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Hit a Baseball to All Fields

We already know to hit a baseball consistently and squarely on the sweet spot of the baseball bat is one of the most difficult feats in all of sports.

One of the greatest hitters of all times, Ted Williams was known to say this over and over.

We also know that to be a better hitter a batter must clearly understand where they must ‘meet the ball’ according to where the ball is pitched.

If a batter does not completely understand the spot where the bat meets the ball they will be making an already difficult task virtually impossible to hit a baseball consistently.

Teaching Kids How to Hit

When the pitcher throws a pitch on the inside third of the plate the hitter will try to ‘pull’ the ball. A righthand hitter will hit this pitch to leftfield.

In order for a batter to hit this pitch hard they will need to make contact with the pitch two or three feet in front of home plate.

If the pitch travels past the two or three foot point then the hitter’s swing will be late. If they were to hit the ball fair chances are the ball would not be a sharply hit batted ball.

The pitch over the middle third of the plate should be mostly hit between left center and right center; or up the middle of the diamond area. The proper baseball swing would have the hitter making contact about a foot or so in front of home plate.

Letting the ball go past this point and batter will be too late. If the ball is put the ball in play the ball would likely not be sharply hit.

Hitting the ball further than a foot or so in front of home plate would allow the batter to pull the ball which would be fine unless the hands roll over during the contact. This would result in groundballs that are usually routinely fielded in better baseball leagues.

The pitch on the outside third of the plate should be contacted about even with the front foot. The ball will be hit to the opposite field. Letting the pitch travel more than the point of even with the front foot usually causes the swing to be late and likely cause a foul ball or a batted ball not sharply hit.

Baseball Hit to Hit Better
Using the Whole Field

Professional baseball instructors know the importance for a hitter to be able to hit the ball to all fields.

• Less holes for pitcher to get you out. If a batter can hit a baseball in various areas of the strike zone then the pitcher has less places to go after your hitting weak spots. The batter now becomes tougher to pitch to.
• Understand where to make contact with the ball.When batting coaches teach players how to become a better hitter they offer bat tips showing players where to make contact with the ball. When top baseball hitters understand where to contact pitches thrown in each third to the plate they become more consistent and tougher to pitch to.
• Tougher out with two strikes. Often pitchers will try to throw the ball on the outside part of the plate with two strikes knowing that the hitters will have to swing at the pitch to hit a baseball if it close to the plate.
• In order to ‘battle’ the pitcher on these outside third pitches the batter has more weapons if they are able to hit these pitches to the opposite field. These pitches are difficult to hit for even top baseball hitters but at least you will not be an automatic out on these pitches.
• Able to battle and compete against the tougher pitchers. The more skilled pitchers will have command and control of their pitch grips. The tougher pitchers will force hitters to hit the ball on the outside third of the plate because they are able to throw pitches on the outside part of the plate for strikes. Being able to hit a baseball thrown on the outside of the plate allows a batter to compete against the better pitchers.

Baseball Drill and Hitting Tips
Use T-Ball Batting Tee

If you were a baseball coach teaching a kid how to hit a baseball at a baseball clinic or teaching hitting technique of a proper baseball swing a batting tee would be a great baseball teaching aid.

Simply have the batter get in the box. Put the tee on the outside part of the plate and even with the front foot. Have the batter hit the ball to the opposite field.

Now set the t-ball a foot of so in front of the plate right down the middle. Have the hitter hit the ball toward the middle of the diamond.

Then finish the hitting drill by placing the tee-ball a couple of feet or so in front of the plate for the inside pitch and have the batter hit the ball to their pull field. Keep rotating various locations adjusting the t-ball appropriately.

Note: This is why the batting tee should have never been made with a bottom stand shaped as home plate. A baseball and softball hitting tip: For all you baseball hitting instructors and how to coach t-ball coaches…

You NEVER put the batting tee on home plate. All the top baseball hitters hit the ball well out in front of home plate. You will be helping your players make a quick exit from baseball teaching hitters to hit with the batting tee on top of home plate.

They will have very little power and a lot of frustration hitting the ball late all the time. The hitters will not be able to get around on good four seam fastballs as they continue playing against good pitchers.

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