The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-09

It's purpose In to school tho ycunSster
the most vital interest to younk.ter.,
1t also furnishes splendid reading for
the adult finn, for 1T details the methods
which Cobb used, to reach baseball
greatness.
Cobb's article Is the sixth OF q series
that IL appearing I'm this column daily
on "How to Play BasebaIL." The other
Alexander. Sam Rice and wiIbert Rob
inson. Articles by George sisler, Ed
die Collins, walter Maranvill~, Heinie
vtousIy. Tomorrow'. article VIII be
"How to catch" by Steve o'NeiIl.
Batting success is impossible If you
use the wrong bat or assume an awk-
ward and unnatural stance at the
plate.
It's one which is not too heavy for
you to swing with all the power at
your command-nor one that's so
light that you can't get distance on
your drives.
is to try to swing a bat that is too
heavy. AS result, the weight of the
bat is such that they can't swing it
fast enough to meet the pitches. They
either strike out or pop up puny flies
or hit weak Founders.
Start with a light bat. Swing it
whenever the opportunity offers. That
increases the muscular power of your
arms and shoulders After a time,
when your muscles have toughened,
use slightly heavier bat. Swing that
IN the same way. 1t isn't necessary
TO swing 1t at real baseball. Swing
at an Imaginary one. When the bat
seems just as easy to swing as was
the other one, move along to a heavier
bat.
Get Right Bat
Keep on that way until you are US
ing bat that is heavy enough to rap
the ball without singing your hands,
and yet not too heavy for you to
swing with Tightening movement.
Remember it's more sensible thing
to use bat that is little too light
than one that is too heavy.
Your personal likes and dislikes are
to determine you as to the exact style
of bat you wish to use. Some fellows
like them taped on handles; some do
not. Some like a thin handle; others
heavy handle. If your hands are
small, use the small handled bat; if
they are large and powerful, the thick
handled bat would be better for you
natural to you. Some fellows can
make better swing when the hands
are close together near the end. 9th
ers place one hand near the end and
the other is two or three inches away.
Some grab the bat several inches from
the end, with hands close together,
While still others Choke it by hold
ing 1t six or eight inches from the
bottom
Find Natural Grip
determine for yourself which is the
most natural grip for you. But re-
member that long distance clouts U.s.
ually are possibly only when the
hands are near to the end of the bat
so that a full and terrific swing can
be given to it,
What's the proper stance?
well, II S the one that is most nat
ura1 to you. Some fellows stand at
the plate with feet close together.
They spread them only as they swing.
That's a mighty good system because,
When your whole body is in motion as
| your bat crashes the ball, it means a
| heftier drive
Others stand with feet spread far
apart and never move the feet until
they start running. They don't put
| the whole. body into the swing-just
| the upper part. That would seem to
be the poorer way of hitting. yet some
of the greatest hatsmen of all time
have stood in this spread eagle
| fashion.
Find Best Stance.
You must decide for yourself which
stance is the most natural one for you
Try out three of them Keep on try
ing them out. Eventually you will in
cline to one or the other as your ia
Vorite way. Maybe you can hit better
in the full spread stance If so, adopt
it. Maybe you can do more damage
with your mace by having your feet
close together before the swing. II
so, adopt that plan. Or maybe you
can do better by spreading just lit
tie before the pitch and spreading
a little more as you get into motion
for the swing.
! Whichever way is easiest for you
whichever produce the best results
is the one that's you natural stance
| So bat that way all the time after
ward.
| Having learned the proper stance
having selected the proper bat anC
chosen the natural grip, the vita
things then when you step to the plate
is to watch the ball.
Watch Pitcher.
Keep your eye on the pitcher from
the very second that he gets the bal
until he lets it loose. AS soon as hi
arm swings try to find the bail as i
sails up to you. A fraction of a sec
ond or so elapses between the time
when the ball leaves his hand ant
when it can be seen with your eyes
Remember that unless you are on the
lookout, the ball will sail up and pas
you before you can make a swing
Or, if you do swing. you'll perhaps
swing too late to drive the ball safely
Get your eyes on the ball. The mo
ment you find it, follow its course
1t won't be half way along to you-i
your eyes are keen-before you cal
determine whether it will be a goot
pitch or a bad one. If it looks like {
bad one, let it go by. If it looks good
make up your mind to swing. &c
ready for the swing. AS you maxi
rea dy, with all muscles tensed TO
that swing, keep your eyes on the ball
Watch the Ball
Remember that the pitcher pu
some sort of twister on it for the pur