Whether you are playing in the minor, college or professional leagues, it is interesting to note that vision training also known as eye exercises, is rapidly increasing in popularity in the baseball arena. It is used to train an athlete’s eye to improve batting by the Baltimore Orioles, the University of Cincinnati Bear Cats, The Texas Rangers, The Milwaukee Brewers, and many other professional teams, schools, colleges and universities. When it was implemented, the University of Cincinnati team’s batting average increased from 0.251 in 2010 to 0.285 in 2011. In 2011 there was a slugging percentage increase of 0.033%. Batting averages from all other colleges and universities went up by 10%. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, vision training is proving to be highly beneficial especially in a sport such as a baseball. After all, vision skills are critical to improved physical performance in the field.
Here are 5 reasons why baseball stars like eye exercises:
1. Eye exercises improve the speed and efficiency of the eye muscles. The result is enhanced coordination improving the player’s ability to keep track of the ball. This becomes essential in terms of the player’s ability to see the location, motion and rotation of the ball.
2. In the game of baseball, a player needs to be able to quickly process information from the brain to the eyes. This results in quicker reaction time. As a result, players can exercise better judgment on the field in terms of knowing when to swing and have a greater ability to improve timing and balance.
3. Eye exercises enable baseball players to develop better depth perception. This helps them to efficiently shift their focus from objects far away to those that are approaching the player close up. A few quick, fun and easy techniques can benefit both young and old players as long as they are performed regularly.
4. Because improved reaction time gained from vision training can result in quicker reaction time; this, in turn, provides an additional benefit to the player in terms of reducing the incidence of injuries on the field.
5. It greatly improves statistical scores for baseball players. For example, the Cincinnati Bearcats adopted a highly effective vision training program to help their offense. According to the Associated Press, dramatic increases in batting averages for the Bearcats by 34 points last season happened even though the NCAA made a transition from wooden bats to aluminum bats.
Hitter Lombardozzi told the associated press:” I’m big into vision training. To me, it’s a no brainer. The most important thing about hitting is you have to see the ball to hit it. Any type of vision training you can do to help see the ball; the more successful you’re going to be. Vision training worked wonders for Lombardozzi who is currently batting at.317 in 33 games this season. A great success story!
From quicker reaction time, sharper eyesight, to improved batting averages, the practice of eye exercises can go a long way in ensuring your success in the baseball arena.