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Hitting is one of the most important skills you have to learn in playing softball. It is not easy to train for this skill, but it will surely keep you in your team and on the game.

In hitting, your choice of the bat you will use is very important. Some choose bats that are too big or too heavy for them. As a result, they are having a hard time using it. Having a big bat will definitely hinder you from giving the ball a good, high speed shot.

There are techniques you have to learn to keep yourself running and playing for your team.

Your stance. Different players make use of different stance. There is no absolute stance to follow anyway. When you stand, make sure that you are in a comfortable stance. Bend your knees at ease. Your feet should carry the weight of your body. Do not keep your feet too far or too near each other. Their distance should be more than your shoulders breadth. Keeping this distance will ensure a good stance. But then you have the prerogative to adapt your own comfortable stance.

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Like any other sports in our country, softball has been consistently being played by all ages, boys or girls. Since the introduction of this game by George Hancock, it already progresses to becoming one of the most-loved sports.

If you are interested in playing softball, you should carefully study the rudiments of it. You should know the basics and the rules on how to play. When it comes to skills, you should be able to bat, field, catch, run and pitch. Those are the common skills needed for you to excel well in this sport.

Discussing each skill would require a lengthy article, which is why softball pitching is the concentration of this article. In layman’s term pitching is synonymous to throwing. But throwing doesn’t is as easy as throwing a stone. One should master the art of pitching so that you may provide the game with extra excitement and elicit more applause from the crowd.

Getting started is quite easy, just be sure that you know how put your hands and feet in their proper places. Just remember that when you are already in the field, the following tips could help you carry out your tasks successfully:

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The sweep and the reverse sweep are two batting shots which are not commonly used, especially the reverse sweep which is rarely used. However both shots can be used in certain batting situations and are an effective way to score runs and keep the score board ticking over.

There is a high element of risk with the sweep shot, so good judgement and excellent timing is essential. Avoid playing the sweep and reverse sweep early on in your innings especially to straight deliveries, as it is not a good idea to play it until you have your eye in and know how the pitch is playing and what the bowler is doing. As for example, if the ball stayed low it would be quite easy to misjudge and get out LBW or bowled which you definitely want to avoid, so be patient and play yourself in first.

The sweep and reverse sweep are both cross batted shots and should ideally be played to slow deliveries which are of a good length and not too full. To play the orthodox sweep shot, first wait for the ball to be released before making any movement – DON’T PREMEDITATE THE SHOT!

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Recently I attended the ASA Hooters National Championship and had some pretty good conversations with a number of people directly in the mix at the ASA headquarters. We spoke about a number of things including what the plans are in ASA regarding the 2010 bat performance standards. As you can image they are pretty tight lipped right now regarding what their plans are. The current standard was implemented in 2004. The current exist speed standard is 98mph and any by the has this stamp on it must stay at or below this rating for it’s entire life. As I’m sure you know as composite bats get more and more hits on them or put through a Bat Rolling Machines the performance will most likely exceed the 98mph standard. During this years Hooters National Championships they had a bat compression testing device that was being used to make sure bats were below the 98mph standard. From what I could see, they tested the bat in 3-4 random locations along the length/diameter of the barrel in what appeared to be in very finite areas. I spoke to several teams out there and almost every one of them had at least one bat taken. These bats ranged from almost brand new to ones having 700+ hits on them. I’ve read that most people have some real questions about the validity of these results but that’s a whole other issue. The one thing that I know for sure is that Bat Rolling and Altering is definitely on the radar screen for ASA as well the other associations. During my conversations with some ASA people they claim that these machines will be at every World Series location next year and they also claim they can actually tell if a bat has been rolled by using the machine. When rolling your bat you are evenly breaking in the entire barrel. What that means is that you’ll have pretty consistence readings on the bat tested no matter where you are on the barrel. A bat with normal use will most likely have a wide range of readings across the length of the barrel. I found this interesting.

Back to the upcoming potential changes. As I mentioned, ASA will not comment on their plans for the 2010 and beyond seasons but due to contractual issues they are required to give the bat manufacturers time to react to any possible changes. The rumor is, ASA will be adopting a new 93 MPH rating and bats will not be able to exceed this rating (even after they are broken in). Easton has already released their “Reveal” series which I think is a precursor to things that are coming. These bats are rated at the 93 MPH rating and have technology that “supposedly” shows signs of altering. I know from many Bat Rolling Companies that you can still roll them without any signs at all. BatRolling4u.com is one of them and they claim to have done many of these bats. Every manufacturer has bats currently being produced that will not meet this new standard. Back in 2004 when ASA adopted the current 98 MPH standard they gave manufacturers 2 years to comply with the new rating and they most likely will do the same for this new standard. These new potential changes make Bat Rolling an important step to getting your bat to perform. When rolling your bat, you’re gaining about 20-40ft of additional distance which equates to about 5 mph. The new proposed 93 MPH rating now makes sense. ASA knows it’s very difficult to stop the Bat Rolling so if they impose the new standard and you choose to roll your bat the new exit speed with not be more than the current standard of 98 MPH. It all makes sense if you look at it that way.

Bat Rolling companies are definitely going to see an increase in business should this new performance rating actually be implemented. These changes will also drive the price up of the pre 93 MPH bats because after the new rating is in place the manufacturers will not be able to make these bats any longer. A very similar thing happened when they put the 2004 rating in place and offered a 2 year grandfather clause. The price for the original Miken Freaks and Easton Synergy 2’s sky rocketed. I recommend you stay up to date on this new change. There is a good Bat Rolling Blog that has all the up to date information and I’m sure they’ll keep everyone informed of any changes as they occur. Sit tight, the next few months are going to be interesting.



