How Many Swings Should A Hitter Take A Day?

It has often been said, and rightly so that practice makes perfect. To get better at doing something, we need to put in long hours of practicing it. And the truth is that most times, this practice will involve repeating the same thing over and over again till it sticks and becomes second nature for us. Again, again, and again, that is how we get better. Repetition is key. Let’s learn about ‘How Many Swings Should A Hitter Take A Day?’.

How Many Swings Should A Hitter Take A Day?

Bruce Lee once said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times”. To be considered an expert at something, you have to have put hours into it, to the extent that you do it instinctively under pressure. Then, you’re an expert.

For hitters in baseball, this principle is very important. Every hitter wants to achieve that perfect swing, the one with the right combination of body balance, speed, and power. The great hitter is also one that can repeat a swing and still identify the pitch and locate the ball at the same time. Yes, we all want to be able to do this. But, to be honest, this will only come after we have had long hours of practice.

So, the question now is how many swings should a hitter take a day? We must practice our swings every day, but it is also important we don’t overdo it and injure ourselves. So, just how many times should he practice his swings? Continue reading to find out.

How Many Swings Should A Hitter Take A Day?

50. The amount of swings any hitter should take per day is 50, or so most people believe. Though, this might come to vary based on several circumstances like age, swing quality, level, league, or whether they play professionally or not. Beginner players can begin with 20 every day, and steadily move up to 50, while professionals may take about 500 swings each day. 

Quality Or Quantity Swings

So, this is a two-sided issue. One side is the argument that the more swings, the better. They believe the more you swing, the better your muscle memory. The other side tackles this by pointing out the fact that too many swings can harm the body and lead to overuse injuries like dead arm and muscle strain. They subscribe to the idea that hitters can get to a point where returns begin to diminish. This idea has pulled a lot of people back from endlessly swinging.

So, what is the answer? Can we be sure a certain number of swings is right? Or does it differ based on age and proficiency? Let’s hone in on the specifics of both sides

A Magic Number

An interesting concept in swing practice is that of a supposed “magic number”. The advocates of this contest the endless swing practice concept by saying the way to improve is to set a daily number target, then go for it and be consistent at it. 

50 is the most common number, though some recommend far more. Still, we should know for youngsters, we should start them out slowly before building them up to a certain number.

Swing Till You Can’t

The people on the side of the fence advocate that to build muscle memory, you just have to keep swinging and swinging till you can’t anymore. The more you do it, the better, so they say.

However way you subscribe, just be sure to do what works best for you so as not to injure yourself.

Factors To Consider In Swing Training

While practicing is good, there are still some important factors we need to consider so that we don’t develop poor habits. Here are some of them:

Be sure not to overdo it

Yes, hard work and practice are important to be successful anywhere, baseball being the case study here, it is still important we work and practice smart. Know your limits and steadily push them, but don’t go overboard. Swinging repeatedly can be good, but it can also be a problem sometimes. Don’t swing to the point your swinging declines and poor habits creep in. Also, overswinging can cause injuries to the body, so recognize your limit and slowly but consistently push them.

Practice Pitch Selection

The part most players look forward to in baseball is hitting. That’s cool. Just don’t neglect pitch selection. A good piece of advice to have is that you ensure you make time for swinging at strikes and focusing on every ball during practice. This can help you prepare for every game.

Focus on fixing one issue at a time

Many times, during swinging practice, we see a lot of issues, and mistakes we feel we shouldn’t make. First, relax and take a breath. We all make mistakes. The important thing now is to correct them. However, don’t try to correct all at the same time. You will get frustrated. Pick them one after the other and work on them. This has a high chance of giving better results than trying to solve everything at the same time.

So, we all know that we have to put in the swings to get better. But, the above factors and more are some of the things we have to consider in swing training.

Conclusion

So, when all is said and done, what exactly is the right answer to the number of swings per day? Considering your age and level of play is the best place to begin. If you are young, starting with a small number of swings is ok. Do that to find your rhythm and build consistency. As you progress and the exercise gets easier, you increase the number. The focus should be on improvement without self-harm. So, what are you waiting for? Start your swinging today and don’t quit

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are exercises to do to improve swing power?

Some exercises you can do include pull-ups, hex bar deadlifts, squats, and lunges, to name a few. These exercises are critical to building the necessary strength for baseball swinging.

• Who has the fastest ball hit?

Since the MLB started recording this data in 2015, the fastest ball hit has come from Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, at 122.4 mph

• Who has the fastest baseball pitch?

Aroldis Chapman, on September 24, 2010, delivered a fastball at 105.1 mph. This is recognized as the global record for the fastest pitch delivered.