The phrase "natural ability" covers a great deal. It means strong arms, wrists and hands; quick reflexes, good coordination, perfect eyesight and speed afoot.

Regardless of how much natural ability a boy has, however, he won't hit as well as he should if he doesn't master the fundamentals and believe in his ability to hit the ball as it comes through the strike zone. Self-confidence, of course, stems from success. And success in batting comes from batting practice. The following text describes the mechanics of hitting as they apply to ball players in general. By following the principles involved, the well-coordinated boy could easily become the batting star of his team; the average boy could certainly become a better-than-average hitter.

THE STANCE

If a batting boy is right-handed, he should turn his left side to the pitcher; the right side if left-handed.

The body should be fairly erect and relaxed with the weight distributed evenly on both feet. The hips and shoulders should be level. The feet should be shoulder-width apart with the toe of the front foot even with the instep of the rear foot. When the ball is being delivered, the batter's heels should be up slightly, his knees flexed slightly. A most apt phrase is -"stand on the big toes!"

THE STRIDE

As the ball is being delivered to the plate, the batter should raise his front foot just above the ground and slide it forward (toward pitcher) about six inches. This step, a critical part of hitting, begins what is generally termed "timing". All other movements that are a part of batting flow from it.


Fig. 1	Fig. 2
As Indicated at left, batter's body should face pitcher slightly, with toe of front foot about in line with instep of rear foot. Middle of batter body should also be about opposite tail end of plate. Batter's hips and shoulders should always be level, as shown in sketch at right

To learn batting and practice The Stride, beginners should first take the stance just described and place hands on hips. Then, simply step forward. And back. Forward. And back. Forward. And back.

Now, well begin to build on the timing cycle. As the front foot comes down, the batter is to rotate the trunk toward the pitcher. From the hips up, he twists the body sharply and as far as it will go.

Again stand with the feet shoulder-width apart, toe of front even with instep of back foot. Place hands on hips. "Stand on the big toes."

Ready for batting? Step-and-twist. Back to starting position.
Again step-and-twist. Back.
Step-and-twist. Back

Arm and Hand Positions

Let's try now to add the arm movements to The Stance and then coordinate them with The Stride.

Right-handed batters: place your left palm against the front of your right shoulder, little finger down, thumb up. Move the left hand forward about six inches and make a fist.

Left-handed batters: place your right palm against the front of your left shoulder, little finger down, thumb up. Move the right hand forward about six inches and make a fist.

The elbow of the arm that is now extended across the body should have almost no bend in it and there should be no strain on the arm. This is the arm and hand that guide the bat through the swing. The opposite arm and hand provide the batting power.

Make a fist with the Power Hand and place it on top of the Guiding Hand.

Raise the elbow of the Power Arm so it is level with the top of the shoulder. There will be some strain there. Drop this elbow slowly until there is no strain. (The elbow of the Power Arm should come to a stop about two inches below the top of the shoulder.)

Keep elbows and hands away from the body in batting!

THE SWING

Now you're ready to start the Swing. Try it as follows:

Assume the Batting Stance with arms and hands in proper batting position.

Move both hands slowly away from the body until the arms are fully extended in front of the Power Shoulder. Bend both wrists down as far as they will go. Move the arms slowly toward the imaginary pitch. As the hands come in front of the Guiding Shoulder, stop. That's about where the bat will make contact with the ball. Once that contact is made, roll the wrists toward the pitcher as far as they will go and continue the swing, carrying the arms as far around the body as you can reach.

Practice the move slowly a few times, then increase the speed of the swing.

You should be ready now to work it into the foot and body batting movements.

HIT AGAINST THE FRONT FOOT

The hitter should start the swing a split second after the front foot strikes the ground. As the front foot digs in, the hips twist and the arms and hands snap the bat out and around. Without a bat, go smoothly from one movement to another. Make it one fluid surge of batting power. Here we go batting!

Take the Batting Stance.

Ready for batting? Step. Twist-and-Swing. Back
Step. Twist-and-Swing. Back.
Step. Twist-and-Swing. Back.

Pick up a bat. Look for the label or trademark, and swing the bat slowly. As the bat goes over the plate, that trademark should always be straight up or facing the ground. If it isn't, you will be hitting against the grain of the wood and the bat is apt to split. Now, turn your hands so the middle knuckles are about in a straight line.

Again assume the batting stance. The big end of the bat should be pointing skyward and not laid back so it is horizontal. Without moving the feet, bring the bat through the swing, using the form you practiced before. As the bat gets directly in front of the body, stop batting. Is the bat level with the ground? If not, raise or lower the end and continue the swing. Try batting again, with the stride, and KEEP THE BAT LEVEL WITH THE GROUND!

Start the batting cycle once more and check yourself.

Stance-Are hands and feet in proper position? Are hips and shoulders level? Is the body fairly erect and relaxed? Is it balanced on the big toes?

