Body Size- A lot of players feel that their power and efficiency at the plate has a lot to do with the bulk of their body or their muscle size. While muscle power does play a role in the swing, an efficient, fluid body movement has much more to do with generating power. Therefore, a lot of players find that they can increase power and boost their average simply by dropping a few pounds and feeling a little lighter at the plate. Even if you lose just a little bit of bulk, your body won’t be working as hard to power through the batting motion, which means you will have a faster swing.

Weighted Bats- Weighted bats have been very popular amongst players who are trying to improve their swing power. However, many players will work out with an extremely heavy weighted bat, which can actually do more harm than good. When using a weighted bat, don’t go so heavy that you can’t perform your natural swing and body motion. If you have to strain or contort your body to accommodate the extra weight, then you aren’t improving your actual swing. Choose a weight that still allows you to maintain a natural motion throughout your

swing. This will strengthen your arms, legs, and core muscles and help generate more power at the plate.

Stay Relaxed- If you are tensed up when you are at the plate, your swing is going to be restricted and awkward. A lot of players will hit well in practice and then struggle in games simply because they become nervous in game situations and wind up tensing their muscles at the plate. Tense muscles will prohibit your body from effectively flowing through its natural swing, so work on staying loose and relaxed while in the batter’s box. If you are having a hard time, try some breathing exercises or adjust your stance.