Posted by: The Hitting Guru (hitman3527@aol.com) on Tue May 30 15:09:07 2006

> I too am having a problem with overswinging. I play softball so it's even harder for me to kick this habit. I remember playing with a friend (baseball) and he was pitching to me. I was trying to kill the ball and I didn't even realize it. My friend told me to cut down on my swing so I did and next thing I knew I was hitting a couple balls that one hopped the fence and I hit a few hr's. I couldn't believe the ball was going that far because it didn't feel like I was even swinging. Now my problem is in softball it's even harder because the ball is coming in so slow you just want to crush it. It's almost like when a professional baseball player sees a hanging curve or a changeup that stays up and they try to kill it. I really believe a couple basics like overswinging and keeping a real loose grip on the ball can help big time in a players swing.
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> But if you look at the best hitters in the game besides Sheffield you will see that their swing is so effortless. They are swinging fast but not hard. I think that's the most important thing to differentiate (spelling). Look at Manny Ramirez's swing. It's so effortless. I don't know how Sheffield hits so good because he obviously overswings but he is just an exception.

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The reason why many of the best hitters look effortless is because of the quality practice and repetition they have put in. Trying to kill the ball can throw your timing off because it takes you out of your normal swing mode. The best way not to swing too hard is simply not to do it. Make yourself realize that you are better off letting the ball come to you. (It is easier to hit the ball on the sweetspot when you do not swing too hard.)