BRUCE BOLT BLOG

Understanding the Hit-by-Pitch Rule Pitching Around the Hit-By-Pitch Rule Famous Instances of the Hit-by-Pitch Rule Protecting Yourself at the Plate with BRUCE BOLT The Short Answer: The hit-by-pitch rule awards first base to a batter who is directly struck by a pitch while standing in the batter’s box. While it may sound simple, there are exceptions to be aware of, which we will get into later in this article. Understanding the Hit-by-Pitch Rule Official Baseball Rule 5.05(b)(2) states that a batter is entitled to first base when a pitched ball touches him, his clothing, or his equipment. There are two...

The Case for Playing Multiple Sports How Skills Carry From One Sport to the Next What College Coaches and Athletic Directors Look For How to Build a Multi-Sport Schedule That Works Staying in the Game for the Long Run The Short Answer: Multi-sport athletes develop a wider range of movement skills, decision-making abilities, and athletic habits that can carry over to their primary sport. Playing multiple sports also gives young athletes different ways to build strength, coordination, and confidence throughout the year. Somewhere around sixth grade, many families hear a version of the same advice: pick one sport, commit fully,...

What Shakes a Young Hitter's Confidence How Bat Sting Affects a Hitter How the Right Batting Gloves Change the At-Bat The Rest of the Gear That Builds Confidence Building an At-Bat Routine You Trust Walking Up Ready to Swing   The Short Answer: Building confidence at the plate starts with preparation and the right equipment. A hitter needs an approach they feel comfortable with and gear that helps them stay confident through every swing. Every coach has watched it happen. A kid who crushes the ball in batting practice steps into the box during a game and becomes a different...

What Bat Drop Means and How to Calculate It How Drop Weight Changes Your Swing Drop Weight Rules by League and Age Why Two Bats With the Same Drop Can Feel Different How to Choose the Right Drop Weight for Your Swing Lock In Your Connection to the Bat The Short Answer: Bat drop is a bat's length in inches minus its weight in ounces, written as a negative number like -10 or -3. A 30-inch bat that weighs 20 ounces is a -10, and the larger that number gets, the lighter the bat feels in your hands. Every baseball...

How to Set Up for a Driver The Driver Swing, Step by Step The Grip Most Golfers Overlook Common Driver Mistakes and How to Fix Them Dial In Your Club and Your Numbers Gear Up for the Tee Box The Short Answer: Hitting a driver well comes down to a setup that lets you strike the golf ball slightly on the upswing and a downswing led by your lower body. Tee the ball so half of it clears the crown, and play it inside your lead heel. The driver is the most rewarding club in the bag and the hardest...

What College Softball Coaches Look for in Recruits How to Build a Strong Softball Recruiting Profile Creating a Skills Video That Gets You Noticed The Recruiting Timeline Every Athlete Needs to Follow How to Get Exposure Through Camps, Showcases, and Communication Trust Your Gear When the Coaches Are Watching The Short Answer: To get recruited for college softball, you need to start early and treat it like a real process. Build a complete recruiting profile with your stats and academics, create a clean skills video, and get exposure through camps, showcases, and travel ball where coaches are actually watching. From...