How to Become a Great Hitter

If there is one sure-fire way to make sure you're invaluable to your baseball team, it's to be a great fielder. If, however, you want to be a truly outstanding baseball player, then you also have to become a great hitter. Here's how to do so:

Things You'll Need

• Time to practice
• A video camera
• A good coach
• A quality baseball bat
• Access to a batting cage

Instructions

How to Become an Outstanding Hitter

1. Record your swing whenever possible. This trick, which is widely used throughout the golf world, is a great tool for those who want to become better-than-average hitters. Whenever possible, record your hitting with a video camera so that you can look back and examine your mechanics for any problems.

2. Make the batting cage your second home. You should, particularly during the offseason, be at the batting cage practicing your hitting as much as possible.

3. Work with your coach. If you're having trouble, don't be afraid to ask your coach for help. They may even opt to help you out by working with you one-on-one after practice.

4. Be consistent. Great batters always use the same mechanics, stance, swing speed, and other techniques, time and time again. This consistency is one of the hallmarks of successful batters and it should definitely be a goal for you.

5. Emulate successful baseball players around you. Watch the people around you who demonstrate great batting skills and then imitate them. Ask them if they have any tips for you.

6. Put in the time. As with anything else, practice will make your baseball game perfect. In the end, it's really a question of how much time you're willing to spend on practicing to become a great batter.

Tips & Warnings

• * Many of the commercially sold "batter aids" and teaching materials are actually negative for most people who are trying to learn successful batting techniques. Instead, practice at a batting cage to get real results.

• * Practice at the speed level that's normal for your level of baseball. If you practice against pitching that's too slow, or too fast, it may actually hurt you in gametime situations.

• * Don't ignore the other facets of your baseball game just so that you can become a great batter. Hitting is important, but experts will tell you that the absolute key to becoming an all-around successful baseball player is, without a doubt, fielding.