This protects his face and chest, which are the two most dangerous places to be hit with a ball. This is illustrated below. Staying relaxed at the plate will also help the hitter pick up the path of the ball and avoid being hit in an area that could cause serious injury. As hitters get more experience, they can begin trusting their reflexes and their ability to see that a pitch is wild well before the ball reaches them. For several players, prayer before going to the plate has proved helpful.
Many young players waste valuable time waiting for their turn to hit.
They stand in the on-deck circle and talk to teammates or take lazy swings with the bat. Poor on-deck preparation reduces their probability for success. Quickly loosen up your muscles by swinging the bat back and forth and over your head. Take your stance and focus on the pitcher. When the pitcher releases the ball, stride and swing hard, the same way you plan to swing when getting up to the plate.