The Basic Skills

Lining up the middle knuckles keeps the wrists free to turn the bat over.

Source: General baseball reference · recall

For a right-handed batter the left hand is at the bottom and the right hand on top.

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A tight grip tenses the forearms and slows the swing.

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Holding the bat in the fingers gives a quicker, freer swing.

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Hands kept together move the bat as a single unit.

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A shorter grip makes the bat quicker and easier to control, which helps avoid a strikeout.

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Sticky pine tar helps the batter keep hold of the bat.

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Fingers, bottom hand, top hand, then line the knuckles up.

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The higher the hands, the shorter and quicker the bat; the lower, the longer and stronger the swing.

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Moving the hands up the handle is called choking up.

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Feet about as wide as the shoulders give balance and room to stride.

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Weight on the balls of the feet keeps the batter ready to move.

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In an open stance the front foot is pulled back from the plate, opening the body to the pitcher.

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In a closed stance the front foot is nearer the plate than the back foot.

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Turning the head so both eyes see the pitcher helps judge the pitch.

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Bent knees keep the batter athletic and ready to swing.

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Hands near the back shoulder are ready to start the swing.

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From the feet up: base, knees, hands, then eyes on the pitcher.

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Open pulls the front foot back, square has the feet level, closed puts it nearer the plate.

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Feet level with each other, parallel to the plate, make a square stance.

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Tracking the ball from the hand to the bat is the first rule of hitting.

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The stride moves the batter's weight forward as the swing begins.

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Power starts from the ground: the legs and hips turn, then the hands bring the bat through.

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The hands go back slightly as the stride starts, like pulling back a bow.

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A batter who starts to swing but stops in time has checked his swing.

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In a bunt the batter holds the bat out and lets the ball hit it softly.

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Inside pitches are met earlier, out in front; outside pitches are let travel deeper.

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Load, stride, rotate, contact, finish.

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Turn, hold the bat out level, catch the ball with the bat, then run.

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The follow-through finishes the swing after the ball has gone.

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A right-hander steps with the left foot, the glove side, towards the target.

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A four-seam grip across the seams helps the ball fly straight.

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A low elbow strains the arm and spoils the throw.

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The glove arm lines the shoulders up with the target.

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Outfielders use a crow hop to put their body behind a long throw.

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Short, easy throws first loosen the arm and protect it.

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Every player warms up by playing catch.

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Grip, turn sideways, step and release.

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The hop moves him forward and the plant gives the throw its power.

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Gripping across the seams makes the ball spin backwards evenly, so it carries straight.

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The bare hand covers the ball in the glove so it does not pop out.

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Looking away too early is the commonest cause of a dropped throw.

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Moving the feet gets the body behind the ball.

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Letting the glove move back with the ball cushions it.

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A clear glove target helps the thrower aim.

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Stretching meets the ball earlier, which can win a close play.

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If the runner is not forced, the fielder must tag him with the ball.

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Square up, reach, cushion the ball, then get it out to throw.

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Chest-high is easiest; a throw in the dirt is the hardest to handle.

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For a throw above the waist the glove fingers point up; below the waist, down.

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Bent knees and weight forward let the infielder move quickly either way.

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It is easier to bring the glove up than to push it down in time.

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If the ball gets past the glove, the body keeps it from rolling away.

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The bare hand closes over the ball in the glove, ready to take it out.

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Waiting gives the batter-runner time to reach first base.

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Fielding the ball just as it bounces up is easier than taking it on a long, high hop.

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Charging means coming in on the ball rather than letting it play you.

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Ready, move, field low, then set and throw.

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A bad hop changes direction at the last moment, which makes it the hardest.

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The glove goes down to the dirt for a ball on the ground.

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The first step is to read the ball and get moving to where it will come down.

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Two hands up high give a fly ball no chance to bounce out.

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Willie Mays made the waist-high basket catch famous.

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Holding the glove up against the sun lets him keep sight of the ball.

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The outfielder is running in and sees the ball better, so he has priority.

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Turning and running is faster than back-pedalling.

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A pop-up goes high but not far, and an infielder or the catcher usually catches it.

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Read, run, call and catch.

Source: General baseball reference · applied

A sinking line drive gives the least time and the hardest decision.

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Calling loudly tells team-mates who will take the ball and prevents collisions.

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The windup is the pitcher's full delivery, used mostly with the bases empty.

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The stretch is a quicker delivery that keeps runners closer to their base.

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A long windup gives base runners time to steal.

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Pitchers try to let every pitch go from the same point, so the batter cannot tell them apart.

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Landing with the front foot pointed at the plate keeps the throw on line.

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After the follow-through the pitcher becomes a fielder.

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A sidearmer swings his arm roughly level with the ground.

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Leg lift, stride, rotation, release and follow-through.

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A submarine pitcher releases the ball close to the ground.

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The leg lift gathers the pitcher's weight before he strides.

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Running hard through the base gives the best chance on a close play.

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A runner swings out before the base so he can turn sharply towards the next one.

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Touching the inside corner gives the shortest path to the next base.

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Coaches at first and third base wave runners on or hold them up.

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On a caught fly a runner must be on his base when it is caught before he can advance.

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A runner steals by running to the next base while the pitcher delivers.

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With two outs any catch ends the inning, so runners have nothing to lose by running.

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Drop the bat, round first, touch second and stay there.

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Third is one base from home, second two, first three, and the batter has all four to go.

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A lead shortens the distance to the next base.

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Sliding stops the runner at the base and makes him a smaller target.

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In a feet-first slide the legs reach the base first.

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Headfirst slides put the hands and head where fielders' feet and tags are.

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The runner slides and rises in one move, ready to run on if the ball gets away.

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The hook slide swings away from the tag and hooks the base with a foot.

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Starting too late jams the legs into the base; too early, and he stops short.

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A runner can run past first base, so running through is usually faster than sliding.

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Run, drop, lead with the legs, touch the base.

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Beginners learn the bent-leg slide first; headfirst slides carry the most risk.

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The bent-leg slide, one leg folded under the other, is the first slide most players learn.

Source: General baseball reference · applied