How can I decrease the number of strikeouts during my next season?

[RottenGazebo]

What can I do to decrease my K number by next season? When I do make contact, I hit it pretty hard. Also, I am great at getting walks. Last season I got about a walk a game. Any suggestions? I can only practice by myself, and I can only stay at my house.

[XFactor]

Well, a good way to decrease the # of strike outs is to hit the ball. Even if the ball isn't a strike, if you can hit it for a single, double, triple, home run, it doesn't matter if it's a strike or not.
But with the more exp. you get, the better knowledge of the strike zone you should have, thus hopefully that would decrease your strike outs (as long as you can make contact with the ball, if not, maybe get some glasses.. I know I had to, haha... yeah..)

[Centerfielder2]

you should be more aggresive . swing at a pitch if u dont like it n make sure that you keep two eyes on the ball at all times



#2

[yankees444]

Well, a good way to decrease the # of strike outs is to hit the ball. Even if the ball isn't a strike, if you can hit it for a single, double, triple, home run, it doesn't matter if it's a strike or not.
But with the more exp. you get, the better knowledge of the strike zone you should have, thus hopefully that would decrease your strike outs (as long as you can make contact with the ball, if not, maybe get some glasses.. I know I had to, haha... yeah..)

i dont entirely agree with that. dont swing at something if it isnt a strike, because if you miss then you have one less cut to take. you should take alot of bp and practice not swinging at pitches that arent strikes. but you do have to be agressive. if you go up there and dont have confidence, then you arent going to hit well. just take alot of bp and soft toss. just remember that good hitters are only successful three in every ten times up to the plate.

[SluggerCF91]

You have to develop a knowledge of the strike zone, as stated before. Make sure you have no problem hitting a fast ball, and if u have no problem hitting a fastball, then u should do good. If u cant hit a curve ball DONT SWING AT ONE! Only swing at the pitches your confident in, unless u have 2 strikes.... then u have to protect. So to sum it up:
1. Develop a knowledge of the zone.
2. Increase hand eye coordination.
3. Take lots of BP.
4. Practice identifying pitches kwikly

And u should be striking out much less.

[Ursa Major]

Hey, RG, since we haven't seen you swing under a variety of game conditions, all we can do is make suggestions; it's for you and your coaches to decide which might work for you.

I'm guessing here from your "one walk a game" comment that maybe you're looking to walk too much. With that attitude, it's easy to let a good pitch go by in a hitter's count (1-0, 2-1), and all of a sudden you're facing a two-strike count and if you get a pitch you can't handle, you're toast.

So, I'd make sure you're ready to hit EVERY pitch. Do not take a pitch off! That doesn't mean you're any less selective, but that if the first pitch is a "get-it-over" fastball where the pitcher just is trying to get ahead, you be ready to use that power you've got to hammer it. No one ever struck out on the first pitch of an at-bat.

I see kids who are nervous at the plate -- maybe bailing out a little -- and they just poke the bat around at strikes so the coach doesn't yell at 'em for not swinging at strikes, and maybe they'll foul off a few and draw a walk. And they've gone through the torture of a six-pitch at bat! The pitchers know they're scared and so they fearlessly just groove the ball down the middle. I tell 'em -- hey, if you don't like being up there, just get it done on the first or second pitch. Maybe you're safe, maybe you're out, but at least it's done with. And when they do rip it a little and make it to first base now and then, they've got this happy grin -- Part of it comes from a feeling of, "Dang, I can do this!" And part is, "I'm glad that's over!"

So, again, I'm guessing. The foregoing doesn't necessarily apply to you. But test yourself. Are you really ready to put your good swing on every pitch? Ask a coach before you go up: "Please watch my at-bat and tell me if there's any pitch where it didn't look like I was really planning on swinging as the pitcher wound up." Cuz you'd be surprised how many of us coaches sit back in the dugout and call out to each other, "He's not swinging at this pitch". We can tell.

