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10 Keys to Hitting a Baseball or Softball:

I hit .417 as a senior in high school, and really didn't even try. How did that happen? Well, it wasn't my intense dedication; it was who I thought was the best baseball coach I ever had. He taught us from the feet up how to hit a baseball and it really did wonders for us. Of course his teaching came from the greats like Charlie Lau and George Brett but the way he introduced us and taught us has stuck with me for 20+ years and I am still seeing the benefits of it with my own daughters.

1) 10 toes to the plate make you great- you need to have your feet about shoulder width apart and in a comfortable position with your toes facing the plate. They will never perfectly face the plate but the more they face the better. If anything you would want them pointed a little more in than out.

The closer your feet are to the plate the better in order to cover tough outside pitches, but you don't have too. Keep in mind that young kids don't have to be too close to the plate because they will get hit more and might get scared out of playing. Just get close enough to hit strikes from the middle to the outside of the plate. Bend your knees and be balanced. If you feel more comfortable in a wider stance then you can widen your stance. Don't shorten your stance too much after getting at shoulder width. If you want to bend your knees more, then do so. Whatever is comfortable to you is the key.

2) Grip it and rip it- Grab the bat at the bottom of the base close to the knob with your left hand if you are right handed. Hold the bat out in front of you with your left hand and point the end of the bat to the outfield. Bring the bat back down, across the plate, then up to your opposite right shoulder and rest it on your right shoulder. Now put your right hand on the bat above your left hand. IMPORTANT: Try you hardest to line your "door knocking" knuckles up on on the bat when you get your hands set. By lining up your door knocking knuckles, not fighting knuckles, you will create a swing that is a more level, line drive, high average swing. If you can hit for average, the homers will come later. You can tweak your swing as you get older and stronger too. When you are young you want to learn to "hit it through the fence, not over it" in order to create that line drive, high average swing. This will teach your kid to hit the ball right and gain confidence and have MORE fun and want to play MORE! Rest the bat on

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