Step-Twist-Swing-Was the label of the bat up as it went across the plate? Was the swing level with the ground? Were the arms fully extended for batting. Did you roll your wrists? Did you go all the way around-"follow through"?

Once the batter learns the proper form, he is ready to step to the plate and face a pitcher.

IN THE BATTER'S BOX

Generally speaking, the back end of the plate should be about even with the middle of the hitter's body. The big end of the bat should extend to one or two inches beyond the outside edge of the plate when the arms are fully extended for batting.

The type of pitcher and the situation tells the batter how to adjust. If the pitcher is very fast and relies on his fast ball most of the time, the batter should stand as far back as possible. If the pitcher uses a curve most of the time, the batter ought to move to the front of the box and try to hit the curve before it breaks. If a runner is on base and the "Steal" sign is flashed, the batter should stand back as far as he can so the catcher will be forced back a few steps, adding to the length of his throw. If the count is 3 balls and no strikes, the batter should crowd the plate and make as tough a target as he can for the pitcher.

HIT IT WHERE IT'S PITCHED!

Once the pitcher starts his move, the batter wants to stand absolutely still, but relaxed, never taking his eyes off the pitcher. He concentrates most when the pitcher is about to release the ball. It's not a good batting practice to try to follow the ball all through the pitcher's windup. As the ball comes whistling toward the plate, the batter must get into the habit of watching it all the way-until it actually meets the bat. He must not pull his head away from the plate until after the ball has been hit.

	Batter should adjust forward step to hit ball where it's pitched
Fig. 3

The batter must start the weight forward early! Take your stride as the pitcher's striding foot hits the ground.

Starting batting the forward stride and striding in the right direction are equally important. Always step toward the ball, but move so that the ball will arrive near the "meat end" of the bat.

For example: If the pitch comes directly over the center of the plate, the hitter can step along a line parallel to one running between the pitcher and the plate. (He has already made certain, with his practice swing, that the heavy end of the bat would come over the heart of the plate). If the ball is wide, he should adjust the direction of his step accordingly. He cannot possibly hit the ball well if he steps the same way on an inside and outside pitch-he must adjust the step.

In addition, he must adjust the level of his swing if the ball is low. If the batter holds his hands in the position advocated here-just below the level of the batting Power Shoulder-he need only adjust the hands for pitches in the strike zone that are above the belt line. Below the belt line, he should bend his knees so that the bat still remains level with the ground as it goes around.

Except when trying to place-hit, always hit the ball in front, or to the pitcher's side of the batting plate.

Now, we come to the problem of where to hit the ball. Ball players talk a great deal about "pulling" the ball and "hitting to right", or "hitting to left". The best slogan for a young hitter to adopt is this one: "hit the ball where it is pitched." That means this to a right hand hitter (the opposite to a left-hander): If the ball is "outside", hit directly into right field. If it's inside, hit into left field. If it's over the center of the plate, hit into center field. By doing this you can hit with full batting power and have a better chance of getting solid wood on the ball. You also keep the defense from "ganging" up on you. A boy who always hits to the same field is not as valuable to his team as the boy who hits to all fields.

This matter of hitting the ball where it is pitched applies to the curve as well as the fast ball. As a matter of fact, it's probably more important to follow this practice when batting against a curve-ball pitcher. A curve to a right hand hitter is normally going down and to the outside. The hitter might be able to hit the ball if he strides straight ahead, but most of the time the end of the bat will be pulling away from the ball.

A right hand hitter should hit the outside curve ball into right field-just as he would the outside pitch; the left hand hitter should try to whack it into left.

Aim at the Hitting Lanes

The batter's constant objective is to "hit the ball where they ain't, which is a crude way of saying: hit between the fielders. It will help the hitter if, when he stands at the plate, he tries to visualize the "hitting lanes". He should carry a mental batting picture of lines running from the plate to the outfield, but between the third baseman and 3rd base; between the third baseman and the shortstop; over 2nd base; between the second baseman and the first baseman and between the first baseman and 1st base. He should try to drive the ball down one of these lines, depending on where it is pitched. The hitting lanes give the batter five definite targets, instead of a single "blind" one.

DON'T GUESS-HIT

This writer is a strong opponent of "guess hitting" for amateur batting players. The guess hitter tries to decide before the pitch is delivered whether it's going to be a fast ball or a curve. He also decides whether or not he will swing at the next pitch. Only an exceptionally talented hitter can do this successfully. The average hitter can't afford to be fooled, or to let a good pitch go by, which is just what he'll do every time he "guesses" wrong.

The best advice for any youngster is this batting:

Be ready to hit every pitch. Be ready to hit it to any field.

Always expect the fast ball and it will never fool you. If the pitcher throws a curve, you have time to adjust your swing. You may at least get enough wood on the ball to foul it off, which gives you another chance.

Bunting

Bunting is essentially a part of hitting, but the technique is very different. In the old days, a well executed bunt gave the fans a thrill. Now, the home run is the great attraction. Nevertheless, the bunt is an important weapon for the team at bat. Players and managers alike realize this, of course, when it fails to work at a crucial point in the Big Game.

