4 Methods to Improve Your Baserunning Speed




by Thomas Wilson


Whomever suggests that you can not improve your baserunning speed is simply mistaken! Even though each player has a maximum potential speed, hardly anyone actually achieves that. There is lots of room for improvement, and it's necessary to do just that! Speed is a highly essential component scouts look for while watching players. Granted, you will find exceptions to the rule, yet typically you will need to have no less than average speed to get a chance at reaching the major leagues. Do not fear if you have got below average speed though, as you can find a lot of ways to improve.

1. Correct Mechanics: This is the most important factor to increasing your baseball "speed." The very best part about this is that you do not even need to run quicker! You simply have to find out the way to run properly. Proper body learn when running, raising the knee high enough for the best stride, and also swinging the arms high enough using the proper angle at the elbow joint are all things you should focus on while improving your running technique. It would take much to long to teach you the way to do each one of these things in only one paragraph, but you will find lots of educational books and DVDs available which are specifically dedicated to proper running technique.

2. Reaction Time: Reaction time is the period of time between the cue to run and when you actually begin running. A baseball example of reaction time is the amount of time it takes for you to be able to react when the ball is hit, or a baserunner stealing on a pitcher's first movement. The simplest way to increase reaction time would be to just practice getting balls hit to you in different locations and then reacting to them and fielding them. There are also reaction balls available which are designed to bounce in random directions and you have to react in time to catch it. You do not need to have very good reaction time to succeed in baseball, however if you don't you at least have to make up for it by terrific positioning. For example if you are a shortstop and you know what type of pitch the pitcher is going to throw, you want to get yourself in a great position where the ball will probably be hit before the hitter even strikes the ball!

3. Baserunning Skill: You might be able to run fast, but how fast are you able to run the bases? Do you step on the inside corner of the bag as you round a base? If you don't, you will end up making yourself take a longer loop in the direction of the next bag potentially increasing the distance you will have to run from around 90 feet to 100 feet or more! Basic errors like this are enough to make the difference between being safe or being out. Additionally being a smart baserunner can make a big difference! A smart baserunner can very easily turn a single into a double simply because he knows if each outfielder's arm is good, poor, or average.

4. Fitness: Most likely there is some area for improvement in your overall fitness level. By exercising on a regular basis and concentrating some of your baseball workouts on cardiovascular exercises like running on the treadmill or riding a stationary bike, your speed will improve in time.




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