Knowing how to take advantage or be way of the count is a decided advantage for the batter. Different counts require different stances
and different hitting strategies. These slight adjustments can do wonders for increasing your on base percentage.
When the Count is in your Favor
When you’ve got a 3-0 or 3-1 count, sometimes it’s worth doing what’s called taking a pitch. When the pitcher winds up, and begins to start his pitch, simply take a step inwards or outwards. The idea here is to throw the pitcher off, forcing them to adjust to your position and throwing a ball either inside or outside, depending on which way you took your step.
If the pitcher stays on target, you’ve still got a good count, and you can take your chances on the next pitch.
When the Count is Against you
When your looking at a two strike count, you have to remember the three ups.
- Choke up on the bat
- Move up on the plate
- Shorten up on the swing
The most important thing when your looking at a two strike count is to give yourself the best chance at making any contact with the ball. Even a foul ball is fine, so focus on just getting the bat on the ball and don’t worry about power – minimize the length of your swing.
That’s all for taking advantage of the count, but if you need more tips, check out these baseball hitting drills!