Whether you're swinging away at home or at the batting cages, batting practice is never over. Even if you're not hitting it out of the park with every pitch, having a solid and consistent swing will put you on base more often and will give your team a major advantage. Here are three techniques you can practice to iron out your swing. 

What Should You Practice to Improve Your Swing?

1. Start With Your Feet

Even though you hold the bat with your hands, swinging at a ball is a full-body action, and it starts with your feet. Your stance grounds you and gives you all your power, so plant your feet comfortably and firmly. As the pitch comes toward you, shift your weight onto the ball of your back foot to prepare to swing. When you finally step forward to hit the ball, keep the front foot aligned with the back foot, and end with your head halfway between your feet. 

2. See the Ball

You've heard it since the first time someone threw you a pitch: "See the ball. Eyes on the ball." This is good advice, but the person saying it usually leaves out a crucial piece of information. To hit the ball, you need to see it the whole way to the plate with both eyes. When you set up your stance, turn your head until you can see the pitcher clearly with both eyes, and when they throw the ball, follow it closely with both eyes. Keeping the ball clear in both eyes increases your depth perception, giving you a better idea of where the ball is and when it'll cross the plate. From the start of the stance to the end of your swing, make sure you have both eyes on the ball. 

The batting cage is a great place to practice this technique, as you can watch pitch after pitch closely with no pressure. 

3. Follow Through

Even when it stings your hands, contact with the ball isn't the end of your swing. The follow-through is just as important as the first half of your swing. You want to hit the ball at the moment when you're swinging hardest, and following through on every swing guarantees that you're not losing power before you hit the ball. 

When you need a place to practice your swing, make a trip to The Cages Training Facility in Phoenix, AZ. This team of batting coaches specializes in training both beginners and experienced young players, whether they're playing baseball or softball. The coaches host camps and clinics, accommodate team practices, and provide one-on-one instruction, and the batting cages are open to the public. Learn more about membership opportunities online, and call (602) 923-0607 with any questions.