Separation of Powers

There are many things you can do to improve your swing, all of which we will cover in coming

blogs. There are, however, a few things to keep in mind:

1. A quality at-bat does not mean getting on base every time (more about this later).

2. You hit for your team, not yourself. What you do impacts their game and at-bat.

3. Keep your eye on the ball.

4. "Yes, yes, no" mindset. You have to think the pitch will be a strike until you know it

isn't. Unless you are told to take the pitch, or not swing, be ready to whack the ball!

5. Home-runs are not always effective or realistic! If you think you are going to hit a

home-run and smash the ball every time- rather than focusing on what the game

requires you to do- chances are, you will strike out more often than not.

6. If you are struggling with a specific thing whenever you get up to the plate, it can be

helpful to repeat a phrase that reminds you to focus on that challenge-area. For

instance, if you struggle with keeping your eye on the ball, repeat a phrase that will

remind you to do it.

7. Striking out is part of the game.

8 Have fun!

Quality At-Bat

A quality at-bat does not necessarily mean getting a base-hit or scoring a run, whether it is a

home run or an RBI (runs batted in). You can achieve a quality at-bat by accomplishing one of

these eight things:

1. Hard hit

2. Hit by pitch

3. Base on balls

4. Six pitch at-bat not ending in a strike-out

5. Nine pitch at-bat even ending in a strike-out

6. Move runners with 0 outs

7. Score runner from 3 with less than 2 outs

8. Catchers interference

It is important to note that although these are the standards for a quality at-bat, not even

professional players do one of these on every turn.

The Main Point

The fun part about batting for many players is the getting on base. It establishes a sense of

pride and achievement that getting walked doesn't usually bring. There are two main ways

to get on base: get walked or get a hit. But how do you actually improve your hitting?

It is important to know that a swing is divided into two main powers: the upper body and the

lower body. While there is some strength in the upper body, a majority of the power behind

a hard-hit ball is in the lower body.

While this is true, the technique of the lower body is much easier to learn than that of the

upper body. The upper body requires muscle memory and thousands of reps to truly master.

So, beginning with the upper body, we will begin to explore correct form and position to put

your full force behind the ball.