Reveals the collected wisdom of the legends of the game, from Ty Cobb to Tony Gwynn, from Babe Ruth to Barry Bonds, and helps parents, coaches, and players at all levels sort through the advice to find the hitting style that's just right for them.

Every aspect of hitting is explored, such as: choosing the right bat; mechanics, from the grip & the stance to the swing & follow-through; learning the strike zone, & your hitting zone; rotationalÓ vs. weight-shiftÓ hitting techniques; reading pitches & pitchers; situational hitting & basic offensive strategy; training & conditioning, featuring a special section on developing a hitter's eyeÓ; & the mental game, including relaxation & visualization. A special section on getting youngsters started hitting. Numerous anecdotes from players, historical sidebars, profiles of the top hitters, lists of important batting records, an essay on the scienceÓ of hitting, & fascinating facts about the legend of the Louisville Slugger bat. Over 100 illustrations.

This step-by-step approach starts from the ground up, including: problems in the stance, pre-swing movements, hip rotation, the swing, and more.

Details the differences from men's softball and offers effective strategies.

Crack of the Bat is a comprehensive and entertaining look at the most famous icon in the history of baseball, the Louisville Slugger bat. It includes the evolution of bats from pioneer wagon tongues to the sleek aluminum models of today. It examines the amazing physics involved in hitting a baseball, where .003 seconds means the difference between a home run and a foul ball. It tells the fascinating history of the still family-owned Hillerich & Bradsby Company, which in just 80 years went from making butter churns to making seven million bats a year. Reinforcing this are dozens of stories about the bats themselves, and the personal idiosyncracies of the most famous hitters in baseball history, including Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr. and Derek Jeter. The book explains why the players picked the bats they did, the amazing lengths they would go to to protect them, and how valuable these bats have now become in the hands of collectors. Illustrated with hundreds of archival photographs, baseball decals, and icons, many in color, this book will become as much a cherished keepsake as some of the bats it describes.

Alphabetically arranged profiles of 100 of the greatest sluggers of all time including for each a photograph, career statistics, and other facts.

The first guide to help you get to the next level of baseball play To continue advancing up the ladder of competition, you need to master the game's advanced skills and techniques, those exciting plays that surface at crucial moments in competition and bring victory--the game-breaker plays and skills. The Louisville Slugger® Book of Game-Breaker Baseball moves beyond the basics. It features step-by-step instructions supplemented by major-league players explaining their styles in making the same plays. This book: Teaches you 30 key skills illustrated with 150 high-quality photographs Offers you a complete blueprint if you want to play at the game's higher skill levels Provides approximate ages to master the skills and how long it should take to learn them