
Never go up to bat with the goal of hitting a walk-off home run or doing something remarkable to save the game or the day. Certainly approach the plate with great self-confidence but concentrate on getting a good swing on the ball and on moving the runners along. Make the pitcher work. Get a good pitch to hit. Undisciplined hitters can come through in a jam with a big hit. But the strategy that is going to work time and time again is to know the strike zone and wait for your pitch to hit.
All really great batters have good mechanics. No collection of batting tips is going to help you improve if you are starting out with bad mechanics. As you develop as a batter you will need your coach or even other teammates who are good hitters to take a look at you when you swing to see if you are doing the right things. The guys who are the best hitters are the ones who have developed a balanced stance at the plate. They keep movement at the plate down to a minimum and take a short stride but with a solid weight shift. They also hold the bat close to the body at a 45-degree angle, keeping the elbow as close to the body as possible.
Every baseball player has strengths and weaknesses as a hitter. The key is to play to your strengths and try to eliminate as many weaknesses as possible. And be a team player. A sacrifice fly or bunt that moves a runner along is more valuable than striking out because you were trying to hit it over the wall no matter what.