Softball camp will teach you that there is always something new to learn. Competitive players can never stop trying to improve their skills and become more valuable to the team. If you've been playing for a while and want to improve your skills, you can do so by using these two tips. On the other hand, if you want to improve your performance, here are nine ideas you can put into action immediately.
Let's start with the offense because you can't win a game without scoring.
Change the way you hold things.
When you're in the middle of an at-bat, you might be tempted to tighten your grip on the bat to get yourself ready for the pitch. However, take care not to overtighten the screws: Any hitter's power, reach, and control will be reduced if their bat is choked. So instead, use your fingers to exert pressure on your weaker hand while your dominant hand rests on your dominant hand. Keep your wrists loose so you can maintain the desired level of control. After some practice, you'll be able to use this grip effectively.
Keep Your Swing Under Control and Don't Worry About It
In a matchup where you have issues with the pitcher? Are you contemplating a change instance to better target the ball? Stay away from that–you'll find yourself in a worse position than before. Rather than risking your life by trying something new, it's far better to stick with what you've already tried and proven to work. The middle of an at-bat is not the time to experiment with your stance fundamentals (feet shoulder-width apart, weight centered, bat shouldered) or your swing, which will come directly from your stance. You'll have access to qualified coaches at softball camp, so if you need help with your swing, ask your coach for guidance.
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Keep An Eye On The Ball
Wait a minute before you start rolling your eyes. Yes, one of the most common pieces of softball advice is to "keep your eye on the ball." As a result of its prevalence, it's straightforward to overlook if you don't make an effort to maintain it. Your grip, first base, the outfield, or anything else that isn't the ball may tempt you when you get a pitch. If you're a newbie hitter, you might be tempted to close your eyes while you're swinging. If you want to get in touch, you'll have to fight the urge to resist it. Face-down on a pitch is not the time to double-check your grip or the positions of your on-base teammates or the opposing outfielders.
Use your hips to create a sway
Your hips will be responsible for a large portion of the power you generate during your swing. Do your best to avoid bending or overextending your arms, which will detract from the force of your blow. You'll have a much better impact when you make contact if you rotate your hips and front-facing shoulder.
Make contact with every one of the bases!
Baserunning advice for softball players abounds, but this one, despite its simplicity, is crucial. If you don't contact the base, you don't get credit for reaching it, but some runners can forget this in the heat of the moment and walk right by. Any baserunning advice you receive won't help you unless you contact the bases; therefore, you should use all of your baserunning skills and those of your teammates to their full potential. Try to make contact with every base you come across as you complete your circuit!
As a follow-up to our look at offensive strategies, let's take a quick look at the defense, which is equally critical to your success.
Remember to keep your eyes and ears open at all times!
It's easy to get distracted and drift off, especially if you're out of the action for an extended period while playing certain fielding positions. On the other hand, getting distracted increases your risk of making mistakes when the action finally comes back to you, and it also slows down your reaction time dramatically. Be on the lookout!
Collect the ball with two hands whenever possible
Any ball that can be comfortably picked up with two hands should be used in a basketball game. To avoid accidentally letting the ball out of your glove when collecting grounders, pop-ups, and short or slow flies, you should always use two hands. As long as it's possible, go for one-handed catches whenever you can, but using two hands to catch balls you should be catching will help prevent errors on the ones you do catch.
Preparation Is Key Before You Pitch
Make a quick mental plan for what you'll do if the action comes to you before the ball is put into play. Sure, you'll want to catch the ball if it flies toward you, but what if you can't? How risk-averse are you when it comes to batting? What if it's a grounder? What then? How will you cover a teammate who is thrown out of position by the ball? After all, thinking clearly on the fly is a big part of what makes a great player great, but knowing roughly what you want to do will help you carry it out when the time comes.
Direct the Ball Towards You
When a ball is thrown directly at your front, it's easier to field it. Because you have no control over how a hit ball moves, your only option is to move! If you have the opportunity to do so before the ball hits you, do so. This makes receiving the ball much easier, and it also helps you get ready for the throw. You'll have a more difficult time catching the ball if you try to reach for it after you've already caught it. Be prepared to move quickly!
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