Baseball is a game of percentages. There are ball rate counts where a high percentage of fast balls are thrown such as:
1. 0-0 count, 68% or fast balls.
2. 1-0, 84%.
3. 2-0, 93%.
4. 3-0, 98% fast balls.
These vary slightly according to the level of play and the type of hitter at the plate. But, youth in high school teams can rely heavily on these percentages.
There was a report completed some years ago that compared major league batting averages to ball strike counts. The overall batting average with no strikes was 345 with one strike 320 and with two strikes 235.
It supports the idea that a hitter needs to be aggressive, thinking every pitch is going to be a strike.
This type of hitter is always looking for a good pitch to hit. He knows the strike zone and the areas in the zone that he hits best.
Initially, the hitter who does not have knowledge of a pitcher or a situation should rely upon the solid approach of looking for a fast ball within the area of strike zone where he has experience success in the past.
If he stays even or ahead in the count, 0-0, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, for example, he continues to look for the fast ball.
The hitter should be trying to hit the ball deep in the strike zone especially if he gets behind in the count. Approach when working behind also includes trying to hit ball the opposite field. This allows him more time to react and to read to the pitch.
Therefore, staying with the pitch better especially the breaking ball as suppose to being too far out in front of the plate upon contact.
As an at bat progresses, he relies upon his hitting routine to keep him playing one pitch at the time. Even if the hair knows what is coming, he still must hit the pitch solidly.
Some hitters get too anxious and do not trust their swing in time. Trust in your swing is developed with dedicated, excellent practice and game experience. It requires the confidence game from hours of swing repetitions and recalling plus visualizing your successful at bats under pressure.
The inexperienced hitter begins with one quality out bat at the time and begins to build on each one. He must rely upon in his day to day improvement and practicing game situations to establish confidence and trust in his swing. And a great approach of thinking hit, hit, hit, at the plate can lead to good at bats.
Positive feedback from team members and his coach is a huge confidence builder that leads to further trust in his swing.
The hitter needs to know that his parents, girlfriend, siblings, anyone else in his life that influences his thinking are behind him 100% regardless of his successes or failures.
This type of trust can lift the player’s confidence to a higher level. It is important for every player to have a place and person in his life where he is accepted regardless of his performance.
It helps to relieve the pressure associated with the game.
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