How to Become a Better Baseball Player

Baseball is a game that requires its players to combine traditional athletic talents such as strength, speed, and power with a very specific set of skills that are not found in other sports. If you are looking to improve your game, you will get the best results by incorporating practice methods that address all these different aspects.

Things You'll Need

• Personal baseball equipment - baseball glove, bat, spikes (cleats), balls
• Baseball conditioning book or program (optional)
• Video camera
• Windows Media Player or similar to play back video in slow motion

Instructions

1. Improve your baseball skills such as hitting and fielding by practicing them frequently. Baseball is a game that requires you to learn and refine skills by practicing them with lots of repetitions. Make and follow a schedule for practicing that has you working on these skills several times a week. You will master the motor skills used in baseball much better by having four 45-minute practice sessions a week than if you were to practice once a week for 3 hours, even though they both involve the same number of minutes.

2. Strive to practice perfectly. The old saying "practice makes perfect", is better worded as "perfect practice makes perfect". A player can easily fall into the trap of thinking that taking a hundred practice swings will make him better, when in truth, a hundred swings done incorrectly will only further ingrain bad mechanics and habits. It would be better to make 50 of the best swings possible, analyzing what went right and wrong after each swing or group of swings.

3. Work to develop a stronger and more accurate throwing arm. Throwing is an integral part of the game, so you should spend an appropriate amount of time on this part of your development. Use two or three sessions of long-toss training per week, and you will gain arm strength and endurance. After warming up, make multiple throws on a line just above head high (not a big arc), at challenging distances. A young player might make 20-25 throws at 75- 90 feet, while a high school aged player may make 30- 40 throws at distances up to 150 feet. Start with a conservative long-toss workout and graduate to more taxing ones as you gain arm strength.

4. Get physically stronger and you will improve as a baseball player. Hitting, running, fielding, and throwing are all aspects of baseball that will benefit from an increase in strength. Take part in a strength training program at least three times a week. Children can do a simple series of exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and swinging heavy bats. Older players should get involved in a weight training program designed by a professional. The resources section lists some books that detail baseball-specific conditioning programs.

5. Use video to make yourself a better baseball player. Modern technology has made it possible for the average person to be able to afford a very good video camera. Take video of your practices and games, and afterward load them onto your computer at home and review them. This can be a real eye-opening experience. The ability to slow things down and replay them will allow you to see things that you would never have noticed otherwise. Take note of one or two specific things at a time, and address those at the next practice session.

References

• Book: Complete Conditioning for Baseball, Steve Tamborra, 2008

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Books on Improving Baseball Skills and Conditioning