Baseball - Instruction

Be a Better Hitter: Baseball Basics

Name: Be a Better Hitter: Baseball Basics
Author: Buz Brundage
ISBN: 9780806924618

by Buz Brundage

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Overview

Hit it out of the park, with a coach's skill-by-skill guidance! Start with the right grip, the proper stance, and an excellent swing. Make contact, track and pull the ball, and understand the swing as you hit for average, develop quickness, and more! From the pitch count to sacrifices—tips and photos show it all. 8 X 10. 96 Color Pages

Synopsis

Children's Literature

What a wonderful gift for any child interested in America's pastime. The author, a veteran of twenty years of coaching youth baseball, offers loads of useful advice, with detailed accompanying photographs that show kids exactly what Brundage means by "the grip" or "the stance." The prose is instructive but not dull, and encouraging but not preachy. Brundage also puts things into perspective by reminding youngsters that if a player bats .400, this actually translates to failing sixty percent of the time. "Understand that the greatest players in the game fail more times than they succeed," he writes. "Focus your energy on what is ahead, not what has already happened...You'll be a better ballplayer and a much better person." Every Little-League parent should read this book—preferably with their kids, outdoors, with a ball and bat handy. 2001, Sterling Publishing, $12.95. Ages 7 up. Reviewer: Donna Freedman

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Editorials

Children's Literature

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-Fabulous color photographs of girls and boys through current professional players, diagrams, and a solid text instruct budding athletes on the finer points of hitting a baseball. Chapters cover basic techniques and recommend drills. Later discussions focus on mental skills that will improve hitting percentages such as studying the pitcher, paying attention to the count, understanding an umpire, and situational hitting. Children familiar with the game and their coaches will find this title useful and attractive.-Michael McCullough, Byron-Bergen Middle School, Bergen, NY Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|

Kirkus Reviews

A coach on many levels of the amateur game since 1981, Brundage imparts his considerable knowledge of batting basics in this clearly written and illustrated guide. "Being a good hitter is one-third having a solid swing, one-third timing, and one-third understanding the game of baseball." With this philosophy, Brundage details the mechanics of hitting (grip, stance, pre-swing, swing, making contact); understanding aspects of the swing such as hitting for average and opposite-field hitting; mental aspects (analyzing situations such as pitch count and umpires); the art of bunting; and handling failure. He provides practice drills to help young players develop muscle memory and emphasizes keeping a positive attitude. Excellent color photographs of professionals Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez and of some young players, girls and boys, as well as some graphics, ably illustrate the fundamentals described in the text. This is just the book to help produce some future big-league hitters. (index) (Nonfiction. 10+ )