Points to check when your batting is off.

Since I started playing amateur baseball, I've gotten reasonably good at hitting, and for the first time, I've come to understand what the phrase "being in a slump" means.
This "not feeling well" means"I don't really understand why, but I can't hit it."That's the situation.
In such cases, the first important step is to find the cause.
However, in order to find the cause on your own, you need a certain amount of experience with failure and the ability to recover from those failures.
This time, I'll talk about the things I've been neglecting whenever I've felt like I wasn't doing well.

Due to insufficient preparation

The problem of insufficient preparation applies whether you're playing a game or at a batting cage.
To perform at your best, you absolutely must warm up with exercises and other warm-up routines.
The human body doesn't switch from an "off" state to an "on" state overnight.
It's important to practice your swing several times and prepare yourself so that you can swing at near 100%.

Slow swing speed

This is a classic example of insufficient preparation.
I tried swinging the bat, but my body couldn't keep up, and I wasn't able to swing it with much force.
Shaking it for a while will gradually warm you up, but you should warm up beforehand.
Suddenly swinging with 100% power can lead to injuries, especially in winter.

Stop making the mistake of thinking you can swing hard without warming up.
Especially during matches, there may not always be enough time to warm up properly.
Nevertheless, preparation is important, so be sure to do some warm-up exercises.

Not using your hips

A powerful swing is achieved through a rotational movement driven by the lower body.
Sometimes, without realizing it, that movement gets lost, and you end up doing it primarily with your upper body.
Especially when you're trying to increase your swing speed, you tend to rely solely on your arms to swing.
Ultimately, a sharp swing is generated by rotating your hips, so make sure you're rotating your hips properly.

Due to a loss of consciousness

It's not a matter of physical exercise, but rather a lack of awareness that leads to the loss of good form.
This item isThis problem arises when things that were previously done unconsciously through training gradually become difficult to do again.
When checking your form to make sure it hasn't deteriorated, you should pay attention to these points as well.

The points are too close or too far apart.

When you haven't swung in a while, you tend to overestimate your swing speed.
Position your hitting point slightly in front of you to avoid being jammed.
Conversely, when hitting balls that aren't that fast, be careful not to place your contact point too far forward and end up hooking the ball.

As a story of my failure,There were times when I placed my weight too far forward, causing my body to open up too early.
Because of that, even though it was an inside pitch, it looked like a ball that was somewhere between the middle and outside of my body, perhaps because it was far from my body.
As a result, he was hitting inside pitches to the right of center field, which resulted in a lot of foul balls.
This is a somewhat unusual pattern, but it's an example of what can happen.

We haven't been able to create a top player.

In archery terms, it's like not drawing the bowstring far enough.
To transition from your stance before hitting to the actual swing, it's important to pull the bat back firmly to create a "top" position where you're ready to swing at any moment.
You can't make a powerful swing by barely creating a top position and just pulling the bat back a little.
Be careful, as you might find yourself in this situation if you rush to hit the ball.

Body is open

Even if they had an open stance from the beginning,At the top of the batting order, you must not show your chest to the pitcher.
When your body is open, your swing is often driven primarily by your upper body.
Let's be patient.

Caused by physical factors

I'll also write about some causes that aren't related to insufficient warm-up or lack of awareness, based on my own experience.

The ball is hard to see.

Your eyesight can actually deteriorate more than you might think during twilight hours or in places like batting cages at night where the lighting isn't very effective.
Even if you don't consciously notice it, your health may actually be declining, so be careful.
In dim light, the ball may seem to approach you suddenly, so be careful.

strain on the lower back and knees

Sometimes, a delayed swing isn't due to insufficient preparation, but rather fatigue.
In particular, the lower back and knees are areas that are prone to strain when playing baseball.
Even if you don't feel particularly tired, your physical condition may be declining, so be careful.
Practicing for extended periods in this condition can lead to poor form and injuries, so it's important to take rest.

summary

If you feel your batting is off, try to find out why, ideally on the same day.
Once you understand the cause, remember it and add it to your batting checklist.
The more checkpoints you have, the more consistent your hitting will become, leading to a better hitter.