The bunt is used for two purposes-to advance a runner; to get the batter on base. Since each bunt has a different objective, each is executed differently.

The "sacrifice" bunt is used to put the ball on the ground out of reach of any fielder so that a runner, or runners, will have enough time to advance one or more bases.

Too often, youngsters think more about getting on base than putting the ball down. This reverses the intent of the "sacrifice".

To sacrifice, the batter turns the feet and body so that he faces the pitcher squarely. Imagine, for the moment, that the hitter is right-handed. As the pitcher gets on the rubber, the batter takes his normal batting position. Just as the pitcher starts his throwing move, the batter turns left, stepping back and left with the left foot. He moves his right foot up to the spot vacated by the left. In two quick steps the feet should be parallel, with the toes pointing at the pitcher. The right foot should be even with the plate and just inside the batter's box.

To get the feeling of this batting particular skill, forget for the moment that a bat is to be used. Pretend, instead, that you are going to catch the pitched ball. If the ball were high, you might straighten up a bit. If low, you would squat slightly. You would also have your arms extended toward the pitcher with your hands where you could see them, following the flight of the ball.

Follow the same principle when using a bat.

CATCH IT WITH THE BATTING

Before going any further with the act of bunting, let's turn our attention to the bat grip. If you are a right hand batter, make a fist with the right hand, with the little finger facing the ground. Extend the index finger and raise the thumb. Now crook the index finger as though you would pull the trigger of a gun. Put the bat between thumb and forefinger at a point some two to four inches above the label and squeeze hard. (Be sure the flesh doesn't extend over the hitting surface.) The V formed in back of the bat between thumb and forefinger acts as a cushion and will absorb the shock of the ball hitting the bat.

Wrap the left hand very loosely around the bat just under the knob (palm down). Extend the arms forward. Keep the bat level with the ground and "catch" the ball with the meat end, which should be extended into the strike zone.

To place the ball toward 1st, keep the right hand rigid, push the left hand forward. In batting, to bunt to 3rd, keep the right hand rigid, pull the left hand back. But always "catch" the ball as though you had a glove on-don't poke or jab at it. (Opposite applies for left hand hitters.)

*Batter should adjust forward step to hit ball where it's pitched*
	Fig. 4

BUNT THE STRIKE!

When a batter is ordered to sacrifice, he never tries to lay down a bad pitch. If, after turning to the bunting position, the pitch looks like a ball, the hitter should deliberately yank the heavy end of the bat back. This helps convince an uncertain umpire, aids the runner and avoids the possibility of a foul tip.

A batter should always anticipate a sign for the sacrifice when a runner is on 1st, 1st and 2nd with none out and the score close. All of the circumstances involved are described in more detail in Chapter 20.

BUNTING FOR THE HIT

The right and left hand batter move differently when bunting to get on base but both need the element of surprise to be successful batting. The right-hander, at the last possible moment, draws back his right foot and puts his weight on it. At the same time, he brings both hands diagonally down and to the left until they are in front of the left hip. He then pulls the left hand back, letting the bat slide through the right until just before it reaches the label.

The bat is now level with the ground with the end extending into the strike zone. The left hand is close to the left hip, but above and in back of it. The right hand is about eight inches in front and above the left hip.

The batter is now in position to "chase" the ball. He pushes off the back foot and goes after it with the left foot leading. The batting ball should make contact with the bat at just about the time the left foot strikes the ground. The batter then keeps going for 1st base.

To reconstruct:

The pitcher's arm is coming down. Just before the ball reaches the plate, the batter rocks back on his right foot, drops the bat, steps toward it with the left foot, bunts and keeps going.

If the ball is wide, he faces the bat toward 1st and, in a sense, tries to keep contact with it as he runs toward 1st.

If it's an inside pitch, he makes his step toward 3rd to bunt the ball.

The left hand batter, also striving for batting surprise, brings the bat down and takes his step with a single batting motion. The right hand drops to a point just above the right hip; the bat slides through the left until just before it reaches the label. The first step is also made with the back foot-but it's a cross over-step as the body pivots right. The left foot crosses in front of the right and toward 1st base if the pitch is inside, toward the mound if outside. After the ball is bunted, of course, the batter keeps running.

As the left hand batter gets more proficient with the "drag" bunt, he can start concentrating on just where to place it. He should try to put the ball at the first baseman's extreme right and the pitcher's extreme left in the bunting area. If he can force the first baseman, or even the second baseman, to field the ball in this area, he has a base hit. If the first baseman ignores the bunt, it will take both the second baseman and pitcher too long to get to the ball to make the put-out. If the first baseman fields the ball, the second baseman or pitcher will have to cover 1st base, which will be very difficult.

One more thought in batting : The batter should remember that he doesn't have to bunt the ball. Actually, he should bunt the pitch he likes best. Many right hand bunters like the ball low and outside. Left hand batters usually like the inside pitch between the waist and the shoulders.

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...