Final Project Baseball

Learn to Hit a Baseball: 

Learn to Hit a Baseball Team I: Audio Learners August 10, 2011

Learning Objectives: 

Learning Objectives By the end of the lesson, students will be able to: Identify basic baseball equipment. Demonstrate proper stance and weight-transfer for hitting. Demonstrate proper grip and swing for hitting. Differentiate between a ball and a strike. Perform the techniques learned in order to successfully hit a ball.

The Basics: Equipment: 

The Basics: Equipment Ball Bat Batting Glove Catchers Mitt Cleats Helmet Uniform

Equipment Mini-Quiz: 

Equipment Mini-Quiz Remember… B est B aseball B atboys C an C reate H uge U psets Divide into pairs and go back and forth with your partner identifying the equipment until you’ve gone through twice.

Stance: 

Stance If you are facing the catcher and home base, a left-handed hitter will stand on the left, facing third base. A right-handed hitter will stand on the right, facing first base. Your feet should be a little more than shoulder-width apart, and your knee caps should face into the plate. Knees should be slightly bent , in an athletic , balanced stance. P lace the tip of the bat on the plate, and then lift it. Bring the barrel (the widest section of the bat) to rest on your back shoulder.

Weight Transfer: 

Weight Transfer Lift the bat off the shoulder and coil back for power . Bend back knee while the front leg becomes slightly more elongated. T he weight on the front foot moves to the inside of the ball of the foot. The weight on the back stays mostly centered and more on the ball of the foot.

Demonstrating Proper Stance and Weight Transfer: 

Demonstrating Proper Stance and Weight Transfer Break up into groups of five or six. In your small groups, have one person demonstrate their stance and weight transfer through the swing. Give positive feedback and constructive criticism.

Gripping Technique: 

Gripping Technique Hold the bat in your fingers, not your palms. Align your "knocking knuckles“– the knuckles you use to knock on a door.

Swinging Technique: 

Swinging Technique Rotate hips to drive the shoulders and the bat. Make contact with the ball when your bat is just behind the front foot. The palm of your back hand should face the sky and the palm of your front hand should face the ground. Back arm should be bent at the elbow until contact is made while the front arm is more extended. S wing all the way around to follow-through.

Demonstration of Proper Swing Techniques: 

Demonstration of Proper Swing Techniques

Ball vs. Strike: 

Ball vs. Strike A “strike” is when a batter swings at a pitch or when a pitch is thrown in the strike zone, even if the batter doesn’t swing. A “ball” is when the batter does not swing at a pitch that is not in the strike zone. Batters are allowed four “balls” and then they are advanced to first base. The batter is granted three “strikes” before they are considered “out.” Calls are made official by the Umpire. In general, a batter should try to hit a pitch that will be called a “strike” and shouldn’t try to hit a pitch that will be called a “ball.”

Additional Tips: 

Additional Tips Here are a few more tips: Keep your back elbow close to your body to help your hands and the bat swing all the way through the ball. Have someone watch you while you swing and evaluate you’re your body posture and breathing. As you approach the plate have a plan in mind, but don’t psych yourself out by forcing it. Play aggressive, but also try to remain relaxed. Don’t allow your arms to get tight, you may lose the advantage of a power swing because of clinching your wrist to tight. Remember to have fun!

Further Resources: 

Further Resources Backyard Hitting Lessons – How to Start Your Swing http://www.qcbaseball.com/lessons/hitting_swingstart.aspx Barry Bonds Hitting Mechanics Video Analysis. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BoTnfuFJKE&feature=related How to Catch a Baseball. http://www.wikihow.com/Catch-a-Baseball How to Throw a Baseball Correctly. http ://www.stevenellis.com/steven_ellis_the_complete/2008/02/how-to-throw- a.html Improve Your Swing http://www.qcbaseball.com/skills/hitting_swing1.aspx John Mallee's 6 Absolutes of a Professional Hitter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA_PK6JPg9Y&feature=related Learning to Play Baseball Video. http ://www.livestrong.com/video/49-baseball-game-rules-learn-play /

Thank You: 

Thank You Questions…