Chapter 348

"Given that the training goal is very clear—only need to improve the hitting success rate to 30%, not involving other baseball knowledge, nor do you need to learn pitching."

"Therefore, in the next month, all our training will revolve around the core of 'how to make you hit successfully'."

"Do you understand and agree to this?"

Natsume Chikage nodded in agreement:

"Understand, no problem."

Kuroda Keisuke nodded, his expression solemn:

"Very good."

"Time is tight, the mission is arduous."

"Since that's the case, let's stop talking nonsense—start training immediately!"

Sano Sho immediately followed up:

"First, let's start with the most basic 'how to swing correctly'!"

"Next, please observe Kuroda coach's demonstration movements carefully, and then imitate, until your movements are completely up to standard."

Kuroda Keisuke nodded slightly, took down a standard bat from the equipment rack on the side, and steadily set up a textbook-like preparation posture.

Natsume Chikage also picked up a bat and began to imitate.

"Hold the bat with both hands, the lower hand is about 2 to 3 cm from the end of the bat, and the knuckles of the index and middle fingers should be aligned."

"Keep the elbows at a suitable angle, the forearms are about 90 degrees."

"This is the most basic preparation posture."

"As for the complete swinging action, we will teach it later. Now, please keep this basic posture first."

Because the posture itself is not complicated, plus Sano Sho personally corrected the angle of Natsume Chikage's arms and wrists on the side.

Not long after, Natsume Chikage's posture was already looking decent.

Sano Sho observed carefully and nodded slightly:

"Yes, that's it, keep it."

"Next, please watch Kuroda coach's slow-motion swing demonstration, and then you try to swing slowly once."

"During the process, I will guide and correct your movements at any time, just like just now."

Just like this, the training started in an orderly manner.

However, as the training progressed, a trace of surprise gradually rose in the hearts of the two coaches.

They could clearly feel that this "A-kun"'s learning speed and body control ability... seemed to be unexpectedly good?

The swinging action taught just a while ago, he tried two or three times, and every subsequent swing could keep the standard posture almost perfectly.

What surprised them even more was that Natsume Chikage's swinging strength and speed increased steadily with the increase in practice times, and finally stabilized in a... range that could almost rival the average level of professional players?

This situation made the two experienced coaches couldn't help but ask again:

"A-kun, have you... really never come into contact with baseball before?"

"Yeah, your learning speed is too fast! Honestly, have you practiced secretly?"

Natsume Chikage knew that these two were hired coaches, and only thought they were performing the duty of "praising party", just like personal trainers in the gym who would encourage students regardless of how they did.

After all, they were paid.

But even if Natsume Chikage wanted to be humble, he couldn't lie, because he really hadn't played.

"Really haven't."

The two coaches' faces were full of surprise.

"Really... not even once?"

Natsume Chikage nodded affirmatively:

"Really, not even once."

Kuroda Keisuke's doubt deepened, and he couldn't help but propose:

"Can... can you please stretch out your hands and let me see?"

Natsume Chikage stretched out his hands as requested.

The two coaches leaned in to check carefully at the same time.

When they found that Natsume Chikage's palm skin was smooth and there were no calluses at all.

Even if they didn't want to believe it, they had to accept this fact at this moment.

Because people who have undergone long-term baseball training will definitely form thick calluses on specific parts of their palms.

Once such calluses are formed, they often do not fade for years, and even accompany them for a lifetime.

But Natsume Chikage's palms were not only free of any calluses, but also clean and delicate.

Just looking at these hands, it doesn't look like someone who has had systematic sports training experience.

Since that's the case...

Then there is probably only one explanation left—this teenager possesses amazing talent in sports.

Thinking that Natsume Chikage might really possess excellent sports talent, the hearts of the two that had been hanging finally let go a little.

In any sports project, players with talent naturally have a much higher ceiling than ordinary people.

Many times, people without talent, even if they practice hard for many years, their achievements may not be as good as the results of talented people training for just a few years.

And Natsume Chikage can master the correct movements so quickly and show excellent strength and speed control ability, which just shows that he possesses one of the most dreamed-of talents of top athletes—extraordinary body coordination and learning ability.

Of course, getting started quickly is one thing, and what kind of upper limit can be reached is another.

Kuroda Keisuke, seeing that Natsume Chikage's swinging action had completely passed, hurriedly called a stop.

He knew that time was precious and couldn't let this teenager consume too much physical strength and time on simple swing practice.

Even if swing training is needed every day, it should be done separately after completing the core hitting practice.

Now, absolutely cannot waste this precious physical strength on non-core training projects.

Kuroda Keisuke ordered decisively:

"Good, now please firmly remember this swinging feeling and posture."

"Next, we will directly enter the core link—actual combat hitting training!"

"Later, no matter what kind of ball we pitch, you must try your best to maintain the standard swinging posture. Otherwise, not only is it easy to strain your body, but you also cannot exert your full strength to hit the ball, which is a huge damage to the training effect!"

"Remember, the primary principle of any exercise is to protect the body from injury."

"Secondly, it is the pursuit of the correctness and perfection of technology."

"Once you feel your body cannot support it, or feel uncomfortable anywhere, you must call a stop immediately! Absolutely do not force yourself, understand?"

Natsume Chikage nodded seriously:

"Understood."

Kuroda Keisuke patted his partner Sano Sho on the shoulder and arranged:

"Sano coach will act as the pitcher, he will pitch to you, and you will try to hit."

"During this process, please be sure to feel and remember the feeling of 'hitting the ball' at that moment."

"Because today is the first lesson, so we won't use too fast ball speed, let alone any special balls, basically we will only pitch fastballs, the speed will be controlled at about 110 km/h."

"If you can try to hit 4 to 5 successfully in a group of thirty balls at this speed, it means you can adapt to this speed."

"After that, we will gradually increase the ball speed according to your daily progress and adaptation, until you can adapt and effectively hit a fast ball of 140 km/h."

Natsume Chikage moved his wrists, held the bat steadily in his hand, and looked towards the pitcher's mound:

"Understood, let's start."