Things You'll Need:
- Bat
- Batting cage or open area
- Baseball
- Baseball helmet
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Step 1
Set aside at least an hour a day, several times a week, to gain the most from batting practice. Repetition is key in learning the fundamentals, and not being dedicated to the task will only make it harder in the long run to learn.
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Step 2
Stand to the side of home plate appropriate to your handedness (to the right for lefties, to the left for righties) and place your feet at or beyond shoulder-length apart.
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Step 3
Raise the bat above your head near your inside ear, keeping your inside arm level with the ground. Keep your back arm as far back as is comfortable while keeping your body square with the plate.
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Step 4
Look to the pitcher or ball machine and wait for the pitch.
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Step 5
Watch the ball as it heads towards home plate.
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Step 6
Swing at the ball as it reaches a point close enough to make contact. This point will differ depending on the speed and location of the pitch, but it is generally a few feet in front of the plate.
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Step 7
Swing at the ball by stepping forward with your forward foot first, then proceeding with the swing motion. Moving your foot forward first will generate added energy when you make contact with the ball, pushing it farther once hit.
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Step 8
Follow through after you've made contact! Don't stop swinging until you've brought the bat all the way around. Stopping mid-swing will actually eliminate some of your swing's power.
