Alright, let’s break down how I tried those Yankees-style drills in my backyard this morning. Woke up feeling stiff but figured some basic baseball moves might shake off the rust.
First Swing Attempt
Grabbed my kid’s aluminum bat near the garage door. Didn’t even bother with a ball yet – just wanted to see if I remembered how to stand. Planted my feet shoulder-width apart like I’ve seen the pros do, knees slightly bent. First swing felt like chopping wood. Way too stiff. Almost lost balance when I twisted my hips.
The Tee Adjustment
Dragged out that old plastic batting tee covered in spiderwebs. Set it waist-high and put a tennis ball on top since real baseballs would wreck my windows. Focused on keeping my front shoulder tucked in during the swing this time. Took twenty ugly cuts before I stopped hitting the tee stand itself. Progress looked like this:
- Swing 1-5: Whiffs or tee contact
- Swing 6-12: Weak foul tips
- Swing 13-20: Actually made decent “thwack” sounds
Ground Ball Shuffle
No infield dirt available, so I used the patio’s uneven concrete slabs. Tossed another tennis ball against the wall to simulate grounders. First few bounced over my head like popcorn. Started bending my knees more than my back – big difference! Still botched about half the pickups but managed to shuffle my feet sideways without tripping. Felt like a crab wearing roller skates at first.
Throwing Form Check
Marked an “X” on my fence with duct tape for target practice. Before throwing, did that Yankees pitcher wind-up where they raise both arms overhead. Felt ridiculous doing it alone in my pajamas. The throw itself? First three sailed way over the fence into Mrs. Patterson’s azaleas. After that, concentrated on stepping toward the target. Last five throws actually hit the tape twice. My shoulder’s gonna ache tomorrow.
Final Thoughts
Spent under an hour total but sweated through my shirt. Takeaways: Your living room lamp ain’t safe if you’re practicing swings indoors, and tennis balls are way more unpredictable than baseballs. Gonna keep at it though – maybe convince my dog to play outfield next time.
