Guru Spotlight
Carma Spence-Pothitt

Baseball Tips

Read these 146 Baseball Tips in 11 categories ranging from Base Running to Player Positions. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Baseball tips and hundreds of other topics.

Speed and the Baseball Coach

Becoming a baseball coach can be a wonderful way to spend time with children to be good role models for them. Let’s not pretend, though. As the baseball coach, your job is to teach boys how to become the best baseball players they can be.

One way to do that is to focus on speed. While a baseball coach should work to create an atmosphere of positive reinforcement, making sure that players are doing their best and improving is important as well.
Checking the speed of players in certain drills is one way to accomplish this task.

The discerning baseball coach should have a stopwatch and clipboard available at all times. Use the stopwatch to record the time a player takes to run the bases or to field grounders. Make sure to record this information for each player throughout several practices.

A quality baseball coach will use these numbers to make decisions on players. Some players will not be quick with grounders, and the numbers will bear that out in a more concrete way than any other method. Instead of just using your senses, which can lead you to favor showy players over consistent ones, look at the numbers.

Who runs the fastest?

Who gets the ball to first base the quickest?

Whose hits take the longest to field?

These speed questions can help an average baseball coach learn to be an excellent one.

   

Finding the right youth baseball glove

If you have a son or daughter wanting to get into baseball, one of the most critical pieces of equipment is a good youth baseball glove. When shopping for a glove, there's a number of factors to consider, such as position. What position does your child play? For most players, a simple fielder's glove is sufficient, but catchers and sometimes first basemen have specialty youth baseball gloves. If your child plays these positions, and is serious about it, consider splurging for one of these.

Youth baseball gloves come in a variety of styles and materials. Leather remains the gold standard, offering durability and comfort, while gloves from synthetic materials are frequently lighter and more colorful. Make sure your child tries on several different gloves to find the one that offers the best fit and most comfort for them.

Also, consider discount baseball gloves or used youth baseball gloves. Since your child is still growing, there's a very real chance that they'll outgrow their glove within one season, especially between the ages of six and twelve. Used sporting goods stores are an excellent place to look for these, and they'll frequently have the advantage of already being worn in.

   

Necessary Baseball Equipment

There are a few things needed to play the game of baseball. The use of softball equipment must be mastered to win the game. The three main things needed are a glove, bat and ball.

Gloves are designed for various positions and players. The catchers mitt is rounded with padding around the edge so that the ball is funneled into the pocket. A first baseman's glove is also a mitt, and is long so it can reach out or scoop up wild throws. The infielders glove is not very deep so that when a ground ball is caught, it can be quickly taken out and thrown to first base for the forced out. An outfielders glove is deep so that a fly ball can be caught as the fielder is running.

A bat comes in different lengths and weights. It does not take a big bat to hit a home run. That has more to do with a good pitch, solid swing and hitting the ball just right. The batter must choose a bat that they feel comfortable with.

The ball is what the game is named after. The game is not called, baseglove or basebat. It is called baseball and the ball is what to keep an eye on. Baseball equipment needed for a game is a glove, bat and ball.

   

Baseball Hitting Tips

Playing the game of baseball requires batting experience. Everyone has to step up to the plate for the pitches. A few baseball hitting tips will help train a batter to react quickly and effectively to get on base.

First thing is to swing a lot with a bat that fits. A solid connection of a bat with a ball at high speed will send a ball quickly on its way. It is the connection that is important here, not the size of the bat.

Know the strike zone and and where you are comfortable hitting. Don't be a sucker for bad pitches. A pitcher will try to throw a ball with the intention of leading the batter to swing at something that can not be hit very well.

Face the pitcher with both eyes and stay on the balls of your feet. Keep your head steady with eyes towards the pitcher. When the pitch is being delivered, move the bat back a little and get ready to swing if it is a good pitch.

Take a short step towards the oncoming ball to keep balance. Swing slightly downward to avoid an upper cut and keep the front shoulder down. Practice batting skills by using portable batting cages with a pitching machine. There is no substitute for practice.

   

Baseball Training

Preparing to play any game takes a lot of work and practice, but baseball training can be as much of a mind game as a physical one. The hand to eye co-ordination needed is one of the most demanding of any sport. Finding the sweet spot of a baseball flying near you at high speed demands that the batter keep their eye on the ball.

After the basics of pitching and catching are somewhat mastered, the ball player must continue to work on the fundamentals of the game. Proper stance to catch a ground ball speeding its way towards a second baseman will allow for a quick pick up and throw to first base for the forced out.

Throwing a ball with accuracy is something that a player develops after much practice. Playing pitch and catch is fundamental to perfecting a throw to the exact spot it needs to go. To work on accuracy, pick a spot near the player being thrown to and hit it every time. This builds confidence in throwing ability and helps with concentration. Every player should learn to throw the ball accurately, not just the pitcher.

Baseball training equipment like gloves and bats should be seen as part of the player himself. They are extended to catch or hit the ball and must be used with skill.

   

Choosing Aids for Baseball Skills

A favorite past time for many children is the game of baseball. The dream to become a professional player is the goal of many young boys. In order to achieve that goal, it takes a lot of practice and training. Baseball training aids come in a variety of materials and can be helpful to improve your skill. Whether you seek one on one coaching, use videos or manuals to pick up techniques or learn on the baseball field, all of the baseball training aids available will improve your skill level.

When learning to play baseball, you will discover a certain position best fits your skills. Many people strive to become the pitcher for the team. In order to achieve this position, you need to develop ball control and arm strength to be effective. Baseball pitching aids can help realize improvement in both of these areas. Different baseball pitching aids will help you to increase speed, control and utilize different types of pitching strategies.

To successfully benefit from baseball training aids, find the method that works most effectively for you. Different people learn effectively in different ways. If you are a visual learner, then watching videos or seeing demonstrations are recommended. If you prefer a more hands on approach, a coach that provides constructive criticism is your best bet. Remember that practice makes perfect.