[XFactor]

i dont entirely agree with that. dont swing at something if it isnt a strike, because if you miss then you have one less cut to take. you should take alot of bp and practice not swinging at pitches that arent strikes. but you do have to be agressive. if you go up there and dont have confidence, then you arent going to hit well. just take alot of bp and soft toss. just remember that good hitters are only successful three in every ten times up to the plate.

But Yankees, as you move up in skill, how many pitches do you get to see that are actually a nice pitch to hit? One or two if you are lucky! If you practice just hitting pitches that are right down the middle, and you face a pitcher who has great control, nibbling on the sides, up and down in and out, changing speeds, throwing pitches that aren't technically strikes but the umpire is calling it anyways, your going to be screwed.

Learn to hit the ball wether it's at your ankles or at the letters. Sure you don't wanna be "too aggressive" during certain situations, but I've been seeing more kids these days just sit and wait until they get 2 strikes before they start swinging the bat... it's bull crap.

If a kid can hit a ball that is 5 inches outside 450 feet, are you really going to tell him not to swing at it because it isn't a strike?.... I hope not

[SluggerCF91]

Plain and simple, less than 2 strikes, only swing at your favorite pitch, if it dont come, take it. 2 Strikes, choke up and slap the ball if its in strike zone area. (with two strikes think bigger strike zone)

[Riverdog]

Less K's

Visual training. Study. Practice. Mechanics.

Let's assume you really are stuck at home and have no way to practice with someone else.... One thing you need to do is to swing and swing lots. 100 to 200 times per day to get your mechanics solid. You swing at high and low, inside and outside. You visualize the pitcher throwing before every swing and you go through the motions slowly. If you don't have someone to critique your swing you have a problem.
Practice from both sides of the plate . . . not to become a switch hitter but to develop both sides of your body.
Here's the best tip I can offer someone in your position. Without practicing there are some things you can do to improve your batting average anyway and they're all in your head.

When you're on deck, watch the pitcher and learn where he releases from. Study and time his rhythm. Focus on his hat when he's winding up and then look for the ball where you know it's coming from. Don't swing at the first pitch the first time you see a new pitcher. When you're ahead on the count, only swing at the pitch that has given you the best success so far. (My guess is that you're going to have to learn where that is). Finally, relax. If you're hitting hard and getting your share of walks, it sounds like your'e seeing the ball well. Relax your mind and your body when you get in the box. You're only thought is how hard you're going to run after you hit the ball. It's not a question of missing... not a consideration. It may happen and you need to ignore it and hit the next one (even if it's the next at-bat)

Have fun with this - it's an awesome game and hitting the ball is the best part.

[k2king]

Mainly just track the ball from the release point. What I do to help this is to focus on the pitchers cap then as he releases I start tracking the ball. Also if its an 0-2 count - you know what the pitcher is going to do, he is gunna waste a pitch.

[Riverdog]

OOPS - what do you mean that the umpire just called strike 3 when the 0-2 fastball just got grooved?
No pitch count results in a sure thing. The whole thing is a guessing game and if you get caught guessing, you're going to spend alot of time in the dugout.
It's about confidence, balance and tons of experience. Never give up. Keep fighting with the knowledge that you will improve.

[Gashouse6]

Mainly just track the ball from the release point. What I do to help this is to focus on the pitchers cap then as he releases I start tracking the ball. Also if its an 0-2 count - you know what the pitcher is going to do, he is gunna waste a pitch.

Exactly. Watch the hat.

[Williamsburg2599]

you might wanna lighten up on your swing a little too. Dont try to kill it. Its less painful to be thrown out then struck out in my opinion.

[East Coast Bat Co]

Put a two-strike approach in place. What I use is called 6-2's. It is six simple two inch adjustments.

1) Choke up two inches
2) Move up in the box two inches
3) Move up on the plate two inches
4) Put bat two inches over outside corner (do this to show pitcher that he is going to have to beat you on inner half)
5) Widen stance two inches
6) Put chest two inches further over waist.

Hope this helps.