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Bat Rolling 101 – The Process

Most companies determine the maximum rolling pressure and start at that pressure. This is totally incorrect and usually causes durability problems and also potentially causes your paint to spider web prematurely. You should roll bats in 3-4 progressive compression points (depending on the type of bat). After you’ve rolled your bat it will have approximately 300 passes through the machine. You should not heat your bat before rolling since it does not provide any additional benefits, in fact it actually hurts the rolling process.

Rolling does not shorten the life of your bat

Once you bat has been rolled it will have the same durability it did before rolling. It will however be performing at its highest level. Please also be careful with who you have roll your bats. Make sure you choose a company that offers you the choice of which rolling method they use. This indicates they have the needed experience to give you OPTIMAL performance increases.



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It may look like they’re not doing much on the field, but catchers have an important role in softball. Along with the pitcher, the catcher is one of the main operators of the defensive aspect of the game.

So if you want to be a softball catcher, congratulations, first of all, for wanting to take on this very challenging position. That said, let me share with you some of the essential qualities that you need to imbibe in order to become a good softball catcher.

Here they are:

Have Good Leadership Skills. Being behind the home plate gives you a complete view of the field. With this view, you can see whether someone will attempt to steal the base, where the ball is going, and what you’re probably doing wrong in your defense if your team’s experiencing a slump.

Because of this, you need to be able to gather your team together in coming up with an overall strategy in playing the game. That includes directing the pitcher in what type of pitch to throw at a particular situation, alert the pitcher that a baserunner looks like she’s going to steal the base, among other things.



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Choosing the right baseball bat is perhaps one of the most important choices a hitter has to make as this can make or break his performance. Of-course there is no replacement for hard work and constant practice, but a good bat is definitely a plus and can play a major role in improving batting performance. If you are a beginner thinking about buying your first baseball bat then these tips will help you get some idea of what factors you should be looking at. These tips are also applicable to fastpitch and slowpitch softball bats.

1.) Know Your League Rules: The first and foremost thing you need to know before venturing out to buy a bat is the rules of your league. Check with your coach and find out the exact requirements of the league. Do they want you to use wood or metal bats? Is there a certain ratio between the bat’s weight and length that you need to follow? These are some questions that you need to have answers for.

2.) Fix Up a Budget: Baseball bats are available in a range of prices starting from as low as $25 and going as high as $400. A costlier bat does not necessarily mean better performance and is certainly not a replacement for hard work and practice. The only benefit of higher end bats is the relative light weight built. They come with very thin walls that help the hitter hit the ball with more power. The possible downside is that the bat will generate dents and other deformities as month’s progress. This means using your costly investment in batting cages would be a bad idea.



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Picture this. You are in a softball tryout. Then, someone throws you a ball. You begin to panic. You don’t know what to do. The next thing you’ll know, you’re being laughed at by your fellow tryout players.

This post will give you the tips and techniques that you need in order to clutch the softball position you’ve always dreamed of! You’ll need not to worry about making the good first impression to the coaching staff or become nervous on your next tryout because this article can give you tons of softball tryout secrets that will keep you win their vote!

Let’s start with the nuts and bolts.

First, you must have the character of a potential softball authority. Have an attitude that would serve as great example to the rest of the team. Remember, the best player is the one who knows to play and work together while they are in the diamond. You should be confident (but not too much) mentally tough, more powerful, can run faster, can throw harder and can be more dominant when in the field. Well, pretty tough, right? But if you are really willing to throw yourself into the softball arena, you should have like the aforementioned qualities. If you have those, you’ll definitely have a greater chance of winning more games and get more out of your team! The coaching staff will definitely choose a team member that has the characteristics of a great team player. Next, prepare properly and make a strong and lasting impression. How will you do this? Days from your tryout, you should already bubble yourself with the basics of the game. Practice plans must be documented so that an organized softball drills will take effect. Coaches would definitely be looking for a player who has player skills and positions, so you must be aware of your softball skills particularly in hitting, running and pitching. Some players may have the softball skill but they have little overall athleticism. A good player must have a good fielding range and awareness. You should always know what is going on in the game and where to throw the ball. A good player must also have a strong arm to make longer throws. He must always have no fear of the ball and the bat.

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Like any other sports, softball entails the player to master the basic softball drills. These drills can improve the quality of your play. It can also furnish you with the abilities to be in charge of in the game. For sure you want to be excellent in your chosen sports. Therefore, you should learn to follow your coach instructions and suggestions because he is the person who can help you improve your skills. Practice these given skills and get ready to be the most renowned gamer you want to be.

Your coach is accountable in training you to become a better player. If you choose to become part of the world of softball, aim to have a spectacular performance during your game. Your trainer will emphasize to you the need for learning to multiply your power, flexibility, and speed

There are several types of softball drills you need to apply in your everyday practicing softball. Carry them out them alternately so you will not get jaded during your practice. Have fun while practicing these drills so you will be motivated to become a better player



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Differences in style when doing the softball swings have been the major dilemma of many softball enthusiasts these days. Why not? If you really hear and see a myriad of softball hitting techniques virtually available everywhere, you don’t know what to do first. Well, yes, you have to try all of them and choose which is most effective on your softball hitting strategy. But, why waste time when you will now be provided with the powerful and sure ball tips in softball hitting?

Kidding aside, this post will provide you with everything you need to know about softball hitting. We will provide you with the right kind of questions to be able to get hold of the right kind of answers, too.

Let’s get started:

How do I do the softball hitting?

Pick up the pace and accelerate the bat through the ball. You drop bat speed when the bat makes contact with the ball. The answer is to speed up as you are hitting the ball explode the bat through it. Preserve a loose grip on the bat. Don’t keep your weight on your back foot. Shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot so that you’ll generate more hitting power.

What are the fundamental considerations when hitting a softball?

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