Kitting kids out for softball or baseball practice usually starts with buying the right team colors, shoes, mitts, helmet...but spending the money on a new softball bat? Is it really worth it?
Well, yes: it's essential that a child has a bat that suits them because if the bat is the wrong size or weight then it will hinder your child's development. Doesn't really matter what you wear, after all. What matters in softball, baseball - in fact, most sports - is how you perform. So the most important area to focus on, especially for young players, is how to improve your play. And since we're talking about bats we'll concentrate in this article on hitting rather than the other aspects of the game.
It's all very well to allow your kids to get out in the park and practice hit till it's too dark to see, but unless they learn correct techniques from the off, they're in danger of ingraining bad habits into their performance. And those kinda things take much longer to iron out than they do to get used to.
First thing without question is that the bat must be the right size. The bat must fit just as well as shoes or helmet, so test out a bat by holding it out parallel to the ground for about 15 seconds: if that's too long a time, or the bat wobbles, it's likely that bat's too heavy for that player. It's a function of size and weight, so you need to try different bats so you find a bat that suits.
It's always good to practice swings as if you were standing at the plate. Even if you haven't got a home plate where you practice, make one out of paper or card and take it with you. This will help you get used to putting your feet in the right place to address the ball at the plate, standing neither too close nor too far.
Probably the key to strong hitting is good bat speed. You can try developing this with donuts: first add a donut for eight pitches, then try eight without the extra weight. Doing this a couple of times a week will gradually improve bat speed, resulting in better hitting. But however fast you can swing the bat it makes no difference if you can't connect with the ball!
So what about ways to improve your ability to get the bat on the ball? One good way to improve hand-eye co-ordination is to practice with a smaller ball - like a plastic golf ball, for instance. Tossing smaller balls to be hit will force the batter to keep his or her focus firmly on the ball's progress through the air, right up to the moment of impact. Watching the ball till the moment it's actually struck by the bat is the secret to getting bat to ball. Watch the ball all the way on to your bat. Takes practice and concentration, but with feet planted at the moment of impact and body set, you swing through the ball which your eyes are following till the moment you strike.
Actually hitting home runs regularly may be another matter! But it will certainly help if you first of all get hold of a bat which suits you and the way you like to play. There's no question it's worth obtaining the best bat you can manage. Regularly practicing with a bat that 'fits' will do wonders for your hitting.
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