| Eating carrots to develop good eye sight is sound | | | | only a fraction of a second with which to pick up the |
| advise. Unfortunately there is a little more to | | | | ball and determine where to swing the bat. Some |
| developing how your eyes move in relation to playing | | | | have theorized that the last two one hundredths of |
| Baseball. Albeit there are many persons with natural | | | | a second, when the ball meets the bat, even the |
| ability use their eyes in tracking there target, still the | | | | best players cannot see that moment. So how do |
| normal reaction is to move the entire head and in the | | | | they hit it? The information presented by their vision |
| worst case, the entire body. | | | | helps their body predict where the ball will be. More |
| Sit for a moment and pick two objects 5 to 10 feet | | | | information, better prediction, better batting average. |
| away from you about 6 to 10 feet apart. You should | | | | Baseball vision training does not have to be a grueling |
| be able to comfortably see both at the same time. | | | | process. Simple exercises such as sitting still and |
| Now pick one to focus on. As quick as you can, turn | | | | tossing a ball in the air and catching it while keeping |
| your head to the second object and note the time it | | | | your head still is an excellent beginning. Then move |
| takes to select it. Now, start with your original target, | | | | on to standing with the baseball going higher. Mix it up |
| hold your head still and move your eyes only to the | | | | with left to right movement bearing in mind to track |
| second target. | | | | the ball with your eyes only. |
| Unless you have quick twitch muscles throughout | | | | An advanced drill that is a lot of fun is to place a ball |
| your body like a Barry Bonds, you should have | | | | on three feet of string. Have your player lie flat on |
| noticed that it takes much less time to move your | | | | their back in a room where you can control the light. |
| eyes than it does your head. That is because your | | | | As a pendulum, swing the ball back and forth and |
| eyes can move up to 5 times faster than your neck. | | | | give the catch command at which point your player |
| The speed at which you tract a target relates to | | | | grasps the ball quickly with both hands. To add |
| your brain how much information you gather about | | | | difficulty, swing the ball then have your player close |
| the target and the perceived speed of the target. | | | | their eyes for a swing or two then give the |
| Occasionally experts will discuss how great baseball | | | | command. Need more challenge, turn off the light and |
| hitters and fielders see the ball well enough to slow it | | | | add a strobe light, laughter will ensue, but it really |
| down. By allowing your eyes to make the most of | | | | does work. |
| the movement you gather more information and the | | | | Vary the challenges of the drills and the speed of the |
| perceived speed slows down. You now have the | | | | strobe lights. |
| information to react sooner, get into position quicker | | | | For those of the practical persuasion, visit a batting |
| and let your developed eye - hand coordination | | | | cage. Stand outside the net and mid length of the |
| complete the desired result. | | | | cage and have your player track the baseball from |
| Focus on the object, in our case a baseball, is easier | | | | the machine to the plate. You can see how the |
| and far more comfortable when you have given | | | | longer flight to follow enables a longer task to work |
| some time to teach your eyes what you expect of | | | | from. |
| them. Active vision training is not difficult. As players | | | | Baseballs, batting cages, rain dripping off the gutter |
| progress and the speed increases, active vision is | | | | even house flies; the act of being still and letting your |
| essential for the next phase, prediction. | | | | eyes do the work will develop the players vision. The |
| When a pitcher hurls the ball at 90+ mph there is | | | | more they see, the easier everything becomes. |