I figured I’d try some pro baseball tips after watching the NY Mets batting practice footage last weekend. Grabbed my dusty bat and headed to the local field with my buddy Dave. Weirdly nervous stepping up to that plate again after so many years off.
Secret 1: Weight Shifting Drill
First I tried standing like a flamingo – lifted my front leg real high like the Mets players do during warmups. Felt like an idiot wobbling there. Took ten practice swings with my knee up near my chest before even thinking about hitting. Dave laughed his ass off until he tried it and nearly face-planted. Surprise though – my back leg stopped feeling like jelly after a while.
Secret 2: Loose Hands, Not Death Grip
Unclenched my fists like the Mets coach kept yelling in the video. Held the bat like I was carrying a baby bird instead of trying to crush walnuts. My first five swings were ugly as hell – bat nearly flew into right field twice. Kept reminding myself “fingers loose, arms relaxed” like a broken record. By swing 15, stopped feeling like the bat weighed five hundred pounds.
What worked best:
- Pretending I was shaking someone’s hand mid-swing
- Resting bat on shoulder between pitches
- Choking up an inch after every miss
Secret 3: Stare Down The Pitcher’s Hat
Stopped looking at Dave’s whole body and just focused on the bill of his cap during wind-up. First couple balls hit the backstop cause I was too busy staring at his forehead. Felt cross-eyed. Then bam – made solid contact when I stopped worrying about his throwing arm or glove. Started tracking those pitches better than my GPS tracks shortcuts.
The moment it clicked? About thirty minutes in when Dave threw this garbage pitch low and outside. Normally would’ve whiffed or fouled it off. But kept my eyes locked on his cap brim, transferred weight forward smooth, and cracked it over second base. Probably only a single in real game, but damn if it didn’t feel like a home run trot.
Total mess at first? Absolutely. But sticking with these three simple things made more difference than months of batting cages ever did. Gonna practice again Thursday – if Dave stops whining about his pitcher’s elbow.
