Choking Up On The Bat Doesn’t Make You A Better Hitter. Here’s Why.

Spend a few minutes watching a little league baseball game, and you will undoubtedly hear the coaches instructing some of the smaller players to choke up on the bat. There is this intuitive idea that when the bat is just a bit too long for the size of the young player, choking up reduces the length of the bat, thereby reducing the amount of time and effort it takes to rotate the bat over the plate. 

That same conventional wisdom has extended through the more advanced ranks of the baseball world. Coach tells you to "Choke up when you get two strikes." This is about changing your grip by moving your hands up the bat's handle toward the barrel. To be clear, I am not talking about choking up and staying there throughout your at-bat—Barry Bonds was famous for doing this—or when we face ultra-hard throwers or a game on the line. On these occasions, some hitters will choke just...

Hey Athletes, You Have More In Common With Artists Than You Thought

Athletes and artists are not the same—in fact, they can’t be the same. Two separate groups in schools. Different friend groups, different likes and dislikes, and even different external behaviors. Artists are not generally athletic, and athletes don’t have a knack for creativity. Right? 

Not entirely. 

There was often a clear line of separation between various groups in school, creating boundaries not crossed without causing social ostracism. The creative kids loved theater and often lost themselves in their books, writings, or drawings. They were more interested in discussing color palettes and character arcs. Athletes, on the other hand, didn’t have time for any of that nonsense. We had practice to worry about the next game, getting stronger, faster, and more prepared than our opponent. 

But the truth is, that is nothing more than the typical stereotype. 

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