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FANTASTIC VOYAGE - Going Yard

By Tom Wylie

Story Created: Jul 21, 2011 at 9:42 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 21, 2011 at 9:42 PM MDT

Going yard. Hitting the moon shot. Possessing “light tower” power.

Whatever you want to call it, nothing energizes a homefield crowd quite like a homerun. But the longball requires a lot more effort than just a swing to the fences.

Voyagers shortstop David Herbek says it take an incredible amount of work to form good hitting habits.

“Really your swing is just a reaction,” Herbek said.

The average swinging motion of a baseball player clocks in at about 76 mph. Combine that with the split second it takes a fastball to travel from the mound to the plate and that doesn’t leave a lot of time to break things down at the plate.

“It’s not like you can consciously think of each part of it, “ continued Herbek.

So at practice, players focus on repetition and mechanics such as keeping your hands level, maintaining the proper stance, and stepping back before a swing; a motion known as “the load”.

But having a smooth swing is just a start. In order to be an efficient hitter, you have to learn to adapt to what you’re seeing at the plate.

“You got to pay attention to what they throw you in your first at bat,” explained Voyagers first baseman Leighton Pangilinan. “If they do it the next time, you don’t want to miss a pitch you can hit.”

“It’s kind of a mind game,” added Herbek.

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