As a hitter, effectively making contact with the ball is a critical skill to master. Many in the sporting world consider it among the most difficult techniques to fully develop. The irony behind the difficulty of the skill is that the top people in the sport say you should go to bat without thinking.

It's because great hitters are made during practice. Hitting well involves the right body mechanics and focused practice. The good news is that a person can make up for a shortage of natural hitting talent with smart training.

I believe hitting is the most over-taught skill in sports. It's quite obvious that a hitter needs a clear head when batting. So why the heck would a coach yell 10 commands at a hitter when he's hitting? This is the most effective technique for confusing and distracting a batter. Is this the goal?

Simplicity is the secret. Practice hard. Segment the training of your swing to become an expert in each aspect. When you've done enough work to engrain that into your muscle memory then you can move on to the next part of your swing that needs help.

Standing at the plate can bring on nervousness, but it's important to stay calm and relaxed. This zen-like attitude will allow your body to react instantly to the ball. If your muscles are tense your body will not be reacting at peak speed and quickness. Part of staying relaxed includes not grabbing the bat tightly when batting. A tight grip will also lead to a tense body and decreased reaction, bat speed and power.

Work on using your legs and trunk when you swing. Do not become an upper body hitter. All great hitters hit from the trunk out, so get those hips exploding through the zone and that back heel to the sky. Avoid "squashing the bug". This is terrible advice and robs the hitter of virtually all of his power.

Last, but certainly not least, work on your baseball-specific vision. Learn how to track a projectile (i.e. baseball). Trace the path of a baseball as it follows various trajectories. Your vision ability when hitting is vital. If need be go get a full eye examination. After all, you can't hit what you can't see!